C3 Grey Phosphate with Sparkle

[Mike South]

I have recently been plating C3 hood latches, male and female with grey phosphate from "Shooters Solutions" a company that caters to firearm enthusiasts. Althought the color of their grey phosphate is correct and the process worked well (heated the solution to 190-200 degrees F as per the directions) their grey phosphate does not have the "sparkle in the light" that I have seen on many of the finer examples of restored C3 hood latches.

Can anyone recomend a vendor for Grey Phosphate that shows this "Sparkle in the Light" as stated in the C3 NCRS manual? Also, what proceedure is to be followed to get the aforementioned correct grey phosphate?

Mike South
NCRS Member #35686

[Chuck S.]

Re: C3 Grey Phosphate with Sparkle

Mike, I can give you the name of another vendor, but I have no first-hand experience with their product.

They are primarily suppliers to gun restorers (just like "Shooters Solutions"), but also have materials used for restoration of Harley Davidson and Indian motorcyles. My thinking was applications that work for motorcycles should also work for Corvettes. I only ordered their "black manganese" product, and not the H-D formula. It has the right chemical name (manganese phosphate) to produce the sparkles, but I haven't tried it yet.

One result of your post was that I took another look at their website: I didn't see this before, but their grey parkerizing product is "grey OXIDE". I suspect this chemical may NOT produce the characteristic sparkles. The correct material for the grey phosphate with sparkles is zinc phosphate, but I don't think they sell that.

Your experience should help some of us avoid the same problem. Thanks for sharing.




Calvan Company

[Tom R.]

Re: C3 Grey Phosphate with Sparkle

It seems like in the last month or two we had a long thread on plating and finishes with several informative recommendatons. Use the archives to do a search and you should come across the motherload.

[Donald Brunswick]

Re: C3 Grey Phosphate with Sparkle

I've used the kit Carl speaks of from Calvan with good results.

[Mike South]

Re: C3 Grey Phosphate with Sparkle

Thanks to all of you for your help, I will also check the archives.

Mike South

[Chuck S.]

Re: C3 Grey Phosphate with Sparkle

Don, which kit did you use, the "regular" black & gray combo kit or the "Harley Davidson" combo kit? I felt it was the same chemicals in different strengths, and ordered a single bottle of black manganese for trial.

[Donald Brunswick]

Re: C3 Grey Phosphate with Sparkle

Chuck I bought the Large Black Manganese Parkerizing Kit from them. As with anything like this a little practice and they really turn out good IMO. I want to thank you for finding them, I bought the kit after you posted the thread here a couple of months ago.

donald