Shootersolutions Parkerizing stuff

[Gaspipe]

I recently started doing some parking with Shootersolutions high density zinc & managanese concentrate. I have no affiliation to them, but the stuff seems to work well. It took a week to get it after ordering via the web. http://www.shootersolutions.com

After trying each seperately (zinc & the manganese), I decided to mix them, to get a lighter color and to extend the mix. It made about five gallons of solution.

Mr. Pink and I parked up some of his VZ24 based FN30-11 replica parts yesterday, and I did all but the barrel from a Grade 3 Imbel I bought from Dan's (and a zillion other small parts from this and that). The color is much darker than, say a one of IAI's M444s, but not as black as, say black oxide. It's somewhere in between.

The notable thing is how 'dense' the parkerizing is.

All parts were de-funked in lacquer thinner, sand blasted, tossed directly into the parkerizing solution, then into a 50% water 50% alcohol solution (dilutes the park and flashes off fast), then coated with 'Bust Rust' and left to rest a little while.
http://www.hunting-pictures.com/members/Gaspipe/dans_imbel.jpg
The 'blotchy' look is from the Bust Rust which is still pretty thick on the lower.
http://www.hunting-pictures.com/members/Gaspipe/dans_lower.jpg

I think I will build this lower up into a carbine with one of the 16.25" DSA barrels I just bought.

Ciao,

[LVACGAR]

Gaspipe-they look great.

Can you share the results of your "independant testing," ie individual results prior to mixing them?

What do you mean by dense? The grain?

['TUDE]

Tell Mr.Pink that the former owner of the VZ-24 would LOVE to se some pics of how it is coming along.
By the way, nice park job.

[Gaspipe]

Before mixing them, the manganese was very dark. One of the darkest parks I have ever seen. The Mn park solution made about 1.5 gallons. The Zn park was a dark gray by itself, darker than the Zn park on my M444.

The reference to the 'density' is the percieved thickness of the coating. It isn't a smooth finish, but is somewhat 'grainy'. It's hard to explain, and impossible to show with the shoddy digital camera I have. Perhaps it is a result of the sandblast, but the park looks thicker than other parking. Maybe an illusion, as I have no method of establishing the actual thickness of the coating.

Winter will tell, as I'll be out in the rain and inclement weather with it.

On that VZ24, it's coming long nicely. Pinky modified the magazine/trigger guard to resemble the FN piece. He's cutting, turning down and rewelding the bolt tonight. Next, we'te making up the target rail to accomodate an FAL bipod assembly. We'll get some updated pics. I'm duplicating his efforts on my Vz24 (formerly Fresca's). We're installing 24" ER Shaw .308 barrels - 1.125" diameter, and VOMZ 8x56 illuminated optics.

See Ya,

[csam]

Maybe a dumb question, I duno. How far down do you have to strip the lower or similar parts to park them? (I know you do have to remove the butstock and pistol grip).

[usmc326]

Originally posted by csam:
<STRONG>Maybe a dumb question, I duno. How far down do you have to strip the lower or similar parts to park them? (I know you do have to remove the butstock and pistol grip).</STRONG>

You have to dissasemble virtually everything, as you do not want to park any springs, plus any parts in contact with one another will be more so after a park. So, just about everything comes out of the lower, EVERYTHING if you want to make sure it'll work. The front sight and other parts have to be removed from the gas block, and I'd recommend plugging the holes on the barrel & gas block with corks, more important if you have a non-chrome lined barrel. Silver solder the brake, or muzzle device BEFORE you blast and park, as doing it after will ruin the park on that end.
You can always tell a down & dirty park job, with little disassembly: none of the moving parts want to work,
and the sights are "frozen".
If you're only going to do 1-3 rifles,
and don't have the equipment to blast & park, there are alot of places that'll blast & park it for under $100
per rifle, but you'll need to silver solder the brake & headspace first. A
few of the smiths on the Files have a "basic" package that basically just requires you to assemble it. That would be the easiest way to go.

[LVACGAR]

Zincanese parkerizing! Only on the files! Was the manganese close to the "black" DSA finish?

How much did those ER Shaw barrels set you back? If I can't find an Israeli .308 when my new crffl arrives I may opt for a conversion similar to yours. I'm into .308 rifles for some reason. (could it be the 5k .308 rounds in the corner?)

[Gaspipe]

Originally posted by LVACGAR:
<STRONG>Zincanese parkerizing! Only on the files! Was the manganese close to the "black" DSA finish?</STRONG>

Dunno. I don't have any DSA 'stuff' yet, but I do have a couple 16.25" heavy barrels enroute...

<STRONG>How much did those ER Shaw barrels set you back? If I can't find an </STRONG>

The threaded, short chambered heavy 1.125" dia 24" barrel from Shaw was $125. $175 in stainless, but the Scot in me made me go for the CrMo.

See Ya,

[Keith Buckner]

DITTOS,
I have ALSO used Shooters Solutions Parkerizing and have only had positive results.

Easy to mix.. Easy to use.

In fact yesterday (Sunday) I found an IZZY Buttplate Set in one of my "junk" boxes.

I still had several ounces of their solution left over from some previous work from over a year ago.

Tossed it all in a SS pail, added water, sat it on a hotplate for a while, then dropped in the parts.

A few minutes later.....

VIOLA!! Beautiful Black metal!!