Barrel finish looks very strange after stripping off paint

[BoltActionAssault]

Ok cool. I have a heated ultrasonic cleaner and oiler, so I can get it hot to soak in oil.
So you wouldn't do the cold blue? Just leave it?

What is your end goal? Ro you have a certain finish in mind? I'm curious, why did you stripped it in the first place?

[GH41]

Ok cool. I have a heated ultrasonic cleaner and oiler, so I can get it hot to soak in oil.
So you wouldn't do the cold blue? Just leave it?

Cold blue is pretty much worthless.

[masakari]

What is your end goal? Ro you have a certain finish in mind? I'm curious, why did you stripped it in the first place?

I'm building a cheap frankengun for my wife's sister. This was an upper that I got for basically free, but it was covered in hideous paint.
She's not paying me, I'm doing this as a favor, so I don't want to dump money into it.

[MegademiC]

Op, can you link to the product used?
It seems kleenstrip makes different stuff such as turpentine.
I read somewhere its phosphoric acid, which will likely remove parkerizing, but stickmans comment had me resesrch it: if its an organic solvent, the parkerizing will still be there, you just stripped the dyes out- which is good feom a corrossion standpoint.

[everready73]

You could always just paint it with duracote or one of the spray cerakotes. I have even heard of people using grill paint to finish them. Aluma-hyde, Gun-Kote there are lots of options

[BoltActionAssault]

Duracoat
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jIUpl4gpW-k

[HeruMew]

It is fine. A little finish still in some pores isn't a big deal.

You didn't strip off parkerizing or nitride, so you don't need to worry about that.

If you want, you can heat it up with a heat gun or even a hair dryer to let oils soak in better. In the big scheme of things, I personally wouldn't worry, that is just how a lot of things look after stripping paint. Spray it with high heat paint if you want, but make sure you heat and cure it before you expect it to hold up at all.

After posting yesterday, I was going to return and ask about the Nitriding/Parking process.

It took me a whole few minutes to remember that those coatings are usually embedded in the metals itself. I was hoping that after I inquired about that, someone more in the know, would clarify for us.

Thanks for chiming in with your expertise, as you answered the questions I had as well after posting.

[masakari]

Thanks for the help guys. As long as it's still safe and not rust prone, I'm fine with it. The color doesn't look bad, and I don't think that she'll care really, but I don't want to give her something that's gonna be covered in rust after sitting in her closet for a month.
I'll make sure that it's given to her very well oiled regardless, though.

[masakari]

Op, can you link to the product used?
It seems kleenstrip makes different stuff such as turpentine.
I read somewhere its phosphoric acid, which will likely remove parkerizing, but stickmans comment had me resesrch it: if its an organic solvent, the parkerizing will still be there, you just stripped the dyes out- which is good feom a corrossion standpoint.

It's just their regular paint stripper. In hind sight, maybe I should have spent $3 more for Citristrip, but oh well.

[MegademiC]

It's just their regular paint stripper. In hind sight, maybe I should have spent $3 more for Citristrip, but oh well.

Does baking soda fizz if you mix them (just try a pinch in a capfull). If not, your fine.