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How to refinish Fox 40 lowers

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dbozman

Monkey
May 11, 2008
118
0
Scottsdale, AZ
Google-fu weak.

Any tips on stripping/refinishing Fox 40 lowers. I understand they're magnesium. Can I use a chemical stripper on these safely?
 
Huck Banzai

Huck Banzai

Turbo Monkey
May 8, 2005
2,523
23
Transitory
MrPlow said:
paint stripper. she will be right.
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Ever actually done it? I've done three. Chem will also require many hours of steel wool or similar and a lot of mess.

Sodablast will take 5 minutes and you're done with a consistent, clean outcome.
 
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ronnyg801

Chimp
May 27, 2009
61
7
If you have money, soda blasting.

If you have time, chemical stripping. Get a product made by Klean Strip called Air Craft Stripper, in a quart or a gallon (you should only need a quart) do not get the aerosols, they work but not as well and are more expensive. Follow instructions on can. Apply more stripper in areas that arent being as effected as others.

Anytime I have used aircraft stripper it has been a very easy job that DID NOT take an immense amount of elbow grease or steel wool. Yes even in tight nooks and welded areas.

Make sure you are in a very well ventilated area, preferably outside. even then I would still use a paint respirator.
 
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dbozman

Monkey
May 11, 2008
118
0
Scottsdale, AZ
Probably should have mentioned initially, I have chemically stripped four or five aluminum frames with no issues. I just wanted to confirm it's OK to use on the magnesium without damaging the material. I don't mind spending a couple bucks on soda, but between the travel and turnaround time to get it done, rather just do it myself if possible.
 
Huck Banzai

Huck Banzai

Turbo Monkey
May 8, 2005
2,523
23
Transitory
dbozman said:
Probably should have mentioned initially, I have chemically stripped four or five aluminum frames with no issues. I just wanted to confirm it's OK to use on the magnesium without damaging the material. I don't mind spending a couple bucks on soda, but between the travel and turnaround time to get it done, rather just do it myself if possible.
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It is OK, but the diff with the lowers is a chem treatment under the paint/pc that doesnt cooperate with strippers very nicely!

It can be def be done with just chem and elbow grease, but its much easier with soda!


I got burned (literally) by a stray blob of stripper despite reasonable precaution and vowed to stay clear of the stuff, so I may just be a hater.

And this was Air Craft stripper; it can't strip the base layer, because it isn't paint, but altered magalu.

Frame /= Lowers!

:D
 
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WestCoastHucker

WestCoastHucker

RETSUBDUHT
Oct 23, 2003
3,560
710
daydreaming about a new rhythm line.....
mag lowers need a lot of love to stay pretty looking. they oxidize in no time and water leaves it spotted and pitted...

my fork goes from this...


to this in about 3 months...


the oil on them is because i just removed them for re-polishing...
 
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WestCoastHucker

WestCoastHucker

RETSUBDUHT
Oct 23, 2003
3,560
710
daydreaming about a new rhythm line.....
mag still can and very easily does oxidize under the clear coat. seen it happen several times and now it's cleared over so polishing it back up is not gonna happen till you re-strip it. not saying it happens every time, but it happens a lot more than you'd think...

best bet is to leave it untreated and keep up the polishing on a regular basis...
 
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Huck Banzai

Huck Banzai

Turbo Monkey
May 8, 2005
2,523
23
Transitory
WestCoastHucker said:
mag still can and very easily does oxidize under the clear coat. seen it happen several times and now it's cleared over so polishing it back up is not gonna happen till you re-strip it. not saying it happens every time, but it happens a lot more than you'd think...

best bet is to leave it untreated and keep up the polishing on a regular basis...
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I've had good luck with mine; I did a Mag 21 in 95, and on my 2nd set of 888 lowers. The 21's were polished and were good as new 1+ years later when I sold it. The 1st set of 888's went back to MZ with bad bushings, and the current set hasn't been sealed yet. The 888's aren't polished, but brushed to match my V10c swingarm.
 
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jumpman2334

Chimp
Nov 3, 2007
8
0
WestCoastHucker said:
mag still can and very easily does oxidize under the clear coat. seen it happen several times and now it's cleared over so polishing it back up is not gonna happen till you re-strip it. not saying it happens every time, but it happens a lot more than you'd think...

best bet is to leave it untreated and keep up the polishing on a regular basis...
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yeah, ive seen some dudes just strip stuff then polish it, then 2-3 months later theyre back to polishing it.

too much work IMO, it also doesnt help that im not a fan of chrome/polished stuff.. rather just paint it :D
 
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ritche

Monkey
Dec 3, 2011
311
19
a local shop owner/rider, showed me a buffed/polished fox 40 (05-06) lowers.

i try to post pics and get the details how it was done.
 
D

dbozman

Monkey
May 11, 2008
118
0
Scottsdale, AZ
To clarify, my intention here was to strip the stock gray finish and repaint.

That said, I started the stripping process using the same chemical stripper I've used on multiple aluminum frames. Not sure what finish Fox is using on these lowers, but it's stout. It laughs at the stripper. Too late to turn back now, so I have a bit of work ahead of me on this one.
 
canadmos

canadmos

Cake Tease
May 29, 2011
20,506
19,510
Canaderp
I have a couple friends who simply sprayed over the existing finish, though they used a slightly textured or matte paint. They actually turned out really decent.
 
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