Topic: Manganese phosphate & oil finish results

[e093116]

Just thought I would share the results from some recent parkerizing that I did.

I used the Lauer manganese solution that is available from Midway USA.  The result is a nice medium gray finish.  About 4 years ago, I did some parkerizing with a zinc solution from Shooters Solutions which resulted in a light gray finish.

After the fact, I reviewed MIL-HDBK-205A.  I learned a few interesting things worth considering for someone on the fence about deciding on zinc vs. manganese:

1.  Zinc phosphate is more corrosion resistant that manganese phosphate.  Unfortunately, the handbook did not define the difference in terms of percentage or hours of exposure in an ASTM B-117 salt fog test. 

2.  Zinc phosphate is good to temperatures of 220F and lower.  The manganese is good to 350-400F (I forget the exact number).

3.  Manganese solution is harder on the process equipment than zinc.  I noticed the manganese solution produced sludge on the bottom of the tank where the zinc solution produced a very minor amount.  The sludge made clean up more difficult and time consuming.

Here is a hood hinge done in manganese and a hood latch done in zinc for color comparison:

[Sunlitgold68]

Some people prefer the darker phosphate look, others the lighter. The latch actually looks silver to me. All my phosphate plating looks like your hood hinge and that is what I prefer.

[J_Speegle]

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Here is a hood hinge done in manganese and a hood latch done in zinc for color comparison:

Thanks for the report

Agree that the hood latch likes much more like silver than the originals and Nos ones I've seen

As always the results of digit cameras and posting digital pictures to the web can result in allot of different looks

Thanks again

[CharlesTurner]

Thanks for sharing.  Your results/conclusions are pretty much spot-on with mine.  I used the same product.

[Popa G]

I am restoring a 69 Convertible  and I have had a hard time finding answer to my questions, I am glad I found this site.

I was ordering some Phosphate from Palmetto. Scott indicated there was a change to the MCA rules that says the hinges, caps and hood latch should be done in Manganese not Zinc. Is this true?

Is the hood striker also supposed to be Phosphate?

I have read the trunk striker is supposed to be natural, does this mean sand blast it and leave it?  That will be very hard for me to do.

Thanks,

Todd

[CharlesTurner]

There has been no rule change regarding phosphate finishes.  But, it has been found that manganese phosphate seems to be a closer match, sometimes.  The Ford spec was typically for either.