restoring old mag's?
-
- SGT Premium Supporter
- Posts: 932
- Joined: Sat Sep 28, 2013 4:47 pm
- City: spokane
- State: WA
- Favorite Firearm: M1A
- Next Firearm: Sig HK S&W
- Contact:
restoring old mag's?
I picked up 2 15 round 30 carbine mags at the gun show, YES, I went.
They are a bit of a mess and would like to restore them before I used them. I was thinking a fine grit sand paper then a paint job. The insides are fairly clean and the follower spring and nice.
That seem an ok plan?
Thanks,
DK
They are a bit of a mess and would like to restore them before I used them. I was thinking a fine grit sand paper then a paint job. The insides are fairly clean and the follower spring and nice.
That seem an ok plan?
Thanks,
DK
- bladebum
- Retired Global Moderator, SGT Administrator and Founding member
- Posts: 14141
- Joined: Wed Dec 30, 2009 1:14 pm
- City: Spokane
- State: WA
- Favorite Firearm: Glock 41
- SGT Supporter: Yes
- Location: Northeast Side
Re: restoring old mag's?
Seems like paint might just turn into a gummy mess and make it difficult to insert the mag. You might try gun oil and #0000 steel wool first and see how they look after that.... Either way, before & after pics would be nice.
Fate whispers to the warrior, "You cannot withstand the storm" The warrior whispers back, "I am the storm"
"I am a sheepdog, I live to protect the flock and confront the wolf" Lt. Col. Dave Grossman
"Life is Short, Don't Waste It"
"I am a sheepdog, I live to protect the flock and confront the wolf" Lt. Col. Dave Grossman
"Life is Short, Don't Waste It"
- bladebum
- Retired Global Moderator, SGT Administrator and Founding member
- Posts: 14141
- Joined: Wed Dec 30, 2009 1:14 pm
- City: Spokane
- State: WA
- Favorite Firearm: Glock 41
- SGT Supporter: Yes
- Location: Northeast Side
Re: restoring old mag's?
Well.... Maybe... Here's a video that a guy cleaned some AK mags with Coke and then sanded & painted them. Never tried it myself.
Fate whispers to the warrior, "You cannot withstand the storm" The warrior whispers back, "I am the storm"
"I am a sheepdog, I live to protect the flock and confront the wolf" Lt. Col. Dave Grossman
"Life is Short, Don't Waste It"
"I am a sheepdog, I live to protect the flock and confront the wolf" Lt. Col. Dave Grossman
"Life is Short, Don't Waste It"
- Stiff
- SGT Premium Supporter
- Posts: 2670
- Joined: Thu Apr 15, 2010 11:18 am
- City: Spokane
- State: WA
- Favorite Firearm: MBA Gyrojet Pistol
- Next Firearm: Spyra Water Blaster
- SGT Supporter: Yes
- Location: North Spokane
Re: restoring old mag's?
How severe is the corrosion if I may ask? I assume they are in their original "blued" finish? If just ugly surface rust I usually use bronze wool and CLP (slowly) to clean. If the rust is thicker, a pre 80's penny (due to higher copper content) and CLP to scrape away the unwanted corrosion.
I can no longer sit back and allow Communist infiltration, Communist indoctrination, Communist subversion and the international Communist conspiracy to sap and impurify all of our precious bodily fluids.
- Stiff
- SGT Premium Supporter
- Posts: 2670
- Joined: Thu Apr 15, 2010 11:18 am
- City: Spokane
- State: WA
- Favorite Firearm: MBA Gyrojet Pistol
- Next Firearm: Spyra Water Blaster
- SGT Supporter: Yes
- Location: North Spokane
Re: restoring old mag's?
Understood, I despise corrosion as well
Those appear to be good candidates for a cleanup. I would give the rusty spots a soak with CLP for a few days, then slowly work at it with Bronze wool and periodically flushing with CLP as rust is removed ( loose oxidation is abrasive on it's own, so you want to remove it from the scene as soon as you can). From what I see appears to mostly be surface rust, and the mags should become nice shooter mags after cleaning!
Those appear to be good candidates for a cleanup. I would give the rusty spots a soak with CLP for a few days, then slowly work at it with Bronze wool and periodically flushing with CLP as rust is removed ( loose oxidation is abrasive on it's own, so you want to remove it from the scene as soon as you can). From what I see appears to mostly be surface rust, and the mags should become nice shooter mags after cleaning!
I can no longer sit back and allow Communist infiltration, Communist indoctrination, Communist subversion and the international Communist conspiracy to sap and impurify all of our precious bodily fluids.
-
- SGT Premium Supporter
- Posts: 421
- Joined: Sat Nov 30, 2013 10:11 pm
- City: Northport, WA
- Favorite Firearm: S&W GOVENOR
- Next Firearm: 25-20
- Contact:
Re: restoring old mag's?
A old trick for stopping / removing corrosion, coat object with olive oil for several hours (days) then dry and buff with a old cotton t-shirt.
the object will not look like new, but will have it's own dark patina that is not objectionable to look at
This also works on brass and copper
the object will not look like new, but will have it's own dark patina that is not objectionable to look at
This also works on brass and copper
- ron
- SGT Premium Supporter
- Posts: 8835
- Joined: Sat Mar 20, 2010 6:31 pm
- City: Cheney
- State: WA
- Favorite Firearm: G20SF
- Next Firearm: Flintlock Rifle
- Location: Cheney
Re: restoring old mag's?
Rust Never Sleeps. don't bother soaking them in anything. Just use differing grades of emory cloth followed by coarse steel wool. Paint will actually hold up better than you think and can be retouched. I've used Bondo brand Primer with good results and Rustoleum works too.
You might want to contact Firearm Finishing inc. 1615 E Holyoke Ave, Spokane, WA 99217 (509) 487-4145 and also PM member Mauser54 and see what they'd charge for duracoat and tell themn you'll do the majority of the prep work and they might even give you some tips in that regard. Duracoat is better than paint but not as good as Cerakote. I have a 1911 that was duracoated year5s ago and it's held up fairly well but h=is worn through on all the edges. but with your mags, when the duracoat starts to show some wear you could touch it up with spray paint.
A good quality spray paint will not get "gummy" or be dissolved by any gun cleaning solvents or lubes. The only thing that happens with repeated application of solvents and lubes is that "Flat Black" eventually absorbs some of the oils and becomes semi-gloss. This surprised me the first time I ever used spray paint on a gun, that it worked as well as it did and that =cleaning solvents didn't hurt it like you'd think that it would.
But like we used to say back in the 60's, "Better Living Through Chemistry"!
You might want to contact Firearm Finishing inc. 1615 E Holyoke Ave, Spokane, WA 99217 (509) 487-4145 and also PM member Mauser54 and see what they'd charge for duracoat and tell themn you'll do the majority of the prep work and they might even give you some tips in that regard. Duracoat is better than paint but not as good as Cerakote. I have a 1911 that was duracoated year5s ago and it's held up fairly well but h=is worn through on all the edges. but with your mags, when the duracoat starts to show some wear you could touch it up with spray paint.
A good quality spray paint will not get "gummy" or be dissolved by any gun cleaning solvents or lubes. The only thing that happens with repeated application of solvents and lubes is that "Flat Black" eventually absorbs some of the oils and becomes semi-gloss. This surprised me the first time I ever used spray paint on a gun, that it worked as well as it did and that =cleaning solvents didn't hurt it like you'd think that it would.
But like we used to say back in the 60's, "Better Living Through Chemistry"!
Government is not reason, it is not eloquence — it is force. Like fire it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master; never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action.
-
- SGT Premium Supporter
- Posts: 421
- Joined: Sat Nov 30, 2013 10:11 pm
- City: Northport, WA
- Favorite Firearm: S&W GOVENOR
- Next Firearm: 25-20
- Contact:
Re: restoring old mag's?
[quote="ron"]Rust Never Sleeps. don't bother soaking them in anything. Just use differing grades of emory cloth followed by coarse steel wool. Paint will actually hold up better than you think and can be retouched. I've used Bondo brand Primer with good results and Rustoleum works too.
Most of the time I'm pretty agreeable, I did learn many years ago if you haven't tried it "don't knock it"
Walk into any museum and look at anything old made of metal. It would be a very poor musuem that attacked rust the way you describe.
Olive oil is what is used, have a old brass/copper coin that is a 100 years old that has turned green? you can not not restore but soaking it in olive oil for perhaps 2-3 weeks will stop the corrosion and instead of green you will have a very dark copper/brass coin again.
Most of the time I'm pretty agreeable, I did learn many years ago if you haven't tried it "don't knock it"
Walk into any museum and look at anything old made of metal. It would be a very poor musuem that attacked rust the way you describe.
Olive oil is what is used, have a old brass/copper coin that is a 100 years old that has turned green? you can not not restore but soaking it in olive oil for perhaps 2-3 weeks will stop the corrosion and instead of green you will have a very dark copper/brass coin again.
Last edited by Blacklion66 on Wed Jul 15, 2015 8:20 am, edited 1 time in total.
- mauser54
- SGT Premium Supporter
- Posts: 2620
- Joined: Sat Feb 27, 2010 8:46 pm
- City: Silsbee
- State: Texas
- Favorite Firearm: Ones that i own
- Next Firearm: What ever tickles me
- SGT Supporter: Yes
- Location: Southeast Texas
Re: restoring old mag's?
If you had access to bead blasting, that would take all the rust off and any old finish still on them. Having them bead blasted would also prepare them to accept just about any finish you want to put on them a lot better and look brandnew again. I do bead blasting and if you wanted them done, i'm sure we could work something out.
Gunsmith Graduate with Degree
30 years experience
General firearm repair
DuraCoating service
Customizing firearms.
Contact me by:
- Pm through SGT
- Email - mauser54@yahoo.com
"Second Amendment" America's Original Homeland Security
"The criminal needs to be taught to fear his victim"
Jeff Cooper
30 years experience
General firearm repair
DuraCoating service
Customizing firearms.
Contact me by:
- Pm through SGT
- Email - mauser54@yahoo.com
"Second Amendment" America's Original Homeland Security
"The criminal needs to be taught to fear his victim"
Jeff Cooper
- RLHas
- Local SGT Sponsor
- Posts: 4696
- Joined: Thu Dec 10, 2009 11:04 am
- City: Medical Lake
- State: WA
- Favorite Firearm: Springfield EMP .40
- Next Firearm: AR 10 or Bolt action
- SGT Supporter: Yes
Re: restoring old mag's?
We could parkerize these for about 20.00
Wolff gun springs has replacement springs and "wah lah" new mags!
Wolff gun springs has replacement springs and "wah lah" new mags!
My Glock Doc
509-869-2754
Call for appointment
"A free people ought not only be armed and disciplined, but they should have sufficient arms and ammunition to maintain a status of independence from any who might attempt to abuse them, which would include their own government." - George Washington
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ
NRA Member
509-869-2754
Call for appointment
"A free people ought not only be armed and disciplined, but they should have sufficient arms and ammunition to maintain a status of independence from any who might attempt to abuse them, which would include their own government." - George Washington
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ
NRA Member
- ron
- SGT Premium Supporter
- Posts: 8835
- Joined: Sat Mar 20, 2010 6:31 pm
- City: Cheney
- State: WA
- Favorite Firearm: G20SF
- Next Firearm: Flintlock Rifle
- Location: Cheney
Re: restoring old mag's?
I haven't tried it your way so I'm not knocking it. But you haven't tried it my way either. what Mauser54 suggests with bead blasting doesn't involve soaking at all. But it removes the rust and that's what sandpaper and steel wool will also do but Bead-blast does it faster and better.Blacklion66 wrote:ron wrote:Rust Never Sleeps. don't bother soaking them in anything. Just use differing grades of emory cloth followed by coarse steel wool. Paint will actually hold up better than you think and can be retouched. I've used Bondo brand Primer with good results and Rustoleum works too.
Most of the time I'm pretty agreeable, I did learn many years ago if you haven't tried it "don't knock it"
Walk into any museum and look at anything old made of metal. It would be a very poor musuem that attacked rust the way you describe.
Olive oil is what is used, have a old brass/copper coin that is a 100 years old that has turned green? you can not not restore but soaking it in olive oil for perhaps 2-3 weeks will stop the corrosion and instead of green you will have a very dark copper/brass coin again.
As far as a coating or finish, Firearms finishing does the best Parkerizing I've ever seen and I worked at Hughes Aircraft in the late 60's right out of high school on the assembly line manufacturing ammo links for 20mm chain guns and the Parkerizing they did was pretty good. The links were not only taken down to the bare metal but they were soaked in a hot bath of Trichlorethelene before Parkerizing. That was my job. Taking them off the line, and dunking them in the tank and then sending them down the line to be parkerized. I also worked in packaging for a while and got to see the finished products. Those fumes were nasty and probably had a lot to do with why I am the way I am today. But my theory is that stuff like that only destroys the WEAK brain cells, and you're left with only the strong ones.
Government is not reason, it is not eloquence — it is force. Like fire it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master; never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action.
-
- SGT Premium Supporter
- Posts: 932
- Joined: Sat Sep 28, 2013 4:47 pm
- City: spokane
- State: WA
- Favorite Firearm: M1A
- Next Firearm: Sig HK S&W
- Contact:
Re: restoring old mag's?
I sprayed them down let them sit then used course and fine steel wool, seemed to work pretty well. I will probably take them in to rick and scott at FF to be refinished.
Thanks for the advice guys.
Dave
Thanks for the advice guys.
Dave