Prep before refinishing

[Greg1459]

I'm kinda new to refinishing issues and had a few questions. I want to do a moly resin finish on my xd, but I am not sure of the best way to prep the parts before application.

What should I use to remove the old finish and prep the gun for refinishing? I have one of the earlier types of xd, before they started the new melonite finish.

I read somewhere that one option is to parkerize the parts before applying the finish. I have also seen some people say that the parts should be blasted with an abrasive. If I was going to have the parts blasted, where would I go locally to get something like that done? Is it something that I can do myself?

I will check google while I wait for your replies, but I figured I should ask the experts first before I got into something over my head.

Thanks for your help.

[agalindo]

You can blast the parts or parkerize them.

I parked mine because I didn't have access to a blaster. For parking without a blaster I used a 50/50 solution of muriatic acid and water to remove the old finish. Do not do this to the barrel. Dip the part in the solution for 5 seconds and rinse for 5 min. You can buy premixed park solution or make you own.

If you do decide to go with blasting them don't bead blast, us an abrasive such as aluminum oxide.

[RogueXD]

Have a professional do it... I been having all my stuff coated with Cerakote.. That way, it its guarateed against any mistakes or ??? So far, perfect!

[Greg1459]

I probably would send it out, but I don't have the time. It happens to be a duty weapon, and it is just showing some holster wear. I work the weekends and can't be without it for 3-6 weeks.

I have heard great things about the moly resin product and I would be able to do that myself in the allotted amount of time.

Thanks for the tips. What kind of place would do the blasting if I wanted to go that route? It sounds like the park solution is gonna be the simplest option though.

[agalindo]

Actually the blasting is the simplest. Not sure who would do it, maybe a welding shop, or mechanics shop.

[RogueXD]

??? My MKII was out three days... the XD mags were done that afternoon.. maybe your local shop are way busy!! You are right, I couldn't wait even 5 days.

[joe.inom]

That is a good idea but be sure to have done that exactly orelse you loose the beauty.
i prefer some profesional or experts might do that well.

[Greg1459]

Originally Posted by RogueXD

??? My MKII was out three days... the XD mags were done that afternoon.. maybe your local shop are way busy!! You are right, I couldn't wait even 5 days.

wow you had your mags refinished? All I want done is the slide and levers haha.

[RogueXD]

Originally Posted by Greg1459

wow you had your mags refinished? All I want done is the slide and levers haha.

I don't like the idea of handling a "mirror" when changing mags, besides the scratches look like $hit.. I posted a "no more bling" thread if you want to see pics.. After 30 times inserting the mag, the small scratches rubbed off with my thumb.. its awesome stuff!

[em3whitworth]

I have been a moly-resin junky for about a year. The best way to prep for moly-resin is to abrasive blast. You can get a really cheap sand blast gun at the Home depot, mine was $12. Then a bag of abrasive blast media at Harbor frieght for something like $15. With this process the moly-resin will stick on your gun forever. I did one of my AK's this way and there is no way to scratch the finish, under normal use of course. The only downside to the abarsive blasting is that it will make the finish slightly more of a matte finish.