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Posted: 6/3/2010 10:22:01 AM EDT
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I tried parkerizing one of the 1911's a couple of days ago for the first time using the Duracoat brand Zinc Phosphate solution. I (almost) followed the instructions, sandblasted, cleaned, 180 degrees to 195 degrees, etc. But I forgot to season the solution with steel wool, and my finish came out kind of blotchy and a couple of areas around raised parts (rear sight, srew holes, safety plunger tube) didn't take the park at all.
Now, realizing my mistake in not seasoning the solution, would it be possible to strip the oil I've put on the parts and re-dunk them, or will I need to take them to be re-blasted all over again? Thanks |
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Quoted:
Not trying to hijack but I’m just getting ready to Parkerize a barrel for the first time and was wandering what exactly you mean by “season the solution with steel wool”? Per the instructions, when you first bring the solution up to temperature, you put a piece of clean coarse steel wool in it for 1/2 an hour and let it fizz. Evidently it has some kind of effect on the solution and it's effectiveness because my first try turned to crap, and I left this step out. ETA: This is the stuff I used. |
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More then likely your blotchy outcome was due to oil or other contaminants on the parts from either your hands or from the blasting itself, or poor blasting. Always wear gloves from the time you blast until you dip the parts. You need to degrease the parts very well and then do it again.
Blotchy colors in the park can also be caused by uneven heat treat of the metal. |
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Quoted:
More then likely your blotchy outcome was due to oil or other contaminants on the parts from either your hands or from the blasting itself, or poor blasting. Always wear gloves from the time you blast until you dip the parts. You need to degrease the parts very well and then do it again. Blotchy colors in the park can also be caused by uneven heat treat of the metal. I blast then wash the parts 2 times with a degresser and HOT water and then right into the part tank... Here is the trigger assy I did today.... 
The receiver from last week Before 
After 
Before 
After 
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| I've used zinc oxide parkerizing I got from Brownells and noticed that the more I've used the solution-adding water and the occasional couple ounces of solution its gotten darker––so it seems to "season" the more you use it. That being said I parked a Norinco 1911 for a friend, blasted, degreased and parked the slide came out mottled the steel in the slide must have had different consistancy/hardness, the frame came out just fine. |
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I've also simply re-parked parts before that came out very blotchy. Degrease them and run them under hot water, then suspend them in the park tank again for another 10-15 minutes. The blotches are still there, but you have to be in just the right light to see them now.
And I know mine were totally oil free, they went from the hot degreaser bath (at the machinists shop) to the power washer, to the blasting cabinet, to the sink (run hot water over them) to the bath, all in the same two hours. Odd stuff just happens. I've done two Remington shotguns and had very distinct stripes of darker park at different places on the barrels. Looks like it was masked and sprayed, there is a very distinct line on each. |
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