Parking question

[Zamble]

I had some old 1911 mags that I bead blasted. But I could not get the bottom plate off either of the mags. Can I still park them with the springs in there?

[smoothy8500]

You have to lever out the follower from the top, then remove it and the springs.

[Zamble]

Got them out. Thank you.

[Zamble]

How necessary is it to season the park solution?

[smoothy8500]

It helps even out the color from batch to batch. I've used the Lauer Black Manganese without seasoning and each item is the same, and the next time I used it was the same. Home brew parker solution needs the seasoning though.

[Zamble]

Ok. Well I parked my mags. But the color came out real uneven. I soaked them in oil for a while as well. I think I am going to have to bead blast them again. Crap.

[Alex$]

When blasting, ensure that you have an even blast all around and make sure to degrease them before going in bath.

[Zamble]

I did evenly blast them, and I sprayed them with simple green several times. Then rinsed with very hot water and put them in the tank.

[Alex$]

Skip the simple green, boiling water in a pot, sit for 3-5 minutes and drop in bath. A simmering boil works best. (or 200 degrees F). You want the parts hot and degreased.

(not to overlook the obvious: after blast be wearing gloves, finger oil can affect park)

[wash]

Lots of factory 1911 mags have an uneven finish and they are really a ~disposable part.

They don't need to be perfect, you just don't want them to rust.

[Alex$]

Lots of factory 1911 mags have an uneven finish and they are really a ~disposable part.

They don't need to be perfect, you just don't want them to rust.

true statement, if the uneven finish you are seeing is around welds you will have a tough time trying to even that out. Steel of different hardness will take park differently.

[Zamble]

No, it was uneven everywhere. I had it soak in oil about an hour. I took them out and let the oil run off of it and when I came back 15 min later, they had rust all over the parts. I did 3 AK mags and 2 1911 mags.

They looked like they had been lying in the mountains of Afganistan for 6 months. All of them.

After I eat dinner I am going to bead blast them.

[Alex$]

wait, you had rust after you phosphate coated and put them in oil? Something isn't right...

[Zamble]

Correct

[Alex$]

Hmmm, pardon but lets take a step back. If you covered these questions elsewhere I have not seen them, so...

What phosphate solution are you using? (mangenese or zinc, though it should not matter)
What vessel/pan/tank/pot are you using for phosphate?

I have seen rust and flash rust before phosphate process, this would be a first after... Any small amount of rust I have seen going into acid is gone at the end.