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Posted: 7/28/2018 8:10:59 PM EDT
With US Anodizing taking no new work until at least 2019 and having a build lacking everything but the lower finish I decided to give SNF Finishing a try.
Second option was Norrell's Moly Resin but really wanted anodizing for the hardness it imparts to the aluminum and to distress the receiver to match the rest of the parts kit I had. I've seen some distress jobs with Moly Resin that look really good but they lack the "bronzey" undercoat hue that comes from anodizing. Emailing SNF (which is a sister company of Samson Manufacturing) I received a return call from Diane Cyr who was very helpful and listened to what I was trying to accomplish. She advised that their "Preban Gray" color would be a close match and after oiling would take on a more "worn in" look. She also sent sample photos. At $80 (which included return shipping costs) they were quite a bit cheaper than US Anodizing as well. Once they received my receiver, it took about two days before it was worked (needed to wait for a gray batch). Diane even emailed to confirm one last time on the color the day they anodized. Total turn around time was about a week. Overall I was very pleased with SNF's work and extremely happy with Diane. She was very helpful and really went out of her way to accommodate what I was trying to accomplish. This was a very pleasant surprise considering the size of Samson Manufacturing and the small size of my job. The color was a little on the light side dry but took on a really nice color after soaking it in used motor oil over night and doing some artificial weathering with a wire wheel, wool buffing wheel, etc. The finish was very hard and had to get pretty aggressive to get wear into it. Diane's contact information: 
80% Nodak receiver engraved by Braceman prior to anodizing: 
Demilled receiver that I wanted to match: 
Anodized receiver prior to oiling compared to demilled XM receivers and a M16A1 upper: 
After soaking in used motor oil for several hours: 
After "weathering": 
Completed build: 
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Posted: 7/28/2018 8:34:49 PM EDT
[#1]
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Posted: 7/28/2018 8:44:02 PM EDT
[#2]
What are the light spots from? Hard to tell if it’s in the anodizing or it’s from the oil. Good to know there’s another source for gray anodizing. I travel to Keene, NH twice a year. Might have to look them up next time I’m there.
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Posted: 7/28/2018 8:53:51 PM EDT
[#3]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
What are the light spots from? Hard to tell if it’s in the anodizing or it’s from the oil. Good to know there’s another source for gray anodizing. I travel to Keene, NH twice a year. Might have to look them up next time I’m there. The longer it soaked the more the spots went away. |
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Posted: 7/28/2018 8:59:07 PM EDT
[#4]
Looks fantastic!
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Posted: 7/28/2018 10:44:49 PM EDT
[#5]
Looks nice. They, along with a Braceman and you do good work.
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Posted: 7/29/2018 2:52:13 AM EDT
[#6]
I sent this email to Ms. Cyr:
Ms. Cyr, I have several true 80% lowers I wish to have anodized. No work has been done to them at all, so they are still paperweights legally. The question is will your firm do anodizing work on 80& lowers with an engraved auto sear pin? This engraving is legal since it is NOT anything more than a circle drawn on the side of the lower. Another firm stopped doing anodizing work on lowers with this engraving merely because an ATF agent made an arbitrary, on the spot "decision" which is against the law, yet that other firm allowed said agent to take another person's property merely to avoid hassles. Please let me know what your company policies are. I would like to have your firm do the work. I shall report back once I hear a reply. IF this firm will accept 80% lowers with the faux sear pin, I hope US Anodizing loses all business from folks doing 80& lowers. |
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Posted: 7/29/2018 9:59:33 AM EDT
[#7]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I sent this email to Ms. Cyr: Ms. Cyr, I have several true 80% lowers I wish to have anodized. No work has been done to them at all, so they are still paperweights legally. The question is will your firm do anodizing work on 80& lowers with an engraved auto sear pin? This engraving is legal since it is NOT anything more than a circle drawn on the side of the lower. Another firm stopped doing anodizing work on lowers with this engraving merely because an ATF agent made an arbitrary, on the spot "decision" which is against the law, yet that other firm allowed said agent to take another person's property merely to avoid hassles. Please let me know what your company policies are. I would like to have your firm do the work. I shall report back once I hear a reply. IF this firm will accept 80% lowers with the faux sear pin, I hope US Anodizing loses all business from folks doing 80& lowers. |
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Posted: 7/29/2018 10:07:29 AM EDT
[#8]
Impressive. I used to have two authentic M16A1s several years ago, your color and build reminds me completely of them.
Stunning work. |
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Posted: 7/29/2018 10:22:38 AM EDT
[#9]
What is US Anodizing’s reason for not taking orders?
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Posted: 7/29/2018 10:40:41 AM EDT
[#10]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
What is US Anodizing’s reason for not taking orders? |
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Posted: 7/29/2018 9:48:23 PM EDT
[#11]
Super Tag!
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Posted: 7/29/2018 10:07:05 PM EDT
[#12]
Dude what is wrong with you? Are you trying to scare them off before they even start taking on any retro work?
And then you shit on Victor hoping he loses business because of the strong handed ATF dealings?  Quote HistoryQuoted:
I sent this email to Ms. Cyr: Ms. Cyr, I have several true 80% lowers I wish to have anodized. No work has been done to them at all, so they are still paperweights legally. The question is will your firm do anodizing work on 80& lowers with an engraved auto sear pin? This engraving is legal since it is NOT anything more than a circle drawn on the side of the lower. Another firm stopped doing anodizing work on lowers with this engraving merely because an ATF agent made an arbitrary, on the spot "decision" which is against the law, yet that other firm allowed said agent to take another person's property merely to avoid hassles. Please let me know what your company policies are. I would like to have your firm do the work. I shall report back once I hear a reply. IF this firm will accept 80% lowers with the faux sear pin, I hope US Anodizing loses all business from folks doing 80& lowers. |
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Posted: 7/29/2018 10:20:02 PM EDT
[#13]
Nice. Love me some A1 porn.
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Posted: 7/29/2018 11:50:36 PM EDT
[#14]
This is cool. Even if they were taking orders, US Anodizing prices are too high anymore.
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Posted: 7/30/2018 1:18:15 AM EDT
[#15]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Dude what is wrong with you? Are you trying to scare them off before they even start taking on any retro work? And then you shit on Victor hoping he loses business because of the strong handed ATF dealings? I asked a correct question without going into much detail. Sorry, you do not agree, but cst la vi. Handle it. |
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Posted: 7/30/2018 2:26:44 AM EDT
[#16]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Victor could have stood up for what is right, but he backed down and cost someone their property merely for his monetary gain. If Victor just did work for other customers and NoDak, he would be just fine. I asked a correct question without going into much detail. Sorry, you do not agree, but cst la vi. Handle it. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Dude what is wrong with you? Are you trying to scare them off before they even start taking on any retro work? And then you shit on Victor hoping he loses business because of the strong handed ATF dealings? I asked a correct question without going into much detail. Sorry, you do not agree, but cst la vi. Handle it. |
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Posted: 7/30/2018 7:52:55 AM EDT
[#17]
OP, are we talking Type III hardcoat anodizing? I see no mention of type in any of the post.
EDIT: just spent last 25 minutes on their site. SNF is Samson's in house anodizer and it is Type III. Looking forward to seeing other examples of their work. Thanks OP for this info |
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Posted: 7/30/2018 12:17:11 PM EDT
[#18]
That looks nice.
Are they only able to 80% lowers or can they do completed lowers as well? |
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Posted: 7/30/2018 12:20:57 PM EDT
[#19]
I am sending in 2 this week. They have an FFL. They are charging me $150 to sandblast, anodize, and ship back my 2 lowers. Going with the same gray as the OP used.
Very fast email responses as well. Jason |
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Posted: 7/30/2018 4:44:27 PM EDT
[#20]
BINGO!!!
Ms. Cyr's reply: "Good morning, We have no issue with the engraving on an 80%er. I'm assuming all lowers are 7075 Al and they will need sandblasting. Black- $30 each Pre-ban Gray- $70 each Middle gray- I'm not 100% sure what you mean by this. I would guess a type III hardcoat clear at a 2.0 thickness. Have you had this color done before? If this is a hardcoat clear, the price is $60. Estimated shipping: $20 Total cost: $380. If this is acceptable to you, please send your 80%ers and payment to: SnF Finishing 32 Optical Ave Keene, NH. 03431 If you are a business and would like to discuss terms or reduced pricing for volume work, just let me know and we'll go from there. Let's also discuss expectations on the middle gray. If you have a sample piece or picture, that would be very helpful. Best Regards, Diane. Cyr SnF Finishing Okay, folks, we now have a new vendor who apparently has some backbone. THIS is the way to run a business. With reasonable prices to boot. |
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Posted: 7/30/2018 5:24:09 PM EDT
[#21]
I’d like to see the finished product next to a NODAK upper.
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Posted: 7/30/2018 6:05:20 PM EDT
[#22]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
That looks nice. Are they only able to 80% lowers or can they do completed lowers as well? |
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Posted: 7/31/2018 7:46:19 AM EDT
[#23]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
That looks nice. Are they only able to 80% lowers or can they do completed lowers as well? |
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Posted: 7/31/2018 2:43:41 PM EDT
[#24]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
OP's pix look like a completed lower. Maybe he could post pic of fire control pocket. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
That looks nice. Are they only able to 80% lowers or can they do completed lowers as well? |
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Posted: 7/31/2018 3:30:48 PM EDT
[#25]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
OP's pix look like a completed lower. Maybe he could post pic of fire control pocket. And if it is, you wanted to know if SNF Finishing did not keep his lower. |
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Posted: 8/2/2018 8:06:34 AM EDT
[#26]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I assume you wanted to know if it is milled out like a M-16 or an AR-15 due to the ATF wanting all FFL's to keep any lower sent into them that are milled out like a M-16 regardless of the absence of the auto sear hole. (Stupid internal policy with no basis on actual law.) And if it is, you wanted to know if SNF Finishing did not keep his lower. |
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Posted: 8/2/2018 8:53:01 AM EDT
[#27]
Got another email from Diane Cyr.
She emailed me an image that one of their employees brought in two ARs of his. They are going to work on their grey colors to ensure they have both a pre-ban (XM) grey and the middle grey of the A2 series, along with black. As shown with her prior email to me, this company has a backbone. They do indeed have my business. |
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Posted: 8/2/2018 1:11:41 PM EDT
[#28]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Got another email from Diane Cyr. She emailed me an image that one of their employees brought in two ARs of his. They are going to work on their grey colors to ensure they have both a pre-ban (XM) grey and the middle grey of the A2 series, along with black. As shown with her prior email to me, this company has a backbone. They do indeed have my business. |
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Posted: 8/2/2018 9:26:04 PM EDT
[#29]
DD,
And one with a backbone who won't screw someone. |
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Posted: 8/6/2018 12:18:40 PM EDT
[#30]
My 2 lowers have arrived at SnF. Got an email from Diane, they now have 2 pre-ban gray colours to choose from, and they are still experimenting. Mine are also supposed to be finished and mailed back this week.
I'll post pics as I get them. Jason |
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Posted: 8/6/2018 3:32:58 PM EDT
[#31]
I received an email from Diane as well to confirm the anodizing color. Here is the middle gray color.
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Posted: 8/6/2018 4:01:32 PM EDT
[#32]
I got the same pic. I still went the same route op did. She told me mine are going to get anodized Wednesday.
They are also aware of this thread. Jason |
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Posted: 8/7/2018 10:03:31 AM EDT
[#33]
Sounds good!!
Glad to see companies are stepping up to service the need. |
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Posted: 8/8/2018 4:35:53 PM EDT
[#34]
This is great news!
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Posted: 8/8/2018 7:40:02 PM EDT
[#35]
Well, mine were anodized today. The Nodak A1 lower apparently has a defect in the AL that did not take colour.
They are pretty sure it is some sort of foreign material in the base metal. It was shipped back today, so hopefully it will be here by the weekend. I did polish the receiver, but I did not see it at that time. 
Jason |
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Posted: 8/8/2018 11:32:25 PM EDT
[#36]
Wouldn’t worry about that minor defect much. Put a defense acceptance stamp there and you’ll never see it.
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Posted: 8/9/2018 12:03:42 AM EDT
[#37]
This is good news, for all of you who are getting them done please post up more pictures in comparison with original A1 uppers or Nodak uppers if possible. The finish colors look a bit off in the pictures to me but probably close enough to look decent like in the OPs pictures. I just wonder how well it matches when the oil dries up. And those spots that aren't darker really stand out.
And that middle grey looks a little strange to me, but perhaps it is just the pictures. That's why it'd be great to see them against the original uppers to see how close they really are. I'd say it would be best to lightly coat them in oil and then wipe it all off the best you can to get an accurate representation of what it will typically look like when it's not dripping in oil or just freshly anodized. If they are really willing to learn some more and practice these anodizing techniques until they get better color matches I may do a few myself. I am more of a do it yourself type of person to save some funds and while I plan to eventually do my own type 2 anodizing I'd love to be able to have a couple done in the mean time. The Moly Resin just won't wear like anodizing for the battlefield pickup looks. And I am not worried about perfect matches on most of my builds especially the ones I plan to artificially wear. Edited to add - Does anyone know why Grey costs so much more to have done then black? It seems like Black is offered fairly cheap at a couple-few places but grey is always at least 2-3 times the cost. |
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Posted: 8/9/2018 12:37:05 AM EDT
[#38]
I'm guessing the majority of people get black ano, so they are always running a batch of it. The smaller one off stuff costs them more to do so you get charged for it.
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Posted: 8/9/2018 1:43:18 AM EDT
[#39]
Shame it’s that way. Grey looks so much better than black. In my opinion, grey should be the rule not the exception.
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Posted: 8/10/2018 12:09:03 AM EDT
[#40]
Got my receiver back today. Overall I'm extremely happy with the results. Highly recommend SnF! I rubbed some old motor oil on the receiver and the gray got much darker. Wife complained the kitchen started to smell like a chop shop so I finished it up with some Ballistol. She left the kitchen in a hurry after that. I don't have any retro receiver to compare the preban gray to but it is lighter than black anodizing.
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Posted: 8/10/2018 5:54:05 AM EDT
[#41]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Got my receiver back today. Overall I'm extremely happy with the results. Highly recommend SnF! I rubbed some old motor oil on the receiver and the gray got much darker. Wife complained the kitchen started to smell like a chop shop so I finished it up with some Ballistol. She left the kitchen in a hurry after that. I don't have any retro receiver to compare the preban gray to but it is lighter than black anodizing. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/942/43238668654_11fbfbb3a1_z.jpg https://farm1.staticflickr.com/928/29019438787_8131496c72_z.jpg https://farm1.staticflickr.com/938/43957357551_561b402be8_z.jpg https://farm1.staticflickr.com/936/43957354841_8e403f9209_z.jpg https://farm1.staticflickr.com/934/43957353681_cd3732d26b_z.jpg |
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Posted: 8/10/2018 11:04:01 PM EDT
[#42]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Got my receiver back today. Overall I'm extremely happy with the results. Highly recommend SnF! I rubbed some old motor oil on the receiver and the gray got much darker. Wife complained the kitchen started to smell like a chop shop so I finished it up with some Ballistol. She left the kitchen in a hurry after that. I don't have any retro receiver to compare the preban gray to but it is lighter than black anodizing. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/942/43238668654_11fbfbb3a1_z.jpg https://farm1.staticflickr.com/928/29019438787_8131496c72_z.jpg https://farm1.staticflickr.com/938/43957357551_561b402be8_z.jpg https://farm1.staticflickr.com/936/43957354841_8e403f9209_z.jpg https://farm1.staticflickr.com/934/43957353681_cd3732d26b_z.jpg |
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Posted: 8/13/2018 10:02:54 PM EDT
[#43]
Well, there back. Totally disappointed in this whole project. Both of my lowers did not colour evenly, most likely issues with the base material. The A1 turned bronze after being dipped in oil, the A2 looks better, but still has a bronze hue to it.
Receiver back out of the box next to my RR Colt M16. 
The receiver next to the A1 upper that came with the 16. 
Now, the A1 receiver after the oil treatment next to the 16. 
The A2. 
I guess my expectations would be a colour closer to the 16 and my 92 Colt AR. I can live with the A2, but the A1 flat out sucks. I guess I paid for a really nice base coat for the Moly Resin. Jason |
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Posted: 8/13/2018 10:58:47 PM EDT
[#44]
Hello. I think what you are saying is: A1 lower is a light gray color dry and with oil it gets the bronze tint. Correct? It may not be what you had in mind for this project, but I actually really like the odd colored parts. Here are a few I was able to find:
This one is just showing a difference in shade of gray: 
This is not such a great photograph, but I see it as having a green tint that is most visible where the finish has worn through on the mag well. (The grip looks pure black in this photo so I don't think it is a color problem in the photograph) 
Neat old partial fence lower: 
Top one is an old 604 upper of mine, it has an odd brown tint to it: 
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Well, there back. Totally disappointed in this whole project. Both of my lowers did not colour evenly, most likely issues with the base material. The A1 turned bronze after being dipped in oil, the A2 looks better, but still has a bronze hue to it. Receiver back out of the box next to my RR Colt M16. https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/15299/IMG_20180813_165638392_BURST000_COVER_TOP-639855.jpg The receiver next to the A1 upper that came with the 16. https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/15299/IMG_20180813_165251893-639857.jpg Now, the A1 receiver after the oil treatment next to the 16. https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/15299/IMG_20180813_205037626_LL-639853.jpg The A2. https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/15299/IMG_20180813_205024353_LL-639854.jpg I guess my expectations would be a colour closer to the 16 and my 92 Colt AR. I can live with the A2, but the A1 flat out sucks. I guess I paid for a really nice base coat for the Moly Resin. Jason |
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Posted: 8/13/2018 11:19:53 PM EDT
[#45]
You are correct, the lower went from gray to bronze. The colour they are advertising as pre-ban gray, makes a really nice stressed look, but I would not consider it pre-ban gray.
I sent a long email off to SnL with photos for comparison so they can fine tune, if they want to. I may end up using Moly Resin as a top coat to dial in the colours that I am looking for. Jason |
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Posted: 9/18/2018 7:39:44 AM EDT
[#46]
Does anyone have new information or anything to update this thread? Any progress to report on grey color matching? New pix? General comments?
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Posted: 9/18/2018 7:45:36 AM EDT
[#47]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I sent this email to Ms. Cyr: Ms. Cyr, I have several true 80% lowers I wish to have anodized. No work has been done to them at all, so they are still paperweights legally. The question is will your firm do anodizing work on 80& lowers with an engraved auto sear pin? This engraving is legal since it is NOT anything more than a circle drawn on the side of the lower. Another firm stopped doing anodizing work on lowers with this engraving merely because an ATF agent made an arbitrary, on the spot "decision" which is against the law, yet that other firm allowed said agent to take another person's property merely to avoid hassles. Please let me know what your company policies are. I would like to have your firm do the work. I shall report back once I hear a reply. IF this firm will accept 80% lowers with the faux sear pin, I hope US Anodizing loses all business from folks doing 80& lowers. |
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Posted: 10/11/2018 9:28:23 AM EDT
[#48]
Bump
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Posted: 10/11/2018 1:53:14 PM EDT
[#49]
Did they ever get the colours right such that one doesn't have to do "oil treatments" and such to get them to look correct?
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Posted: 10/11/2018 6:05:45 PM EDT
[#50]
Tag to follow.
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