Anyone have a how-to on redoing surplus mags?


I have some AK, FAL, and AR mags that need some love.

I am thinking brake cleaner to remove crap-o-la, WD-40 for lube and then Krylon black. But not necessarily in that order.. :laughing:

Doubt the AK's need anything really....the AR's I don't like the grey...the FAL's are covered in some light oil for storage in a ziploc bag from the seller.

FAL mags are the real reason for the post...they are going to be loaded to 18 rounds and into the SHTF bag after cleanup.

my 'rusty' ak mags are getting blasted and reparked - body, follower and floor plate. springs are just gettting blasted to get the crud off them.


I'm sure it's more than is necessary, but I'm hoping to sell them for top dollar. gotta fund a pistol.

Disassemble FAL mags. Hose with brake cleaner. Wipe down. Repeat if still oily. Paint (optional). Load/shoot/store.

I dissassemble them and run them through the dishwasher sans soap or jetdry. I use the scour setting and heated dry. They come out grease/oil free and dry. Wipe the surface rust off and paint them with your choice of paint and they are good to go.

Any bad rust or pitting gets a quick trip in the bead blaster before going in with the dishes.

I dissassemble them and run them through the dishwasher sans soap or jetdry. I use the scour setting and heated dry. They come out grease/oil free and dry. Wipe the surface rust off and paint them with your choice of paint and they are good to go.

Any bad rust or pitting gets a quick trip in the bead blaster before going in with the dishes.

Does your food end up tasting like grease and oil?

I just did some of the "rusty" AK mags.....brass brush, mineral spirits, and some flat black when I was done....granted the finish won't last forever, but it's what I had layin' around....


http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y121/Unka-Boo/007-1.jpg

Two on the top right I hadn't gotten to yet.....

Does your food end up tasting like grease and oil?

Nope, it gets cleaned after I'm done.

yall buy any other color paint than just black to do these? i think i am going to get creative and use some templates and some OD green and dark earth etc. to make some designs....

any other color suggestions and or places to purchase these in spray can form?

any other color suggestions and or places to purchase these in spray can form?

Cold blue?

seems like too much work for just mags.

For my FAL mags, I did the following:

Disassembled
Blasted the bodies and floorplates
Degreased
3 coats of BBQ paint (flat black)
Baked for an hour on "Medium" in my grill
Reassembled

They look pretty good and the finish has lasted well with the limited usage I've given the FAL in the past year.

seems like too much work for just mags.

Sand paper and a few cotton balls?

my 'rusty' ak mags are getting blasted and reparked - body, follower and floor plate. springs are just gettting blasted to get the crud off them.


I'm sure it's more than is necessary, but I'm hoping to sell them for top dollar. gotta fund a pistol.

i would not sand blast springs, just put them in diesel fuel, and wipe off.

seems like too much work for just mags.

Considering your signature, I find this a little funny. :flipoff2:

Between dissassembly, cleaning, painting and reassembly I spent about an hour fixing up 25 AK mags. I put about a $50 an hour price on my free time, so it "cost" me about 2 bucks a mag to refurb them. That and most of the labor was done while watching a movie on the couch.

Considering your signature, I find this a little funny. :flipoff2:

Between dissassembly, cleaning, painting and reassembly I spent about an hour fixing up 25 AK mags. I put about a $50 an hour price on my free time, so it "cost" me about 2 bucks a mag to refurb them. That and most of the labor was done while watching a movie on the couch.

yeah, i can see how you would say that! :flipoff2:i just read taht it wasnt very durable and from what i know about home blueing durability, i dont want to mess with it. to me, spray can sounds pretty easy.


but i thought i would get a little creative with what i have and do a little home brew camo pattern or mess with some stencil or templates.

I did eight AK mags last night and three of fifteen FAL mags.

I used brake cleaner on the AK ones and wiped them off and then painted them flat black. They look alot better. Minor rust came off with a wire brush on the grinder.

The FAL mags had cosmo or some crud on them. Took the wire brush and brake cleaner to pretty them up. Flat black on them too by Krylon. Seem to be fine. I need a mask for the cosmo/whatever dust next time...that crap stops me up :shaking:

:flipoff2:

Finished product...don't know why that one is shiny...

Wire cup brush on 4" grinder

Brake cleaner and paper towels

Krylon flat black, two coats or something like that

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=345&pictureid=3315

I disassemble, soak at least overnight in PB Blaster, then brakleen, then inspect. If they are still fawked up they go to the blast cabinet before duracoat.