How are you restoring hardware, springs, hinges etc

[bubbasimms]

I have been looking at home parkerizing or at home zinc phosphate type coatings for restoring hardware, clips, hood hinges etc.....all the parts that need protecting but I don't want to paint.

There are a lot of misc parts that I would rather not paint, i don't think they look or last very good painted. I am also not terribly interested in shipping everything off to be plated or re finished.

Any opinions or suggestions? What does everyone do with these parts?

[Ironangel]

I use various methods depending on the part or the bolt application. I recently brought a set of exhaust manifold bolts back to life soaking them in a product called Evapo-Rust for a couple of days. I use various acid solutions such as Phosphoric Acid to convert rust into a sandable black compound called iron Phosphate. I use diluted solutions of Muriatic Acid to clean rust from various parts and nuts and bolts that are going to get plated, or polished. A wire wheel on a bench grinder is priceless for restoring nuts and bolts followed usually with a coating of WD-40 (silicon) to prevent rust once cleaned. Inside of fuel tanks get Oxalic Acid, rinsed, and then dryed with heat guns and compressed air before coating with a liner such as Kreem or Por-15. I dont use liners but use a lot of WD-40 and WD-40 "Specialist Corrosion Inhibitor"...A good old school hardware store with nuts and bolts in various grades and types of metals such as stainless steel is invaluable. Never use phosphoric acid in a fuel tank because the iron phosphate will clog screens and filters consequently clogging jets in the carb. I use it liberally to spray on bed rust before primer and paint. I found that many wheel cleaners are a mild acid solution that works great for nut and bolt or parts cleaning.

[greentruck]

I sand blast the parts, clean with denatured alcohol then use Caswell black oxide.
http://www.caswellplating.com/metal-...-1-25-gal.html

[Modaddio]

Originally Posted by greentruck

I sand blast the parts, clean with denatured alcohol then use Caswell black oxide.
http://www.caswellplating.com/metal-...-1-25-gal.html

Question, did you choose the dry or oily finish? I'm cleaning up old part as well on my 72. Right now, I'm on the steering control parts but will move through the truck as it is as I bought it, all in boxes and baggies with labels.

[greentruck]

I used the "oily" finish that comes with the 70$ kit because I didn't want to pay the extra 30 bucks for the dry finish. As it turns out, it is dry in about a day and doesn't appear or feel oily at all.

[Modaddio]

Originally Posted by greentruck

I used the "oily" finish that comes with the 70$ kit because I didn't want to pay the extra 30 bucks for the dry finish. As it turns out, it is dry in about a day and doesn't appear or feel oily at all.

Perfect, Thanks for the reply.

[bubbasimms]

greentruck....
How does the caswell black oxide last? Is it a good long term solution?

I use both the wire wheel and aluminum oxide blasting to clean up hardware and parts. I am looking at either zinc or manganese phosphate coating and using products from somewhere like Palmetto Enterprises or Casewell.... I'm just inquiring if anyone has experience with this and how it will last and or perform on hood hinges and springs etc.