How do you strip paint off of magnesium?

[Kerry]

I just got a nice set of torque thrust look alikes for the front of the coupe so it's time to clean up my bonafide magnesium Americans for the rear. The paint has flaked a few times and they have had several paint jobs on the center. I do not have access to a bead blaster so that is out. What sort of chemical strippers are safe for magnesium? Is any flavor of Aircraft paint stripper safe? What's worked for you. I'd hate to mess these up.

After I get them cleaned I need to find some zinc chromate paint for the centers. Who carries it?

[Roothawg]

Bead blast em.

[Roothawg]

Even if ya have to pay someone.....

[andysdeuce]

I'm with Root on this one Kerry. Pay to have someone bead blast 'em. I would'nt take a chance on screwing them up. Could'nt cost that much to get 'em blasted. Oh yeah I'm bringing my slicks to Mokan next year!!!! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Kerry]

I hear you guys loud and clear. Now I gotta find someone local who I can trust to blast 'em.

Slicks Eh? Hope I'm ready for you. ;-)

[Unkl Ian]

Have you tries heating the paint with a Propane torch and scraping it off ? http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[polisher]

If they are regular mag aluminums use gasket stripper.(Loctite "Chisel" and Napa gasket strip are the ones I've used.
It'll peel off everything but enamel.
If they are pure mags, (very unlikely) they'll be featherlite.
Don't strip them.
You can't polish them.
Bead blasting means you have to polish them no matter what.
If you have a smooth factory gfinish under there,
Why screw it up?

[Kerry]

They are indeed real magnesium. I've got a chrome steelie of nearly the same size sitting beside them. there is a HUGE diference in weight.


Youi are saying that if I bead blast I will have to polish? Like that other wheel patina thread, I'd sort of like to keep them looking old. Will the bead blasting take away the machined looking finish on the lips?

The paint that is on them isn't all that nice. there are a couple of chips now and have been othere that were painted over. I guess I could always sand the centers and then repaint. I liked the idea of gettin down to metal and painting with the zinc chromate like the aviation guys use.

[Roothawg]

Magnesium is heavy. Trust me.

[Kerry]

Oh, and since they are magnesium I didn't really feal like trying the torch method. Never seen a magnesium fire and I don't want to start now.

[Roothawg]

Why are you wanting to paint with Zinc Chromate? Just curious. Zinc Chromate is for aluminum.
Magnesium breathes so I doubt paint will stick for long.
The guy fdrom Roadsters.com is pretty knowledgable about mag wheels.

[Kerry]

I looked for a long time for five spokes and never found any for the big 5 on 5.5" ford pattern. When I finally came across the se 15x7's in that pattern I jumped. I'd actually rather have aluminum but this is what I could find... and afford.

[Kerry]

I was led to believe that the zinc chromate was actually for magnesium as well. I thought magnesium aircraft parts were also treated with it. Is that incorrect? What do the aircraft guys do with magnesium?

[Roothawg]

See, Magnesium can't be treated with say alodine. It will turn black. There is a coating I mixed up to put on my wheels. It was a conversion coating...industrial name is dow7 treatment. It's a mixture of Calcium Sulfate and Chromic acid. 1 ounce per gallon of each. Leave it in for the color desired. The longer you leave it the darker it gets. I have some here if ya wanna have a go at it. I would have to see how much I have left. I submerged my wheels in a new trash can.

[porknbeaner]

I sent you a PM about getting your wheels blasted.

[Smokin Joe]

[ QUOTE ]
Never seen a magnesium fire and I don't want to start now.


[/ QUOTE ]

You missed a real good HAMB "How To" at the bend in the road this year. Bring 'em to the salt next year and we'll show ya how to get that paint off!
http://photo.starblvd.net/~SmokinJoe/4-2-3.jpg
http://photo.starblvd.net/~SmokinJoe/4-2-1.jpg

[polisher]

That alodine is cool stuff.
Wonder if it takes to zinc?

[Kerry]

Hi,

I am interested in your dow 7 stuff. I've heard about that but I'm not enough of a chemist to cook it up. I looked around Wichita thinking someone would have some due to the aircraft industry but nobody would give me the time of day. First off I guess I need to get these blasted. I'm going to ask around locally.

Thanks,
Kerry

[Roothawg]

Kerry are you in KC?
If you can get em blasted...I could make a big tub full and we could do a couple sets if anyone else needs to. I would send some to ya in the mail but I am not sure about the haz mat requirements.

The chromic acid is available at any chrome plating shop.
Calcium Sulfate is a little harder to locate. They usually want ya to buy 10 gallons or something stupid.

[fordiac]

you can bolt those wheels to the hub and with both rear tires up off the ground, run the engine in drive at idle, use a scotch brite pad or some fine sandpaper, and whislt the wheel is turning, use that to touch up the flat parts.

that shouldnt take too long.

[Roothawg]

Just watch out for the valve stem! DOH!

[fordiac]

oh, take that out first....

[Kerry]

I'm about 45 miles northwest of Wichita, between McPherson and Huthinson. A pretty rural area. I got a name of a blaster contact for the KC area but I hope to find something a little closer. KC is about a 3.5 hour drive.

Spinning the wheels and hitting them with Sandpaper would be painful. :-( I need to strip the paint in the spoke area.

[Kerry]

How much of the dow7 do you have left from the last time? A hamb dow7 part sounds fun to me. If that wouldn't work you could send me just the basic ingredients ups ground. As long as it doesn't go air I don't think it would be a problem.

[Tman]

BTTT, Root, Kerry, does ths Dow7 make aluminum look like your guys wheels? I am working on something with some new (gasp!) Americans!

[k-member]

This one is an oldie, but a goodie..

"...industrial name is dow7 treatment. It's a mixture of Calcium Sulfate and Chromic acid. 1 ounce per gallon of each."

Now what are you mixing with the one ounce of each, you know the gallon it's self? Water, Alcohol, Gas, laquer thinner? And is this the treatment that gives that goldish looking color? And the question about the aluminum is a good one too..

I believe that you may have seen a magnesium fire if you have ever seen big firework shows, I think magnesium may be used in the brite white ones, but what do I know. It's just a SWAG...Scientific Wild Ass Guess.

[BlackFlag]

If your going to blast it and want to make it so some part of the wheel doesnt get hit, some people use vinyl to cover those areas. And as far as magnesium fires go, its almost worse than looking at the sun if your right near the magnesium. thats one of the few things i learned in public school. actually it was behind autoshop...

[randydupree]

If your going to blast it and want to make it so some part of the wheel doesnt get hit, some people use vinyl to cover those areas. And as far as magnesium fires go, its almost worse than looking at the sun if your right near the magnesium. thats one of the few things i learned in public school. actually it was behind autoshop... a real simple way to tell if your wheels are aluim. or mag. is to spray vinager on a bare metal spot.if it foams,its mag. if not,its aluim. and mag. is 30% lighter than alium.. Randy

[deuce]

If they are regular mag aluminums use gasket stripper.(Loctite "Chisel" and Napa gasket strip are the ones I've used.
It'll peel off everything but enamel.
If they are pure mags, (very unlikely) they'll be featherlite.
Don't strip them.
You can't polish them.
Bead blasting means you have to polish them no matter what.
If you have a smooth factory gfinish under there,
Why screw it up?why do you say they can't be polished? http://photobucket.com/albums/v480/vivariumconcepts/coupe004.jpg

[destructo]

Kerry,
Here's a couple of places in Wichita that you might check out.

Soft Strip 2425 S Custer Wichita 316-945-6102
Kansas Dry Stripping 6017 S Oliver Wichita 316-788-0177

I've used Soft Strip a couple of times with good results and a buddy of of mine had KDS strip a camaro that he was pleased with.
Hope this helps.
Dan

[brandon]

Magnesium is heavy. Trust me.

actually mag is supposed to be lighter than aluminum .....not good for much .....send em my way .......hahah brandon

[polisher]

why do you say they can't be polished? http://photobucket.com/albums/v480/vivariumconcepts/coupe004.jpg

That is not pure mag.
It looks like at least 80 percent aluminum.
Pure mag is so porous and non reflective you can't polish it to a decent level.
That's how it comes.
I've got a picture of some OZ wheels on my 'puter of a high content mag centre. beside an aluminum outer where the difference in the metals is easy to see. The owner liked it, but I don't consider it a good polished surface.I don't know how to thumbnail it, or I'd post it.
You can see the pores large as life, right the way through the centre.

[Kerry]

Thanks, I'll keep them in mind for next time. I'm good for now. The original post for this was quite a while back. In fact since then I've gotten some magnesium front wheels and have blasted and treated them as well. Finally looks right with the front and rear wheels matching for the most part.

Polisher is right about the porisity. I have seen some polish up pretty nice though.


Kerry,
Here's a couple of places in Wichita that you might check out.

Soft Strip 2425 S Custer Wichita 316-945-6102
Kansas Dry Stripping 6017 S Oliver Wichita 316-788-0177

I've used Soft Strip a couple of times with good results and a buddy of of mine had KDS strip a camaro that he was pleased with.
Hope this helps.
Dan