The right tires would be what would have been used in the '60, which would have been bias-ply up to the early '60s and radials thereafter. In either case, you want the narrowest 15-inch tires you can find - what are sometimes called "Volkswagen (beetle) tires". In either case, you'd be wise not to try and run them without tubes. As far as magnesium metallurgy goes, all magnesium castings contain some aluminum, and all aluminum castings contain some magnesium. The ratio determines whether the wheels are said to be magnesium wheels or aluminum wheels. Saying that magnesium (or "magnesium alloy") castings can't be polished is of course incorrect, since looking at virtually any issue of Hot Rod, Car Craft, or Rod & Custom from the '60s will show several cars with polished magnesium (or "magnesium alloy") parts. As I explain on my wheels page at http://www.roadsters.com/wheels/ magnesium (or "magnesium alloy") parts should never be painted or powdercoated, because oxidization can and will occur beneath it. I've been carefully machining and polishing magnesium (or "magnesium alloy") castings since 1970, and have seen some very nice ones that were die-cast using higher pressure than some sand castings. While it's true that porousity is a factor in how successful the results will be when magnesium (or "magnesium alloy") castings are polished, regardless, any magnesium (or "magnesium alloy") piece I've ever worked with can be made to shine like a mirror once you use abrasives to get it really smooth. And once you've done that, short of storing it in a barrel full of oil, I have yet to find anything to protect it that works as effectively as Gibbs Brand. Dave http://www.roadsters.com/gibbs/
It's the dust that's really volatile, or if you've got a burr. It's was 2 pounds of magnesium ribbon that caused my problem. Seeing that john boil and glow red at the bottom was amazing. It looked almost see through. That was when I decided to leg it. Cops picked me up on the way home.
I think you meant to say "two pounds of magnesium alloy ribbon". Dave http://www.roadsters.com/ -------------------------- Rat Zinc
Nope. It was pure mag! That little escapade ranks higher than when I dumped a vacuum full of aluminum buffing dust into the garden burning drum to show the kids the pretty colors and white sparks. I landed on my butt about four feet back from the drum, still holding the vacuum. Kids thought it was great! Wife didn't think it was funny.
I feel the same way, but I was the dork who sold them. here's mine on my soapbox racer I built in the Philippines. 12x15 slotmags, mirror polished
Polisher, I think it has gotten to the stage where so many people know alloy wheels as 'mags' they they forget where the name came from, and probably don't realise that there is little or no magnesium in them.
You're right. I have the same problem with a bar abrasives of here being called jewelers rouge. But in England every vacuum cleaner is a hoover, the trunk of a car is the boot and the hood is a bonnet. I guess we can live with it.
Kinda late, but couldn't you polish and then use that zoop seal stuff to seal it? http://www.zoopseal.com/zoopseal.asp
Actually nevermind, I read the FAQ's for it [ QUOTE ] Can I use Zoopseal on Magnesium? No, not yet, it is still being tested. [/ QUOTE ]
If is Mag....dont bead blast or sand blast em' Yes I did it , the wheel was 26" diameter, Now that my friend was a fire brotha' DONT BLAST EM"
Bead blasting with coarse sand (or even worse, sandblasting) is not only dangerous, it will be hard to avoid enlarging any tiny pores on the surface. Plastic media blasting has given superb results, and you may be able to do well by using fine walnut shells in a bead blasting cabinet. To be safe, it's always wise to have a Class D fire extinguisher handy. My Halibrand 16 by 13 wheels were plastic media blasted around the outside to remove the rubber residue that was left behind by the inner tubes, and the operator was able to get the surface very clean without harming the original Dow 7 coating. There's a picture of them on this page: http://www.roadsters.com/gibbs/
The Jalopy Journal
