Lets talk refinishing v. Magnesium wheel centers...

[ohiodub_99.5]

So, I pulled the trigger on a set of mag. Centered wheels, I believe they are powdered... What's the safest way to either remove the existing coating (soda blasting, chem stripping? Etc...) or should I scuff and paint ?
The wheels in question:


I've already bought 2 new inner barrels, all new hardware, fixed one of the dented lips etc. looking to refinish them properly, just wanna know what I can and can't use on mag. Centers.
Any real help from knowledgeable people is appreciated.

[jubdub]

you can try walnut shell blasting, its much more gentle than soda/bead. i would imagine that chemical stripping would leave a somewhat etched finish on magnesium considering the fact that ive seen it etch into aluminum. honestly i would go any route other than glass blasting.

[ohiodub_99.5]

Yeah, I definately wanna avoid any kind of chem stripping, just because of the nature of the magnesium.... I'll look into walnut blasting. Thanks.

[jubdub]

Np bud, btw i sent you a pm on vortex regarding camber shims (saw you had them in an old post) but i got some good feedback on here. Cheers

[TheNeek]

They are a magnesium aluminum alloy, not pure mag. I own three sets of Ronal Racings. Blasting is fine and so is chemicals. I've done chemical twice on two different sets, and now a little blasting on the latest set. Nothing bad has happened. Had a concourse refinishing shop tell me that chemical stripper is ok.

[ohiodub_99.5]

They are a magnesium aluminum alloy, not pure mag. I own three sets of Ronal Racings. Blasting is fine and so is chemicals. I've done chemical twice on two different sets, and now a little blasting on the latest set. Nothing bad has happened. Had a concourse refinishing shop tell me that chemical stripper is ok.

good to know, i know youve had a few sets.... i should have just asked you lol... thank you sir

[Deborah_Rufilin]

<3 <3 <3

[a112]

I saw many blasted Campagnolo elektron magnesium wheels without any issues. I also personally used paint stripper on magnesium wheels without any problems.

[TheNeek]

I saw many blasted Campagnolo elektron magnesium wheels without any issues. I also personally used paint stripper on magnesium wheels without any problems.

Just avoid the "dips" where they hook your wheel and put it in a bath. I've seen photos and threads on the internet where Campagnolo wheels come out of a bath with not much wheel left. And campos are fully magnesium wheels.

[a112]

I also saw some wheel restoration professionals that messed up campagnolos real bad with bad refurbishing methods. They aren't pure magnesium but very much magnesium indeed. It's patended as Elektron mangesium and I'm 100% sure BBS E30 and probably other rennsport wheels were made of Elektron, at least early versions of the wheel. I also had a brochure somewhere that confirms what I'm saying.

About the OP's question, I would use soda blasting with the finest granulation possible to restore these.

[TheNeek]

Scan the brochure and post it up. I'd love to see it.

[ohiodub_99.5]

Well.... a little update i guess is in order....I ended up just scuffing the current finish and painting that since it was smooth enough and didnt have any major imperfections that warranted a full bare metal strip down.... the paint color is Ford Grey (which matches some of the bits in the bay, colorwise) Eventually i will stripe the Lettering in either the same pontiac blue i have in the bay, or a darker navy blueish hue to keep somewhat with what they would have originally had (from pictures ive seen of them in the past..)
enough talking.....
pic of the bay for reference.....

and the faces...

[electricalbox]

Nice I can dig that color, can't wait to see them finished.

[ohiodub_99.5]

Nice I can dig that color, can't wait to see them finished.

thanks! im heading over to my buddies shop today to take the lips to the buffing wheel.... so they should be assembled by the end of the weekend...

[jubdub]

do you still have the mk4?