Gun finishes: Blued, Parkerized, Tennifer, Stainless, others

[MoJo]

Anyone:

Well if that Springer in the picture is Parkerized, does that mean that the outer black parts of the weapon simply have a bit of a texture to them, as opposed to maybe a blued gun that is NOT parkerized?

SIA

I'm not sure I understand the question - say again?

Bluing and parkerizing are different processes. For want of a better term bluing is controlled rust the polished metal is put into a hot bath of bluing salts and the metal takes on the coloring but, if not protected by an anti rust coating it will rust quickly.

Parkerizing, on the other hand, is a phosphate coating the bare metal is put into a hot solution of chemicals that actually attach themselves to the metal. It requires abrasives to remove parkerizing whereas bluing will simply rub off in your holster. Most of the spray on finishes (Armorcote, DuraCoat, etc.) work best if applied over a phosphate coating.

Stainless Steel is a corrosion resistant alloy not actually a finish, chrome and nickle are metals that are plated onto the gun. some of the most durable finishes on the market today are the spray on and the Tennifer type finishes.

I hope this helps you.

MoJo

[USA1]

OK, more about polishing Nickel finish guns.

I was told to use Flitz Metal Polish so I went looking for some and couldn't find any at Walmart or Lowes.
Those places have Brasso, Tarnex, ect. But they contain ammonia and I'm afraid ammonia is not good.

Anyone know where to get Flitz ?

I'm thinking maybe Pepboys or Autozone but haven't checked those yet.

[seamusTX]

Just search for Flitz polish. There are about 700,000 places selling it online.

You can often find that kind of thing at non-chain hardware stores. I saw it on Ace's web site.

- Jim

[USA1]

Just search for Flitz polish. There are about 700,000 places selling it online.

You can often find that kind of thing at non-chain hardware stores. I saw it on Ace's web site.

- Jim

Thanks Jim.
I think I'll stop by my local Ace Hardware Store.

[J Wilson]

Just search for Flitz polish. There are about 700,000 places selling it online.

You can often find that kind of thing at non-chain hardware stores. I saw it on Ace's web site.

- Jim

Thanks Jim.
I think I'll stop by my local Ace Hardware Store.

You mite check motorcycle shops or maybe a Harley dealer.

[USA1]

Just search for Flitz polish. There are about 700,000 places selling it online.

You can often find that kind of thing at non-chain hardware stores. I saw it on Ace's web site.

- Jim

Thanks Jim.
I think I'll stop by my local Ace Hardware Store.

You mite check motorcycle shops or maybe a Harley dealer.

That's also a great idea.
If I can't find it at Ace I know of a Harley dealership as a second option.

[A-R]

Flitz was originally marketed as a stainless steel polish for commercial kitchen equipment, pots & pans, serving dishes etc. Any restaurant supply store should have it.

Lately I've also seen it in most gun stores. Here in Austin area McBride's and Red's both stock it. And I've seen it at Cabela's too.

But it's definitely more specialized than Home Depot or Lowes is likely to carry in stock. Ace or True Value might have it as those stores tend to carry certain random specialized items that the big box stores don't.

Since you're in Tomball, isn't there a big restaurant supply house on FM 249 within a few miles of Willowbrook Mall? Can't remember the name or where exactly I saw it, but my mom and stepdad live off of FM 1960 in far northwest Houston and I drive FM 249 a lot (our usual route to their house from Austin area is to cut over from US 290 to FM 249 via FM 2920)

[USA1]

Since you're in Tomball, isn't there a big restaurant supply house on FM 249 within a few miles of Willowbrook Mall?

There might be. But since I've never really looked for it I don't recall one.
I'll find some Flitz somewhere I'm sure. I can always get it on-line as a last resort.

[joe817]

I've think I've see Flitz at most army surplus stores I've ever been in. Maybe that's another source.

[The Annoyed Man]

Anyone:

Well if that Springer in the picture is Parkerized, does
that mean that the outer black parts of the weapon
simply have a bit of a texture to them, as opposed
to maybe a blued gun that is NOT parkerized?

SIA

Parkerized surfaces are not as smooth to the touch as blued surfaces, if that answers your question.

I have two parkerized 1911s. One is the exact model Springfield shown in that picture. The other is my dad's old WW2 sidearm, a 1943 manufactured Ithaca 1911A1. The older gun still has most of the original finish on it, and it feels just like the finish on the Springfield, except that the Springfield's parkerizing is a darker color... ...sort of a charcoal gray.

[surprise_i'm_armed]

AndyC: Sorry I didn't respond more quickly to your
request for clarification. I was away from the board for
a while.

TAM, MoJo, et al:
I think you've covered the bluing vs. Parkerizing. Thanks.

SIA

[garcia946]

I have a question, I have my grandfaters` Colt 45 1911 made in 1949, it has pitting on one side of the gun where is was wore in the water and ect.
What finish would hide this? parkerized , Nickel blasted ,dont think that the blue would do anything for it. I just want it to look better than it does.

[seamusTX]

Before you do anything to that old Colt, find out what it is worth in its current condition. You might be surprised.

Any kind of refinishing or modification will destroy the collector value.

Professional reblueing can look quite good, but it's not cheap. I've never seen a do-it-yourself job that didn't look like one. I think Parkerizing can cover just about anything, but I have no personal experience with it.

- Jim

[doc540]

The late Walter Birdsong invented the "Black T" finish.

He recently passed away, but his family continues to do guns for the Israeli military and various U.S. law enforcement and government agencies.

His finish has a lower drag coefficient than any known lubricant, so the gun never needs oiling.

Walter chuckled when I questioned this and said, "Oh, you can go ahead and oil it if it makes you feel better, but it'll just waste time and money and make it get dirty quicker".

[The Annoyed Man]

I have a question, I have my grandfaters` Colt 45 1911 made in 1949, it has pitting on one side of the gun where is was wore in the water and ect.
What finish would hide this? parkerized , Nickel blasted ,dont think that the blue would do anything for it. I just want it to look better than it does.

Before you do anything to that old Colt, find out what it is worth in its current condition. You might be surprised.

Any kind of refinishing or modification will destroy the collector value.

Professional reblueing can look quite good, but it's not cheap. I've never seen a do-it-yourself job that didn't look like one. I think Parkerizing can cover just about anything, but I have no personal experience with it.

- Jim

Absolutely do not refinish it if you care anything about the value of the pistol as a collector's item. The closer to original condition — scratches, bare metal, pitted rifling, and all — the higher its value will be as a collector's piece. If you don't give a rip about about the collector's value, still don't do anything to the finish. Instead, sell it to someone who does care about it, for more money than you would otherwise get for it, and buy some other, newer, firearm with a better finish that will make you happy.