Big 45 Frontier for Parkerized finishes?

[VariableRecall]

Hi there!

I had been recommended Frontier 45 for my blued revolver, and I've got to say that stuffs works like nothing else I've seen! Not a bit of harm on my bluing, and the nasty rust was gone.
https://www.big45metalcleaner.com/

I'd like to know if this product would work the same on a parkerized finish without damaging the original finish or discoloring it.

Are there any other finishes that this product should not be used on?

[nicholst55]

I personally would not use it on a parkerized finish - at least not without contacting the manufacturer first. I suspect that it would remove the parkerizing, the same as any other abrasive does.

[VariableRecall]

I personally would not use it on a parkerized finish - at least not without contacting the manufacturer first. I suspect that it would remove the parkerizing, the same as any other abrasive does.

What would you suggest would work best for getting rust out of a parkerized finish, then?

[farmbif]

scrub with oil soaked 0000 steel wool

[nicholst55]

scrub with oil soaked 0000 steel wool

Steel wool will most definitely remove parkerizing. I don't know how bad the rust on the OP's gun is, so it's difficult to make suggestions. Any abrasive will remove the parkerizing to some extent. That may be unavoidable, but try to minimize it. A good rub down with CLP or something comparable on a rag will sometimes go a long way towards removing rust - depending on the severity of the rust. I have used cold blue to touch up small spots where parkerizing was removed before, and it didn't look terrible. Not great, but not terrible, either.

[36g]

Try some Evaporust (can be found online or at car parts places like O'Reillys). I haven't tried it on parkerizing but it does not harm intact metal.

[M-Tecs]

Try some Evaporust (can be found online or at car parts places like O'Reillys). I haven't tried it on parkerizing but it does not harm intact metal.
parkerizing
Evaporust is a great product but it does remove bluing. I never used it on a parkerized parts so I don't have any firsthand experience, however, these folks do.

https://orisonmarketing.com/pages/evapo-rust-faq
EVAPO-RUST® will remove sacrificial oxide coatings and is perfect for removing weapon finishes such as Bluing, Parkerizing, Zinc Phosphate, and Browning. Other coatings such as Anodizing, Cobalt Tungsten Carbide, Powder Coating, Chrome, Nickel and Paint will not be removed as long as they do not contain oxides and are still adhered to the surface.

[nicholst55]

A toothbrush and CLP gets my vote.

[VariableRecall]

A toothbrush and CLP gets my vote.

I think I'll go ahead and start with that and work my way up the ladder, so to speak.

[Bloodman14]

What about phosphoric acid? I use it to remove rust from car parts, and it leaves a coating of Iron Phosphate (it 'passivates' the metal, making it VERY rust-resistant). If it does remove parkerizing, it will still leave a dark gray finish. Have any parts to test it on?

[nicholst55]

What about phosphoric acid? I use it to remove rust from car parts, and it leaves a coating of Iron Phosphate (it 'passivates' the metal, making it VERY rust-resistant). If it does remove parkerizing, it will still leave a dark gray finish. Have any parts to test it on?

Phosphoric Acid, AKA Evapo-Rust.

[M-Tecs]

Phosphoric Acid, AKA Evapo-Rust.

Naval Jelly contains around 30% phosphoric acid. Phosphoric acid is hazardous.

Evapo-Rust keeps a close hold on the chemical formula but it is non-toxic non-hazardous per the MSDS so it is does not contain phosphoric acid.

[36g]

Evaporust does not contain any phosphoric acid. It's more likely chelating agents with a strong possibility of EDTA.