What to use to refinish used mag's

**skeeterbay** · July 25, 2006, 14:18

New member/FAL owner here so Please excuse any stupid questions!

What does everyone use to refinish these used FAL Mag's. I have some that appear to have been originally parkerized/phosphate finished and others that look more like they were painted with black paint. I would like to refinish a batch of surplus ones. Before I break out the old black enamel. I thought I would check with you all for better idea's and see what everyone uses? Thanks!

**W.E.G.** · July 25, 2006, 14:26

Parkerizing is fine.

Even better if you put a nice coat of polymer heat-cure paint over the fresh park.

But the hard question is the one you didn't ask.
That question is:
How do I remove all the residual gunk from surplus mags so that the gunk doesn't "pickle" my park solution with the first mag?

Sandblasting alone just won't do it.

Look at how a FAL mag is constructed and you will see that there is an area inside the mag where gunk can accumulate (maily via seepage). You gotta cook/flush that gunk out of there before you dunk the mag in the park solution, or you may regret it.

You may be happier in the long run if you just sandblast the THE OUTSIDE of the mag, and paint THE OUTSIDE with heat-cure polymer paint. Leave the inside of the mag alone.

**skeeterbay** · July 25, 2006, 15:05

Thanks for the info! I think your right. I just want to spruce them up a bit and your suggestion seems like the right idea. It's raining nothing else to do today so I guess I will go toss them in the blast cabinet now. Thanks again!

July 25, 2006, 14:18	#1
skeeterbay Veteran Member Bronze Contributor FALaholic #: 20461 Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 1,772	What to use to refinish used mag's New member/FAL owner here so Please excuse any stupid questions! What does everyone use to refinish these used FAL Mag's. I have some that appear to have been originally parkerized/phosphate finished and others that look more like they were painted with black paint. I would like to refinish a batch of surplus ones. Before I break out the old black enamel. I thought I would check with you all for better idea's and see what everyone uses? Thanks!

July 25, 2006, 14:26	#2
W.E.G. Administrator Silver Contributor FALaholic #: 1211 Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Virginia Posts: 31,055	Parkerizing is fine. Even better if you put a nice coat of polymer heat-cure paint over the fresh park. But the hard question is the one you didn't ask. That question is: How do I remove all the residual gunk from surplus mags so that the gunk doesn't "pickle" my park solution with the first mag? Sandblasting alone just won't do it. Look at how a FAL mag is constructed and you will see that there is an area inside the mag where gunk can accumulate (maily via seepage). You gotta cook/flush that gunk out of there before you dunk the mag in the park solution, or you may regret it. You may be happier in the long run if you just sandblast the THE OUTSIDE of the mag, and paint THE OUTSIDE with heat-cure polymer paint. Leave the inside of the mag alone. __________________ . . . Ask me about the Mason-Dixon FAL Collectors Association.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

July 25, 2006, 15:05	#3
skeeterbay Veteran Member Bronze Contributor FALaholic #: 20461 Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 1,772	Thanks for the info! I think your right. I just want to spruce them up a bit and your suggestion seems like the right idea. It's raining nothing else to do today so I guess I will go toss them in the blast cabinet now. Thanks again!