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Technical Removing Powder Coat

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by 283, Jul 8, 2018.

  1. 283
    Joined: Aug 29, 2004
    Posts: 65

    283
    Member

    I have an old pair of 4 hole Halibrand magnesium wheels that have clear powder coating on them. I want to remove the powder coat and let nature have its way with them. whats the best and safest way to remove it without killing these rare wheels.
     
    chryslerfan55 likes this.
  2. Heat and a wire brush....
     
  3. Joe H
    Joined: Feb 10, 2008
    Posts: 1,525

    Joe H
    Member

    Heat from small propane torch till it turns to ash, then clean with brush. You will be at it all day with any media blaster. There are some paint strippers that take off powder, not sure what it will do to magnesium.
     
  4. I use zip strip. be careful with the heat. magnesium will start on fire.
     

  5. And a wicked one at that.
     
    CudaChick1968 likes this.
  6. I stripped a set of '70s Trans Am honeycomb gold powder coated wheels with 'aircraft' grade paint stripper. Worked on the PC just like it works in regular paint; bubbled in a couple minutes and wiped right off. Had zero effect on the aluminum. don't know how the caustic would react with more reactive magnesium metal though. Try a daub of stripper on bare metal inside the wheel flanges to see if it is reactive or not.

    pontiac1..JPG
     
  7. 283
    Joined: Aug 29, 2004
    Posts: 65

    283
    Member

    Thanks all, I was wanting to stay away from heating the wheels I've seen a mag fire it was impressive. I'm going to bead blast them to take the gloss down a notch or two. I hope that will give them a more natural aged look.
     
  8. Carlos Everhard
    Joined: Jan 27, 2016
    Posts: 14

    Carlos Everhard

    i would take a few samples of magnesium that have the coating that you have and practice or experiment on them first. it would be a shame to start trial and error your mag wheels...
     
  9. You don't need to get it that hot. I'll heat the coating with propane until it softens (usually as it just starts to blister), then start in with the wire brush. Magnesium isn't that flammable....
     
  10. upspirate
    Joined: Apr 15, 2012
    Posts: 2,299

    upspirate
    Member

    Would a heat gun be more predictable?
     
    Boatmark likes this.
  11. A heat gun may work if it gets hot enough. Might take a bit more time...
     
    upspirate likes this.
  12. upspirate
    Joined: Apr 15, 2012
    Posts: 2,299

    upspirate
    Member

    I've never used one on paint or powder-coat, but it works really well on varnish.....which I know is not as tough as powder-coat, but ....
     
  13. ago
    Joined: Oct 12, 2005
    Posts: 2,199

    ago
    Member
    from pgh. pa.

    Powder coat is not as good as cracked up to be. Rust will still develop under it and difficult to remove.
     
    The37Kid likes this.
  14. I used powder coat after glass beading an aluminum intake . Turns out I didn't like the look so I used lacquer thinner to take it off
     
  15. The37Kid
    Joined: Apr 30, 2004
    Posts: 30,628

    The37Kid
    Member

    I'm not sure the wire brush is the tool to use. If you get it hot will is come off in a sheet like paint does? Bob
     
  16. stude54ht
    Joined: Dec 30, 2007
    Posts: 973

    stude54ht
    Member
    from Spokane WA

    None of this would apply to ceramic powder coating, would it?
     
  17. CudaChick1968
    Joined: Dec 11, 2012
    Posts: 108

    CudaChick1968
    Member

    Do NOT use a chemical powder stripper (such as Benco's B-17) on magnesium ever. It will actually boil and, if left too long, will ruin the Hallibrands.

    You'll have the best results with aircraft stripper or a propane torch and wire brush, but it will probably gunk up the brush so much you'll throw it away.

    Rex, if your powder coating came off with mere lacquer thinner, please shop around next time and find a more qualified place. I suspect that insufficient prep, inadequate cleaning and/or undercuring all probably contributed to the ease of removal on your intake.

    A colleague posted a video of magnesium in chemical stripper a few months ago. If I can find it I will add it later.

    Edit: it's on a private Powder Coating group page on FaceBook so I can't share it here but I did get a screen shot.

    Screenshot_2018-10-02-10-38-25.png
     
    Last edited: Oct 2, 2018
  18. BigDogSS
    Joined: Jan 8, 2009
    Posts: 979

    BigDogSS
    Member
    from SoCal

    Drop them off at a blasting company. The powder coating will come off.
     
    loudbang likes this.
  19. If they are Magnesium wheels be very careful. HRP
     
    CudaChick1968 likes this.
  20. My OT dump trailer was advertised to be "powder coated to withstand years of the abuse of a dump body". It was but the metal was not properly prepared.:mad: Not cleaned or blasted to remove the oils and scale of the raw steel.:mad: Within four years it began peeling off in big sheets.:mad: I completely removed the remaining coat with a putty knife and repainted it with tractor paint after premiering it. No rust back after a year.:cool: Looks good as a new one.
     
    loudbang and CudaChick1968 like this.
  21. CudaChick1968
    Joined: Dec 11, 2012
    Posts: 108

    CudaChick1968
    Member

    Last edited: Oct 2, 2018
  22. True story... And most problems that end users have are with 'manufacturer' coating on new items, although some coaters also cut corners. The manufacturer assumes (incorrectly) that because whatever they're coating is new and corrosion-free, that full prep isn't needed. Nothing could be further from the truth. If you want a truly bulletproof finish, prep is critical. Sandblasting is the best prep as that gives the powder 'surface tooth' to attach to, and done right will never ever peel off in 'sheets'. It's also critical to get enough mil thickness on the coating to insure there's no 'thin spots' that will allow corrosion to start.

    I've got a set of access gate keypads housings that were coated over 25 years ago, and other than some marring from being hit by car/truck mirrors still look like new.
     
  23. Bandit Billy
    Joined: Sep 16, 2014
    Posts: 12,286

    Bandit Billy
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I wouldn't recommend it with Magnesium wheels but I have an old gas BBQ grill that I use to cook off powder coated parts. Don't heat up lunch in there once you do.
     
    CudaChick1968 and loudbang like this.
  24. That is why I don't fault powder coat but the appliers that don't know or care. They just want the job out the door.
     

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