Parkerizing - what determines the final color

[Riss]

Disregarding any surfacr treatment after the Parkerizing is done what determines the final color of the treatment. Goes from mid-grey to dark black. I know that the metal composition has some final say. Like a harder grade 8 steel does dark, grainey black. But sometimes one batch of metal the same as another goes wildly a different color. Could the mix be off a little. Should I add more Parker solution to the mix and not dilute it. HELP. I'm looking for the dark black, not the grey that I have been getting lately.

 

[Dfariswheel]

I'd contact Brownell's. They are excellent at answering these questions.

They also sell a dip, that causes the solution to produce a dead black final finish.

 

[James K]

Try

http://www.hotflashrefinishing.com/Parkerizing.htm

for a discussion, if not an answer.

The argument about the original color of WWII receivers goes on. M1 rifles often have a greenish tinge, which is quite uniform and appears in areas where cosmoline (often cited as the cause) did not reach. The cosmoline theory also does not explain why a receiver is greenish and the adjacent barrel or bolt is not.

Use www.google.com and search on "Parkerizing" for a lot of info, mostly good.

Jim

 

[Doubleought]

Riss,

Are you using a zinc phosphate or manganese phosphate solution? The manganese phoshate gives the darker finish. I've never used it myself, but I have read that Brownell's pre-dip blackener works well. You have to be careful when handling the parts, as the pre-dip rubs off easily.

Please check out my Parkerizing links for more info.

Parkerizing Links

 

[Nukem]

The guy from Hawkeye told me he treats his tanks with steel wool.

To get that old mil green park look I was told that the finished parts were coated in some type of grease and wrapped for about six months. It's more of a "stain" to the park.

 

[Doubleought]

Here's my new Parkerizing discussion forum. (I Have not added it to my links page yet, so I'm posting the link here) You might get a few opinions there.

Parkerizing Forum

 

[James K]

Hi, Nukem,

I have heard that story, also that they greased the rifles and then laid them out in the hot sun (in tropical Massachusetts) for six months.

Can anyone really believe they did any such thing in the middle of a war, with rifles desperately needed for the fighting front?

Jim

 

[Doubleought]

Gunplumber at Arizona Responce Systems has some info on coloring in his Parkerizing guide. Gunplumber's Parkerizing Notes
Click on the "Notes" button.

 

[Nukem]

Jim,

That was the only way that he said he could reproduce the same effect.