Refinish your own magazines

Originally Posted By FALARAK @ ARFCOM:

I am just about done with my mag refinishing project... so I am posting my results.

If you are thinking about rejuvenating your old mags, DO IT! This is simple, quick, and makes em look like NEW.

First, I ordered two cans of PermaSlik-G dry moly lube to coat the mags with. It was $16 a can, and I was able do all 28 mags of mine and still have some left in the first can. I imagine a can will do 35 mags single coat, and 20-25 mags double coat.

Here is a shot of some of my mags before getting started. Note, most of the original moly finish is gone, and some of the anodizing is even worn off.

Next, you remove the floorplates. On the 30 round mags, you simply *CAREFULLY* pry the plate from the mag on the "bent" edge of the plate, just enought to clear the keeper lips on the plate:

20 round floorplates are easier, you need a bullet tip to depress the keeper lip:

Then just slide the floorplate away from the mag body.

Next, remove spring and follower:

Then, you are ready to clean. I used warm soapy water in a small tub. I scrubbed the inside out with an old toothbrush, and scrubbed the outside with fine steel wool, to remove any paint, grease, and old loose moly finish. You dont have to get them spanking clean. I spent about 1 minute per mag cleaning. Rinse well.

After cleaning, I wanted to make sure that I had them real dry, so I put them all on a plate, seperated by paper towels, and put in the oven at 200 degrees for 30 minutes. Also, it is COLD in my garage, so I made sure I left them warm from the oven straight to painting them.

Let the painting begin! I took an old broom handle, and wedged it into my workshelves in the garage to fashion an amateur hanging rig. I cut 8" pieces of coat hanger to make the hangers. Spray evenly around entire mag.

After I let them hang for 24 hours, I put them back in the oven for 1 hour at 300 degrees, to bake/cure the finish. Here is a shot of the final product:

The finish comes out very flat, dull grey.

I invested $10 per used mag, plus $2.50 for the new spring and green follower, and about $1 a mag in paint.... and I end up with a brand spanking better-than-new mag for under $14 a mag. Plus it was a lot of fun. (keep in mind this was when the ban was in effect, and NIW's were $25.)

After cooling, I wipe off the overspray with a paper towel:

And of course - organizing them is key: