Help with cleaning a parkerized finish?

kmullins · January 21, 2009, 06:56 PM

Hello everyone, just picked up a Remington 870 Police Magnum today and the parkerized finish looks a little bit rough. I wasn't sure what to do so I used a slightly damp rag and tried to clean it up, but had no luck. Any advice on what to use to clean it up? I have Ballistol, Kroil and WD40 at my disposal. Thanks.

publius · January 21, 2009, 07:12 PM

take an old toothbrush and some solvent and scrub it down then wipe clean. spray it down with a good heavy coat of gun oil and let it sit for a couple of days then wipe off excess.

Tom2 · January 21, 2009, 09:11 PM

If it is worn down to the metal or something all you can do is get it refinished. At least it should be cheaper than blueing it. There is no way to "fix" it if it is worn down or worn away. If it is just scuffed some the treatment recommended by the other guy might help.

kmullins · January 22, 2009, 09:53 AM

No, the gun is brand new and is not worn down. It's just dusty and been sitting for a while. I'm just wondering what is the best way to go about routine maintenance with a parkerized firearm.

Dfariswheel · January 22, 2009, 07:16 PM

What the Remington factory used to recommend for parkerized shotguns was to field strip the gun per the owner's manual, including the magazine.

Lay the gun on a thick pad of newspaper and spray the entire gun, inside and out with a dripping wet coat of Rem-Oil or CLP Breakfree.
Allow to soak for 30 minutes to dissolve the old lube and dirt and "soak in" the new.

Wipe dry and reassemble.
This will lubricate the gun and impregnate the rough parkerized coating with a protective coat of lube.
Every time you use or handle the gun, apply a little more lube with a tooth brush or lint-free small cloth to keep the protective coating.

DON'T soak the stock or forearm, just the metal, inside and out.
I prefer CLP Breakfree, because its a little thicker than the Rem-Oil, and it builds up a protective layer of Teflon in-on the metal.

One reason parkerizing is a good finish, is because the rough surface holds lube so well and forms a protective barrier to rust.

**Unclenick** · January 22, 2009, 08:16 PM

It's not just rough, it is porous. Standard post Parkerizing tank treatment is soaking in water displacing oil. If you use any kind of solvent on it, the oil must be replaced or rust will develop. Shooter's Solutions has a post Parkerizing spray-on treatment that works well. If you've found it necessary to use solvent, I would recommend that. Absent access to the the specialized material, I would use LPS 2 or 3. 3 has the advantage of leaving a waxy material behind, in addition to the rust inhibitor.

kmullins · January 24, 2009, 02:25 PM

Thanks everyone for the advice. I actually just took a little Ballistol and put it on a lint-free cloth and rubbed the gun down; it improved dramatically and looks great. Ballistol also claims to be a rust preventative so that will help preserve the firearm. Thank you everyone.

drail · January 25, 2009, 02:17 PM

I have had parkerized 1911s and used nothing but Breakfree CLP on them with no problems. Just keep a good coat of your favorite brand of oil on it.

James K · January 25, 2009, 06:14 PM

A shotgun might be too big, but I found that a good way to clean Parkerized pistols was to strip them down and toss them in the dishwasher. They come out looking like new.

Jim

Casimer · January 25, 2009, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Ballistol, Kroil and WD40 at my disposal.

I've used a thin coat of kroil, but only on exterior surfaces.

But the best is probably a clear grease.

January 21, 2009, 06:56 PM	#1
kmullins Senior Member Join Date: October 31, 2008 Posts: 250	Help with cleaning a parkerized finish? Hello everyone, just picked up a Remington 870 Police Magnum today and the parkerized finish looks a little bit rough. I wasn't sure what to do so I used a slightly damp rag and tried to clean it up, but had no luck. Any advice on what to use to clean it up? I have Ballistol, Kroil and WD40 at my disposal. Thanks.

January 21, 2009, 07:12 PM	#2
publius Senior Member Join Date: January 25, 2005 Location: Mississippi/Texas Posts: 2,505	take an old toothbrush and some solvent and scrub it down then wipe clean. spray it down with a good heavy coat of gun oil and let it sit for a couple of days then wipe off excess. __________________ "Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of Congress, but I repeat myself." Mark Twain

January 21, 2009, 09:11 PM	#3
Tom2 Senior Member Join Date: June 23, 2004 Location: Ohio Posts: 5,676	If it is worn down to the metal or something all you can do is get it refinished. At least it should be cheaper than blueing it. There is no way to "fix" it if it is worn down or worn away. If it is just scuffed some the treatment recommended by the other guy might help. __________________ Your gun is like your nose, it is just wrong for someone else to pick it for you!

January 22, 2009, 08:16 PM	#6
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,084	It's not just rough, it is porous. Standard post Parkerizing tank treatment is soaking in water displacing oil. If you use any kind of solvent on it, the oil must be replaced or rust will develop. Shooter's Solutions has a post Parkerizing spray-on treatment that works well. If you've found it necessary to use solvent, I would recommend that. Absent access to the the specialized material, I would use LPS 2 or 3. 3 has the advantage of leaving a waxy material behind, in addition to the rust inhibitor. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

January 22, 2009, 09:53 AM	#4
kmullins Senior Member Join Date: October 31, 2008 Posts: 250	No, the gun is brand new and is not worn down. It's just dusty and been sitting for a while. I'm just wondering what is the best way to go about routine maintenance with a parkerized firearm.

January 22, 2009, 07:16 PM	#5
Dfariswheel Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2001 Posts: 7,478	What the Remington factory used to recommend for parkerized shotguns was to field strip the gun per the owner's manual, including the magazine. Lay the gun on a thick pad of newspaper and spray the entire gun, inside and out with a dripping wet coat of Rem-Oil or CLP Breakfree. Allow to soak for 30 minutes to dissolve the old lube and dirt and "soak in" the new. Wipe dry and reassemble. This will lubricate the gun and impregnate the rough parkerized coating with a protective coat of lube. Every time you use or handle the gun, apply a little more lube with a tooth brush or lint-free small cloth to keep the protective coating. DON'T soak the stock or forearm, just the metal, inside and out. I prefer CLP Breakfree, because its a little thicker than the Rem-Oil, and it builds up a protective layer of Teflon in-on the metal. One reason parkerizing is a good finish, is because the rough surface holds lube so well and forms a protective barrier to rust.

January 24, 2009, 02:25 PM	#7
kmullins Senior Member Join Date: October 31, 2008 Posts: 250	Thanks everyone for the advice. I actually just took a little Ballistol and put it on a lint-free cloth and rubbed the gun down; it improved dramatically and looks great. Ballistol also claims to be a rust preventative so that will help preserve the firearm. Thank you everyone.

January 25, 2009, 02:17 PM	#8
drail Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2008 Posts: 3,150	I have had parkerized 1911s and used nothing but Breakfree CLP on them with no problems. Just keep a good coat of your favorite brand of oil on it.

January 25, 2009, 06:14 PM	#9
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	A shotgun might be too big, but I found that a good way to clean Parkerized pistols was to strip them down and toss them in the dishwasher. They come out looking like new. Jim