New Life To Old Magazines

[theGinsue]

I was blessed Saturday to pick up 4 used 30 rnd magazines from a member here.

I tend to prefer USGI/USGI-similar mags but don't have usually have the money to buy any and I've always been put off by the cost of new ones (yeah, I'm cheap and poor).

The mags I got today have the green MAGPUL followers and these and the springs seems to be in pretty good shape. I have some new green MAGPUL followers and springs to replace them if I find issues with them after trying them @ the range.

But, with all used USGI mag's, they weren't pretty.
http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt65/theGinsue/AR_Mag_Refurb_Before.jpg

While they were actually very clean, I still wiped them down with a solvent which removes all residual oils and dirt as well as softens up the existing coating helping to absorb new coating.

A quick spray of Perma-Slik G (considered to be the proper product to use to get to OEM specs) and 6 hours of curing and I have what appear to be NEW USGI mags.
http://i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt65/theGinsue/AR_Mag_Refurb_After.jpg
(the smudge marks are from the oils on my hand when I retrieved them from their drying wires.)

Saturday was a very good day.

[spleify]

Oh man, those came out great Thomas.

Where did you get the coating for those? Is it something that had to be cooked afterward or is air dry sufficient?

[pickenup]

WOW, what a difference.

[theGinsue]

The coating product is called Perma-Slik G and is officially tagged as a lubricant even though is comes out/applies like a paint.
[ETA: Be sure to shake the can very well before using - just like you would with a spray paint. Then, when you're done be sure to invert the can and spray to clear the nozzle for the next use.]

The pics really don't even do justice the the mag's - they really do look brand spankin new in person.

The "solvent" I used was pretty basic stuff - "Goof Off" which can be found @ any Wal-Mart. It's not as nasty as a lot of solvents are but does the job of removing oils, etc. very well. When I used it I noticed that it softened the original coating enough that steel wooling the mag wasn't necessary.

http://www.neelyindustries.com/images/Product/medium/EverlubePermaSlikGAeroCan.jpg

http://www.neelyindustries.com/p-2703-perma-slik-g-12-oz-aerosol-can.aspx

It runs about $19/can which can easily do 20+ magazines. But it is a HAZMAT item so hazmat fees are applied for shipping. The best thing would be to find others who live near you and do a bulk buy of it to reduce the individual costs for shipping/hazmat.

No baking is necessary for the curing. Although I've heard of folks who disassemble their mags and bake the coating to get a harder cure. I actually tried this once and can't tell the difference is the wear of t he finished products, so I quit going to that effort. According to the can, after 30 minutes the item is ready for "moderate use" with a full cure occuring after 6 hours. Easy enough! It goes on like a spray paint and coats quickly without having to apply a heavy coat. I always use thin wire in one of the holes on the side to hang them for the painting and then leave them hanging free to cure.

Like I said in my OP, I bought new followers and springs.
The followers come out to about $1/ea: http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=2319633504
Here are a couple of options for the springs - with the price, you can see why I don't replace them if I don't have to (I found a better deal 2 years ago ~ about $2/ea, but can't find it now):
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=239309
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=397848

I hope this helps.

[spleify]

Thanks Thomas, that was a big help.

Those came out awesome

[ray1970]

Good job. I usually just rattle can mine with a little flat black "barbecue pit paint". [Coffee]

[BPTactical]

As long as the mags function well I don't mind a bit of wear. I have a couple that are near gold color from the wear.

[Prometheus]

When you rattle can it does it scrape off into your gun?

[Camperdavid]

The mags look great. I live near Ft. Carson, so surplus GI mags are so common, they come in the mail with Tide samples and offers from American Express! Needless to say, I have a bunch of surplus mags that look really crappy. Do you have any idea how many can be redone with each can of perma-slik? ALso, has anyone found a local source on the front range?

[jerrymrc]

I also have a baking oven for finishes I built years ago when I first started doing Fal's. I can bake a full 30+" of barreled action. I may have to pick some of that up and do a few mags. [Coffee]

[Chad4000]

well done!

[markwcmu]

Make sure and remember and sand down the top 2 inches of the mag, otherwise you might get to much friction in the mag well with excessive paint on top. If your dealing with mil-spec mags for hard use or daily action, don't even bother with painting or coating the top 3rd of the mag. I did excess painting to a few of mine before going overseas and It cost dearly. Sticky mags are no Bueno.

Most of the time unless your running Coating like shown above, paint is just cosmetic and worthless.

Nice Work!