Metal finishing Q&As since 1989

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Re-finishing GI M-16 magazines

1999

Greetings,

I have a number of old US GI M-16 magazines that I would like to refinish. The surface finish is quite worn but the magazines are in good shape otherwise. I understand that they were originally hard-coat anodized and then a nickel acetate sealing finish was applied. Is it possible to re-apply this nickel acetate sealing finish?

Note: many of these magazines were sprayed with the organic-based "dry film lubricant" product at various times in their former lives. This material comes off very readily with lacquer thinner [on eBay or Amazon] or acetone [on eBay or Amazon]. The nickel acetate finish is then exposed and is somewhat more durable. Are there any suitable alternatives to the original process?

Thanks for your help

Jeff Harris
- Laurel, Maryland

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Original production M-16 clips are hardcoat anodized and topcoated with an oven cured dry film lubricant. Properly cured, this dry film will not come off with solvents. You probably are removing field applied, air drying, touch-up dry film coatings. If the underlying hardcoat is still in good shape, I would solvent strip the air drying material and apply another coat of oven cured material. Touching up hardcoating is virtually impossible. The clip would have to be stripped to bare aluminum and started over again.

Chris Jurey, Past-President IHAA
Luke Engineering & Mfg. Co. Inc.

Wadsworth, Ohio

1999