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AR15.COM
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2/18/2008 4:38:36 PM EDT
I see a ton of cheap FAL mags around with light surface rust.  Thinking on  buying a bunch and refinishing them.  What do you guys reccomend?  Permasilk G?
2/18/2008 7:55:25 PM EDT
[#1]
Have you seen this one? www.ar15.com/content/page.html?id=332

Honestly if I wanted pretty mags I would buy some of the $12 new surplus ones from DSA and be done with it.
I just can't see spending the time and money to refinish them. But if I did want to I would probably just steel wool most of the rust off and spray with a can of rustoleum or similar.

2/19/2008 4:29:18 AM EDT
[#2]
Can you link me to the "new" mags at dsa... I see their excellent condition ones for $12.  Are those their new ones?
2/19/2008 4:38:53 AM EDT
[#3]
I have used Brownell's Aluma-Hyde II with great results on steel.

Prib
2/19/2008 6:34:46 AM EDT
[#4]

Quoted:
Can you link me to the "new" mags at dsa... I see their excellent condition ones for $12.  Are those their new ones?


Those are the ones I was refering to. I've bought around a dozen and not a single one of them showed any evidence of ever being used.


Here's a link to the FAL Files DSA forum that might explain it better:

link


The "good" magazines are a bit of a mix in terms of condition. My experience is that most work fine, but you may get one with issues on the rare instance. Marc Galli and I ran through the Team Spartan FAL course using these mags and out of perhaps 40-50 magazines, I had one that seemed to have issues. I did not troubleshoot it given lack of time, so it may have been minor.

Mind you the "excellent" mags are in many cases brand new. They may have wear from storage or handling, but many were never used in a gun. We do not advertise them as new or unissued because we know customers will then expect them to show no marks on the outside. If it were me buying mags for the first time, get these to be sure of function. I maintain some of the "good" mags as range mags.

John



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John Howard

DSA Forum Representative

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2/21/2008 4:08:33 PM EDT
[#5]
Most fal mags were painted. Ditto on the Aluma hyde.
2/22/2008 3:47:48 AM EDT
[#6]
The mags I bought (from Gun Parts Guy) had VERY light rust on one and the rest just had worn finish.  I took them apart, sandblasted them, and painted them with BBQ grill paint.  They're a little tight in the magwell (I painted the upper receiver too) but they'll wear in after a little while.
2/22/2008 7:15:41 AM EDT
[#7]

The paint on the british mags is well nigh impervious, even to blasting media!
2/23/2008 3:23:35 AM EDT
[#8]
Years ago I bought about 25 surplus FAL mags and a Parts Kit at a gun show, took my time, looked through them (he had hundreds of mags), examined the feedlips, etc. Some had rust, some not. The link provided is good for AR mags and if you don't mind having gray FAL mags, good finish and extra durable. I took my parts kit and mags, bought some steel wool (too take off the rust), a couple cans of Dupli-Color High Heat Ceramic 1200 Flat Black spray paint and a spray bottle of that "green degreaser" stuff....can't remember the name. Anyway washed all the parts and mags after breaking them down and steel wooling the rust in the sink with some dish soap. Dried them thoroughly, then degreased them with the green stuff, put them in the oven for 30 minutes on low heat (if memory serves about 200). Did the old coat hangers in the garage like the link shows and then proceed with a fine first coat of the duplicolor. Look closely and have good lighting, if you see any bubbling up on the paint it means you missed some oil (from your hands most likely). Put 2-3 coats, let them hang dry for about 1 hour, put them in the oven if you like for another hour at about 250-300, then just let them hang in the oven overnight. I have a FAL and mags that are done this way, they are fine, super durable, never caused me a lick of issues, nice flat black, very little shine, etc.  
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