Parkerizing

[tbierley]

I am needing to know if I can use zinc tire weights in the place of Maganese Dioxide. or can I use iron shavings to change the color of the PARKERIZING.

[darkroommike]

If you are just starting out why not just buy a pre-mixed jug of whatever Parkerizing solution you need. Makes more sense to me than trying to mix your own. Results are sure to be more consistent, too.

Here's a link to a tutorial I found (Google is your friend):

http://www.projectguns.com/parkerizing.html

[seagiant]

Hi,
Well...from my experience parkerizing,no and no. DRM gave some good advice there. I would reccomend Brownell's Manganese solution,if you can follow directions it's pretty easy and you will get a nice finish if you do what they say in the excellent instruction! Here is a pic of an Austrian STG-58 I built on an Imbel reciever.

[DCM]

A good park. thread. http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=123879

[Mohillbilly]

Yes Parker/Amchem has more than one type of parkerizing. The original formula used on old mil stuff is a zinc phospate (grey) newer is black manganize dioxide (black er) .

[EMC45]

Zinc Phosphate will make it light grey. Manganese will make it green/dark grey/black.

[TCLouis]

Are the different colors with the manganese based solution based on the steel in the gun?

I want dark gray to black.

[EMC45]

I would go with the manganese then. Brownells also sells a "blackening agent" too. I think you apply it after the initial parkerizing bath.

[Mohillbilly]

Fresh baths of zinc phosphate needs to be passavated I think that OOOO steel wool that has been deoiled works well. After a 20 -30 min parts boil , take the parts out of the bath and dip in boiling water and to get that ARMY look , put the parts while still hot into a bucket of cosmo . Looks like WW II stuff .