Rocker cover question

[sn1p3r]

I just took a pair of rocker covers to my local powder coater and he didn't want to shotblast or do powder coating on them as he says the magnesium will either disintegrate or become porous.

Does anybody know if this is true? If so is there a way of getting the current blue paint (which to me looks like powder coating) off. Has anybody had their powder coated?

I don't want to do a sparyjob on them because the current blue paint is damaged and cracked and unless I take all the blue paint off them I won't get a good finish.

 

[Pukmeister]

I presume you have an 1150 Adv as you mention Blue covers. I thought this surface finish was a form of anodising (electroplating) to the head covers and wheel rims as the process increases the surface hardness of alloys by a factor of about 10,000 but is microscopically thin. Just the kind of thing you need on bits that take a punishment like rims and head covers.

If it is anodising, you won't be able to remove it apart from grinding or abrasion.

The covers are made of magnesium alloy, I would not recommend this method as the stuff burns like hell when ignited and is virtually unextinguishable once it gets going. The heat generated from grinding could well start them off, I heard a story about an engineering apprentice trying to true up a magnesium bike wheel in a lathe once. Rumour has it the resulting fire, when it finally ignited from cutting tool friction, destroyed the lathe completely in a brilliant ball of fire.

 

[sn1p3r]

Hello pukmeister, yes, I ride an Adventure 1150. I don't think the convers are annodised as some of the what seems to be the same as powder coating has already been chipped off but then, I don't know much about this stuff so I might be wrong.

Edit: Actually, thinking about it now, its definitely not annodising as I remember looking inside and seeing over spray.

The painter kept the covers, he said he'll have a go with the shot blaster but he didn't want to take responsibility for damaging them. I told him it's an experiment so go ahead. I hope he doesn't damage himself or his equipment!

Is there maybe a way of removing whatever the coating is chemically without detroying the magnesium?

 

[Lord Snooty]

Keep us informed as to the outcome.

 

[sn1p3r]

I should be able to report back on Wednesday eve. Also, if all goes well will have some pics available of them fitted by Tuesday next week.

 

[Rugged Path]

The outcome to this will be interesting as my coated parts are partly blasted away due to riding through sand storms.

This is also true of the screen. But, at least I can still see daylight through it.

 

[Gas'd Off]

Try typing "finishing" into the search on this site, you should be able to find someone who can give you advice on magnesium finishing