Parkerizing

[CrufflerSteve]

I haven't been around lately but I thought 'd show my first attempts at parkerizing.




I used Shooter's Solution Manganese Park. First I degreased them and blasted them with 120 Aluminum Oxide. The parts were soaked in warm distilled water then Shooter's Solution Mang Prep. In between all these steps I rinsed them off with distilled water. Then it was into the park solution at about 185 degrees for about 20 minutes. Then into Caswell Black Oxide for 5 minutes then Caswell Penetrating Sealer to finish. I used some silicon corks to seal the barrels but these were chrome anyways.

I did two one weekend and two the next weekend. The first two, including the Zombie Ax weren't adequately degreased so I ended up with a few bad spots. The ax came out uneven since it wouldn't fit into the Black Oxide well. The next two came out much better. One is now in Seattle with my son. He built it.

The next weekend I cleaned better. I'm not so sure about Caswell Sealer. Might try Shooter's Solution stuff next time.

Here's the setup. I had a 2000 Watt heater in the Park tank and a propane stove underneath. The propane provided most of the heat. I used some scrap steel under the tank to diffuse it.



I do need to get a top for the park tank. It was really steaming off. The other pieces were made of rain gutter.

I can loan the tanks and propane stove to any local builders. I do have some extra mang prep and black oxide. The mang park solution has a limited life so I'm hanging onto it.

Steve

[jreifsch80]

oh my gosh steve you're still alive!!!! lol good to see you around, looks like you have a pretty decent phosphate coating setup, i might have to come visit you sometime haha

[zteknik]

Nice to see your still around Steve!!
Came out good!!
I thought the black oxide was suppose to make it a tad darker?
I hear of differnt ways to do it-some say black ox first-then park,then others do it the other way around.I have some casewells I should play arround with on some scrap.

So how do you like akamanators stock?I've been meaning to get one but got too busy bs'ing with Keith and forgot to get one

[Parf]

Looks good!

[BPTactical]

Long time no see Steve!
What you are seeing as bubbles is actually "off gassing" of hydrogen.
The darkening agents really aren't needed nor are the special sealers and such.
Soaking in used motor oil for a few days or smearing with dark grease will do the same.

[CrufflerSteve]

These did come out of the Park with different pieces like barrel, receiver, rivets close but mildly different shades. It came out of the black oxide very uniform and black.

I took the pictures with a flash which lightened them a bit but they are a gray/black leaning to black. They have a light gloss.

BP, I'd read about the gunky oil method but this is cleaner and less smelly.

The Caswell Penetrating sealer had to be removed completely and didn't want to leave. I found scrubbing in hot water with Purple Zep and a soft brush got it off if it had dried on. It really caked hard. Thought I was going to remove the park. That's why I'll probably us something different, maybe even used motoroil.

I'd read about people using Black Oxide before and after but I wanted to see what the park did to bare metal.

I do like akamanator's stock.

Steve

[jreifsch80]

So what are the chances I could someday lure you and your park tanks up to Jim's or my warehouse for a refinishing party? Lol

[CrufflerSteve]

So what are the chances I could someday lure you and your park tanks up to Jim's or my warehouse for a refinishing party? Lol

I'd be open to that. The prep work would ideally be done before. Degreasing and blasting is a lot of work. I found it hard to get all grease out. I use lots of cutting oil and the gas tubes have cosmoline worked into it. One way I found some of it was by letting it sit dusty after blasting. It drew the oil out. I removed the oily dust, degreased and did a quick blast. This could be done ahead of time but you'd have to keep it dry and untouched by bare hands. I have a cabinet and so-so compressor. I'm sure there are others out there.

I know the Park solution can only do so much since the Manganese goes. I'm not sure how much.

I just don't like paint for finishing. Park & bluing have depth. I also really need a cover for the park tank. A sheet of stainless or aluminum would work. It was really steaming off.

I'm open to suggestions.

Steve

[jreifsch80]

for manganese or zinc could we use manganese oxide or zinc oxide? i can get those at my work by the oz,lb or 50lb bag for a cover we could figure something out. and yes the prep work would be best to be done before hand, jim and i both have blasting cabinets and 60 gallon compressors. sounds do-able but would take careful planning. i would maybe pop a bunch of barrels and just park some receivers with trunnions on models i want to paint (my 74, amd) and i need to refinish my draco carbine. or maybe we could finally make some park tanks and have the supplies ready and if you're able to come up you could help us set up a setup up here.

[CrufflerSteve]

Justin,

You could mix up your own solution. I believe you could find some recipes on the gunboards. I believe it is oxalic acid, or phosphoric? and the manganese oxide (or whatever is used). There is also zinc parkerizing which is way lighter.

You could do some experiments since it wouldn't just require much, just a stainless steel pot and scrap steel. I thought about this but decided to pay the money for something already optimal. People say good stuff about Shooter's Solution and I like it. AK parts have gone so crazy expensive it seemed worth it.

I think you might even be able to park an assembled piece with some parts painted. I learned the hard way it wants bare metal only. My blasting cabinet has red paint and the first two I did a scraped a little paint off on the triggerguard and other edges. That red made it through the park and was quite a shock. Fortunately it was little scrapes and I've tried to hide it. I would ask the experts before trying it.

The only tank that costs anything is the park and you can borrow it whenever. I plan to do another few in late summer. The other three are from one 10 foot piece of Home Depot rain gutter and edges. I cut it up and crimped the edges with caulk and they work.

One area to experiment is the blasting. I used 120 grit aluminum oxide. I've seen some people use heavier grit and other stuff like beads. I've been thinking about a lighter blast on some pistols that could use a finish. It certainly isn't a blue but it might look good.

Steve