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FE Power Forums => Non-FE Discussion Forum => Topic started by: mbrunson427 on February 28, 2018, 05:50:01 PM

Title: Blasting Magnesium Parts
Post by: mbrunson427 on February 28, 2018, 05:50:01 PM
I have my buddies dirt bike in my garage right now, he doesn't have a ton of mechanical experience and asked for some help. This started as a motor needing a new piston, but per typical, I've made it a much larger project than necessary  ;D . I'm taking the engine apart this weekend and have pretty quick access to powder coating, so I was going to re-do some of these engine covers. They're all magnesium. I've never worked on a dirt bike before and I'm genuinely impressed with some of the high performance engineering tied up in these tiny little engines.

My question: I've never fooled with magnesium before and don't know if I'm going to royally screw something up if I try and sand blast the old coating off of them? Will this be safe? Or should I use aircraft stripper? Or something else entirely?

(https://s18.postimg.org/3wedsij21/IMG_4518.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)

(https://s18.postimg.org/4yokb29l5/IMG_4526.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)

(https://s18.postimg.org/60yqtm049/IMG_4527.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
Title: Re: Blasting Magnesium Parts
Post by: jayb on February 28, 2018, 06:25:15 PM
I had a pair of SOHC magnesium covers sandblasted, and there was no issue - Jay
Title: Re: Blasting Magnesium Parts
Post by: mbrunson427 on February 28, 2018, 06:41:46 PM
Cool, I'll give it a shot. If it were mine I'd be a little less hesitant.
Title: Re: Blasting Magnesium Parts
Post by: WConley on February 28, 2018, 10:17:52 PM
I successfully used aircraft stripper to remove thick powder coating from my SOHC magnesium covers.  That worked just fine too and the coating just fell off.  No issues with the covers since.
Title: Re: Blasting Magnesium Parts
Post by: preaction on March 02, 2018, 07:51:35 PM
I don't think the coating you see on these parts is powder coating also 400* in an oven may not be the best for a magnesium part. I believe these parts have more of an aerospace type coating.