Parkerizing prep questions for a Noob

[Brooklyn]

Hello,

I picked up a couple of Romanian AKM receivers from nodakspuds and just now received my Romanian parts kit. Even though the parts kit is in very good condition, I would like to parkerize the receivers and re-parkerize the kit. Has anyone else park'ed their rifles before? What were your experiences? I plan on using the kit from shootersolutions. I want the kit to match the receiver finish when im done building.

My main questions would be:
Do I have to remove the parkerizing from the kit before refinishing it?
If yes, what is capable of efficiently removing a park finish? Naval jelly?

On a side note: Popped the barrel pin out of the trunion, step one of my journey!

Thanks!

[C.G.]

A better forum to answer your questions:

http://www.parkerizingtanks.com/yabbse/index.php

[Brooklyn]

A better forum to answer your questions:
http://www.parkerizingtanks.com/yabbse/index.php

Ive been looking all over for info, thanks for the link.

[C.G.]

Ive been looking all over for info, thanks for the link.

No worries.

[blacklisted]

It's a great excuse to buy a sandblasting setup!

[Brooklyn]

It's a great excuse to buy a sandblasting setup!

Ah, but the flaw in that logic is that I would have to stop buying receivers in order to afford it.

[glen avon]

harbor freight has blasting cabinets on sale for $70, the glass beads are $20, all you need is a compressor....

[mow]

harbor freight is your friend.

[-hanko]

You NEED a blasting setup. Glass beads are OK, sandblasting gives better adherance & a finish like a military parked gun.

Or, hook up with 'bonecrusher' on the fal files, he does very nice work & has reasonable prices.

-hanko

[EBWhite]

Yes, harbor freight can be a friend, sometimes, but mostly, they sell cheap cheap handtools that are dangerous to use.

Can you get a metal bowl and park a receiver over the stove?

[glen avon]

CURIOUS WHICH TOOLS YOU HAVE HAD BREAK ON YOU

TYPICALLY i DON'T BUY HAND TOOLS THERE BECAUSE i PREFER TO BUY AMERICAN WHEN i CAN, AND i CAN'T STAND A BAD TOOL. (oops caps lock)

but for some stuff, e.g., blasting cabinets, anvils, and hydraulic presses, there is no comparison. and, if you look at swiss pattern needle files at lowe's, sears, and HF, they are all made in china and look very similar.

can you park in a metal bowl? yes, but acid fumes are not nice, so do it outside on a camp stove. be advised that non-blast finished can be splotchy. strip with muriatic acid and repark, but be warned. look on battlerifles.com, there are threads about DIY parking, some use acid strip, others blast, good info.

[Lon Moer]

Can you get a metal bowl and park a receiver over the stove?

Stainless Steel bowel/pan. I made my park "tank" out of scap SS at work and had the dept welder weld it up. Yes, I use mine on the kitchen stove.

[Top Cat]

You don't really need a sand blasting cabinet. The results will be much better and more even if you do, but acceptable results can be achieved by etching new, completely degreased metal with hydrochloric acid before immersion in the park solution. The only time sand blasting is necessary is if there is heavy rust or corrosion....all of that has to go.

Old parts can just be reparked over the old parkerizing as is...just degrease them first. It is not necessary to blast them.

I will warn you that Parkerizing is a little tricky, and there is a learning curve. Meticulous preparation is the key to success, and only strict adherence to the steps in the process is mandatory to achieve a good outcome.

But...stove top Parking is completely do-able.... if you know what you are doing.

TC

PS - Here is a BIG BIG hint for all you wanna be Parkers.... USE DISTILLED WATER!!!!

[Lon Moer]

Meticulous preparation is the key to success, and only strict adherence to the steps in the process is mandatory to achieve a good outcome.

PS - Here is a BIG BIG hint for all you wanna be Parkers.... USE DISTILLED WATER!!!!

(random words so that the board code will let me post!)

[Brooklyn]

Yes, harbor freight can be a friend, sometimes, but mostly, they sell cheap cheap handtools that are dangerous to use.

Can you get a metal bowl and park a receiver over the stove?

They had a rotary tool (dremel ripoff) on there for $10.. I said, heck, for $10 its worth the risk. I wont be surprised if the second I turn it on it bursts into flames when I try to cut the rivet heads off.

I planned on just using a stainless steel pan and parking it outside with some propane burners. I think my stepdad has a sand blasting setup. I will have to eyeball it.

Is there any difference in the media you can use? What do you figure would be the best for removing the existing finish?