Restoring Magnesium Hubs.

[Rod]

Starting to strip down an old Cota 349/350, the wheel hubs need re coating amongst other things, such as head/barrel and engine cases. I'm starting with the magnesium hubs, how should I go about this.... Sand blast, bead blast, any other blast? and what would people recommend for a tough/durable finish, paint or powder-coat? Satin or matt black would be my choice for a final finish, I'm thinking satin but you never really know until the jobs done and then it's too late to change your mind. Cheers.

[David Lahey]

If you are painting the hubs do you need to blast at all?
I usually use paint stripper on the painted part, machine the brake drum surface and paint the outside with either epoxy enamel or acrylic lacquer. Brake drums don't usually get hit with anything so super-tough coatings are not really needed and the thinner the coating the better the drum will be at getting rid of heat
If the hubs are corroded then either bead blast or hydrablast would be suitable after stripping the remaining paint off
Satin black would look original on a 1980s Montesa

[Rod]

I hadn't given paint stripper much consideration, thought I'd need some sort of blasting to remove the original factory coating. I'll give it a go.

[RL250]

I restored a set of magnesium wheels, the beast solution is to get them wet blasted as its non abrasive like dry blasting with a superior finish.

[Kombivan]

if they are the black hubs you might consider ditching them and getting older hubs pre 1980 from a 247 or 348/9 and respoke the wheel with new spokes. as the black ones break more easily.

[Gomey]

I would use vapour blasting as magnesium is very soft. Make sure to check on if an etch primer or some kind of chemical treatment is needed for magnesium to help the paint stick and to stop it corroding under the paint.