another parkerizing question(s)

[okanagancowboy]

I have a couple guns i would like to parkerize. I'm lookin to do it myself and need to know where to get the solution and the steps to take to get it done. I have searched it in the forums and found alot of help but would like it all in one thread rather than a dozen,lol. Some questions i have. DOES the trigger mechanism have to be disabled? I read that the springs should not be done,can the springs just be removed and the "whole"thing dipped? I don't have stainless tanks,is there an option or should i just break down and find some? IF there is anything else i should know,please fill me in. ANY tips would help. I was planning on beed blasting the parts,are there different size beed(hope that makes sence). ONE last thing i need to know,is any other chemicals and degreasers i need?

thanx guys,lookin forward to hearing from you all.

 

[sunray]

Take all the whole thing apart with the springs out, sights off(that depends on what rifle somewhat though. M-1 rifle sights get parkerized, but as individual parts). Tap a cast bullet into the muzzle and put an empty cartridge in the chamber.
The tanks don't have to be SS. Regular mild steel will do. The tricky part is the temperature control. Even that's not too bad.
You don't really need to bead blast either. Doesn't hurt anything if you do though.
There's a guy selling the chemicals at Ontario gun shows. Don't know his name myself, but somebody will. The chemicals shouldn't be too much trouble to find in a local chemical supply place. Look in the Yellow Pages. Brownells sells them too.
Capitalizing the first word in sentences and putting a space between them would make this a whole lot easier to read.

 

[recce]

Here you go. Can't hot link non dealer sites so take the spaces between the W's out.

http://w w w.pjsproducts.com/

 

[purple]

parkerizing

I've found one of the best vessels to use is an electric crock pot with a ceramic bowl insert.Get a large one and you can park any part of a Garand except for the barrel and op rod.In addition to being non-reactive with the park solution,the crock pot will reach and hold the solution within the proper temp range.Depending on the crock pot and outside temp,you might need to wrap the pot and cover it with aluminum reflective insulation to retain the heat.Use a candy thermometer to verify temp.Degreasing is critical to a good park job (use mineral spirits followed by laquer thinner) ,as is grit blasting to activate the surface of the steel and allow it to react properly with the acid based park solution.Once the parts are blasted,do not contaminate them with oil or fingerprints-wear rubber gloves and use stainless steel tongs to place and remove parts in the solution. I use a stainless steel trough on a double burner Coleman stove to do the barrels.The consensus is that you should not use a carbon steel vessel to park as this disapates the strength of the solution by wasting it on parking the tank rather than the contents.I use Shooters Solutions manganese and zinc park kits and bring them back with me from the US as the park solution is considered HAZMAT and can't be shipped to Canada.Last point,the park solution is acid based,so do everything outdoors,including the degreasing. Wear rubber boots and gloves and some form of protective clothing. And keep a pail of water handy just in case of a spill.