Need help with a Remington Model 51 spoon...

[targa911S]

Just got my "thank you" package from Art for restoring his Rem. M51. He hand loaded me enough .223 for me to zero my new .223 plus kill every groundhog in the whole damn county. You da man Art! Thanks!

I love this place.

[azasadny]

I'm glad you're happy with the "thank you" package! I wanted to send you that since I got the Model 51 back... Enjoy!

[targa911S]

Could not be happier. Thanks Art yer a good guy.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by targa911S

Could not be happier. Thanks Art yer a good guy.

Get a trailer, you two

Art, if you want me to get the Fleet Marine chesty for you, my pleasure...you earned and deserve it.

[azasadny]

Paul,
Thanks for the very kind offer, but I think I'll get one online and put it with my "veteran stuff". I didn't know that the FMF designation was approved in 2006. When I got mine, it was just a ribbon, although mine does have the "eagle, globe and anchor" in the middle because I served with the USMC during war time, or whatever they called Desert Storm.

[azasadny]

The gout kicked my butt from Wed until today so nothing got done on the pistol this weekend.

[Seahawk]

How about you let me get it for you, as a token of my respect?

Then we'll both have a new sea story...and you never buy the first device you earn. I got my first set of wings from a friend of my fathers. Instant SS

Best with the gout, Brother.

Originally Posted by azasadny

Paul,
Thanks for the very kind offer, but I think I'll get one online and put it with my "veteran stuff". I didn't know that the FMF designation was approved in 2006. When I got mine, it was just a ribbon, although mine does have the "eagle, globe and anchor" in the middle because I served with the USMC during war time, or whatever they called Desert Storm.

[azasadny]

Paul,
Thanks, but only if you let me send you some hand loaded ammo!

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by azasadny

Paul,
Thanks, but only if you let me send you some hand loaded ammo!

Done.

I'll be in touch.

[azasadny]

Getting over the latest gout attack, so I'm probably not going to get anything done on the M1911A1 until next weekend. My work assignment in Okemos, MI ends this Friday and I'm starting at a new client site on May 2nd, so lots of stuff going on right now.

[targa911S]

That's Ok. Take your time and be patient. You will do a much better job. It's not like you have a client waiting for his gun. It's a hobby. Have a happy Easter.

[azasadny]

David,
Thanks, you too!!

[azasadny]

Well, today was the day... Parkerized the M1911A1 that I had sandblasted and prepped..
Brought the solution up to 190 degrees...

The tank...

Degreaser that came with the kit, I used this after the acetone dip...

Parts soaking in acetone (degrease)

Final degreasing...

Final degreasing...

Final rinse in hot water, ready for the Parkerizing tank

[azasadny]

Degreased parts, in hot water, waiting for the tank to reach 190 degrees...

A watched Parkerizing tank never boils (or reaches 190 degrees)...

Parts go in...

Bubblin'...


All parts are in...

Parts come out after 30min and go into hot water rinse... The electric roaster worked very well and stayed right at 190 degrees...

[azasadny]

Beth sacrificed her roaster so I could have a Parkerizing tank...

Tools of the day...

The chemicals...

Important fashion accessories...

I even read these and followed them closely...

The parts after their rinse in hot water, the "black coating" is like a very thick, carbon that has to be cleaned off. Very stubborn, I must say...

It came off the frame pretty easily, but the slide is another matter altogether...


All parts are soaking in oil tonight and tomorrow I'll get the gun cleaned up, greased with Rig (thanks David!) and get it reassembled... Doing this in the garage with excellent ventilation helped and the "tong method" was really easy. The teflon-coated electric roaster got up to 190 degrees and stayed there, which is very important. The candy thermometer and brewing thermometer were both used to make sure the solution stayed at 190 degrees. So far, so good...

[targa911S]

clap clap clap clap clap! Bravo! Well done Art! Also a great photo journal. Great job!

Oh...and you have a great wife too.

[targa911S]

by the way what are you using to card off the velvet?

[Henry Schmidt]

I have a couple of 1903 Colts that suffered from some neglect in the past so I tried two different methods of restoration. Both projects proved to be very rewarding.
The first one got disassembled, bead blasted, in-house electroless nickle and the trigger was sent out to be gold plated.


The second was disassembled, bead blasted and sent to john @ DC camshafts where he Parkerized the pieces for me.

[azasadny]

Henry, Those 1903's are beautiful!!

David, Thanks! What should I use to remove the "crystals"? Bronze wool and oil?

[azasadny]

I guess in my Parkerizing research, I missed the part about the process after the parts have been soaking in oil, after the Parkerizing has been completed and the rinse has stopped the process. All of the reading I've done basically said "oil the parts and reassemble the gun" with no mention of "carding off the velvet-like" black crystals left on the metal surfaces...

I thought I would take the parts out of the tank and they would be all pretty and gray... I'm cautious at this point because I don't want to screw up the work that has been done thus far, so I'm thinking I'll lightly apply oiled bronze wool and carefully remove the black coating. It's mostly off the frame, but the slide looks pretty crusty and blotchy. I really hope this project tuens out!