Just got done parking my parts. What do you think?

[Elkaholic]

First off I’d like to say THANKS Ding…

I’m exited and just wanted to show what I did today. This is the home brew. I’ll add more pics as the build goes on.

Elk.

[Mandaree36]

Wow...that looks great so far.

I been on the fence, wanting to try it...but a little worried about messing up.

I think I am inspired enough to give it a go though.

[mailman]

Looks great. I have one that is to be parked in a couple of weeks. What is your recipe?

[Ding]

awsome man,those came out really well.did ya redo the blasting on the receiver and dust cover again.Is that the solution I left ya or did ya make some new stuff.I just made some new solution thursday.already parked a bunch of parts yesterday..nice tank too,wish I had one like that,that one will take a full rifle huh?.you musta just made that.I wish I had a shop across the alley from me LOL.very nice again elk.they look good and dark.

[ronin]

Those parts look great! Did you use Ding's recipe as-is or with some tweaks?

[Elkaholic]

After looking closer at the barrel and gas tube I decided that I wasn’t happy with them. So back to the blast cabinet we go. Then I decided that I needed more solution than Ding left for me. I start busting up batteries and adding acid. Now it doesn’t want to work at all. So I’m starting over…

I went to the pottery store and bought 2 pounds of manganese dioxide then stopped and got 3 gallons of good water. I’m whipping up a new batch right now. If this doesn’t work… Ding I made you a new tank can I bring it to you. LOL.

I’ll give an update a little later.

Hey ding, I’d be more than happy to build you a tank. I don’t think I will ever use all of this manganese dioxide if you need some more.

[Ding]

BTW,you should have just added more water to the solution.also on the parts that were already parked,if ya reblast them they should re-fizz,they will not fizz if already parked thus the blasting again to get the fizz started.you did add just the black powder from the batteries didn't you? any of the other stuff in the batteries will make it not work.also did ya clean the parts real well with the parts cleaner?.any oils in the solution and it won't work also.remember two gallons water,prep and etch,steel wool and manganese dioxide till it dissolves.
here is the recipe:
the mixture of the homebrew is,for me that is:
2 gals.water
1-2 plugs of steel wool(aging)till dissolved
some prep and etch(home depot)
1 cup per 2 gals.you can add more or less.
manganese dioxide(black powder from D cell batteries) or you can order it in bulk or get it from a pottery store.I use about 6 table spoons.seems like the more ya use the darker it gets on the parts but that usually is enough.note,on home non heat treated rolled receivers it will not turn black,only very dark grey,almost black for some reason.only the FCG holes and spot welder spots will turn black so maybe some pre-dip black will work on those.works great on hardened receivers like NDS.
I put the parts in around 190 degree temp and check on the parts after about ten minutes to check on the color.usually the parts slows/stop fizzing after about 15-20 minutes.this stuff is very forgiving and does not need to be perfect in temp or time.I then rinse off in water from the hose and spray them in WD-40,use a paper towel to wipe off excess WD.they come out perfect.don't be afraid to bead blast them over if the color has light spots,maybe oils from handling causes this.the better the blast,the better the finish.don't handle the parts with your hands,use oil free gloves or wire.gives ya a very even color and finish.the prep is the key as with all parking solutions.


prep and etch..

[ronin]

Elkaholic - where did you find that pan at in Lowes? I see the Kobalt label and haven't noticed them before.

[ronin]

Also, are you guys bothering to plug your barrels or are you literally putting everything into the solution?

[Elkaholic]

Heck ding, you told me to use the stuff out of the battery in my truck and just to use beer for water. LOL. I used only the black stuff. I went to Lowe’s and got the concrete cleaner. Clean-n-Etch, It has the Phosphoric acid in it. The steel wool is in it right now at about 190.

[Elkaholic]

Originally Posted by ronin

Elkaholic - where did you find that pan at in Lowes? I see the Kobalt label and haven't noticed them before.

It is 2 mud trays for sheetrock that I cut the ends off of and welded them together. Tricky at .065 thick and nothing but a stick welder and old s/s rod.

[Elkaholic]

Originally Posted by ronin

Also, are you guys bothering to plug your barrels or are you literally putting everything into the solution?

I did have the barrel plugged with little plastic caps inserted into the barrel and gas port.

[Ding]

not to hijack your thread elk but just took these pics of some parts I did yesterday.don't understand what happened that you had to make new park.must have either got contaminated or the parts were parked enough to not cause fizzing.only two things I can think of.

[Ding]

you told me to use the stuff out of the battery in my truck and just to use beer for water. LOL

ah,ya have to use domestic beer,not the imported and to age it you have to drink a half rack wait 10 minutes and pee in the tank.that must be where ya messed up.LOL

[Ding]

another angle.even done some tools.these long noses were so rusted up they wouldn't open up.some WD and sanding,blast and a dip in the park sloution and have a new rust prohibiting set.the parts are smooth as satin.a good blast in the sand box works wonders on rough parts..still can't catch the cat.want to park his arse.

[Elkaholic]

Originally Posted by ding

not to hijack your thread elk but just took these pics of some parts I did yesterday.don't understand what happened that you had to make new park.must have either got contaminated or the parts were parked enough to not cause fizzing.only two things I can think of.

Those look really good. I’m just learnin so maybe I messed up. This tank is bigger and I didn’t think I could add that much water. Am I wrong? I most certainly have been before. LOL.

[Ding]

no--- you add water,as the solution heats up keep an eye on the level during the process,add water a little at a time to keep it level.once aged(after first park)from then on you just add water and a little solution every three or four times you park.the solution is pretty much concentrated at the amount you had,you had enough to put three or four gallons water and not effect the solution progress.just watch the level,add water,thats all.you can reuse the solution over and over or make new solution every few times ya park.thats the beauty of the home brew.it don't cost really anything much after the initial investment of the klean strip.

[Elkaholic]

Excellent, Now I know. I think one of the best parts is, if you don’t like the way it turns out ya can just redo it. Hey how long dose it take for this dang steel wool to dissolve? One more thing… Did you ever catch that cat and park it? LOL.

[Ding]

LOL,no the cat always gets away.the steel wool will dissolve.you can start parking before it dissolves,at least I did.I kept stirring the solution till it was almost gone,but you can start parking before it dissolves,you can see the results.I am not precise in measurements or time with this stuff.don't need to be.that's the good part about it.

[sjohnson]

ding, did you use up that bit of Mn02 I sent you? Pottery supply stores should have it now that you're a big city feller

[Ding]

didn't even dent it Sj.BTW how ya be doin old buddy.still have a lifetime supply of it.gives a good rich new look to the parts as ya can see,that and the WD..LOL.thanks for remindin me I'm in the city too.I'm still lookin for the way out of it.

[Petro]

Originally Posted by ding

not to hijack your thread elk but just took these pics of some parts I did yesterday.don't understand what happened that you had to make new park.must have either got contaminated or the parts were parked enough to not cause fizzing.only two things I can think of.

I wish my work area was that neat.

[Elkaholic]

Got it!!! The shiny spots are just where I didn’t wipe all the WD40 off.

[Ding]

ya missed a spot on the back of the.j/k..there ya go man.those look perfect,good picture of the parts..now ya makin me look good brother.do they have that satin smooth feel to em.?how much MD powder did ya put in.?.those do look nice..nice work elk..we be parkin now..LOL

mandy,now ya gotta try it brutha.

[Ding]

petro if ya saw the rest of it you wouldn't say that.I used old arrow target blocks for the table top.an old yellow jacket broadhead target.makes a real nice padded surface even with the arrow holes.

[Elkaholic]

Originally Posted by ding

ya missed a spot on the back of the.j/k..there ya go man.those look perfect,good picture of the parts..now ya makin me look good brother.do they have that satin smooth feel to em.?how much MD powder did ya put in.?.those do look nice..nice work elk..we be parkin now..LOL

mandy,now ya gotta try it brutha.

What can I say? I had a great teacher!!! They look and feel better than the EX. LOL.
I’m going to try to get the Tantal done tomorrow. Maybe I’ll have 2 more shooters together if we go shooting next weekend. Just like you said, after you do it once you’ll feel like an expert. LOL. We be parkin We be parkin Oh Ya…

[Ding]

yeah man,that ya are.not a rookie anymore.good parking job..

[lextech]

Awsome parks yous guys.

[ronin]

Thank you for the info Elkaholic. You and Ding are doing some great work!

[Elkaholic]

Originally Posted by ronin

Thank you for the info Elkaholic. You and Ding are doing some great work!

You should give it a try. It sounds a lot more difficult than it is. The best part is if you’re not happy you just blast it again and throw it back in the tank. The prep is the most important step, clean clean clean and it will turn out great.

Good luck and let us know if you’re going to do it.

Ps. if you have any questions just ask ding. LOL.

Elk.

[sjohnson]

Originally Posted by ding

didn't even dent it Sj.BTW how ya be doin old buddy.still have a lifetime supply of it.gives a good rich new look to the parts as ya can see,that and the WD..LOL.thanks for remindin me I'm in the city too.I'm still lookin for the way out of it.

Heh, don't feel too bad, I traded my limitless view of the countryside and all the wildlife in my back yard for a rental duplex in the city. And with my chosen studies in Nuclear Medicine I won't be living anywhere near Backwater U.S.A. when I'm certified - it takes a metro area to support a Nuclear Medicine department.

[Elkaholic]

It’s done!!! It’s to late tonight but I’ll post some pics tomorrow of the Romy and the Tantal that got parked today.

Have a great night.

[Buff223]

Originally Posted by Elkaholic

It’s done!!! It’s to late tonight but I’ll post some pics tomorrow of the Romy and the Tantal that got parked today.

Have a great night.

Elkaholic,

Do you mind posting your formula for the park solution you used?
Also what temp do you hold your solution at while parking?

Thanks in advance!!

Buff

[Elkaholic]

Originally Posted by Buff223

Elkaholic,

Do you mind posting your formula for the park solution you used?
Also what temp do you hold your solution at while parking?

Thanks in advance!!

Buff

Ok. I only made 1 gallon.

1 gallon good water
2/3 cup of Prep&Etch. You get this at home depot, “concrete cleaner” $14.00 a gal.
3 table spoons of Manganese Dioxide. Pottery stores have this for glazing. I paid $4.00 a lb.

Heat to 190. Then throw in a clean steel wool pad. I ripped it into 3 pieces. You need to keep it heated tell the steel wool has dissolved. About an hr. Then drop your blasted parts in and watch the little bubbles, jiggle the parts around every once in a while and when the bubbles stop it’s done. Rinse with water and spray with WD-40. That’s about it.

Oh ya. You need to do this in a stainless steel container or I’ve been told that ceramic will work also. As the solution evaporates you just add more water. Look at POST # 7 ding probable explained it better than I did.

Let us know how it works for you. Ok off to take them pics now.

Elk…

[Elkaholic]

I sure wish I was better with a camera… These pics just don’t do justice.

The first pic is the rifle that I did saterday.
The second pic is the Tantal that I parked Sunday. I switched to Prep&Etch Sunday and I think the park is better looking.