What is a good tough paint for magnesium engine side covers. A local powder coating shop said mag parts did not hold the paint well because some kind of outgassing when heated in the oven.

Have them painted in Two Pack paint.

Have had excellent results with PJ1 high temp engine paint (gloss black). Just make sure the cases are well prepared.

I've had good results with PJ1 too, I use Suzuki grey case paint, gives a nice "worksy" look, and lasts well.

I want to get the darn stuff off the side covers on my Suzuki and polish them!

My Montesa magnesium flywheel cover has some super paint on it. Takes hard sanding or other mechanical action to remove. I've heard the VHT Fast Strip will remove anything, but haven't tried that yet. May have to get it bead blasted. After polishing, this stuff looks like it might protect.

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/cspages/evershield.php

Thanks for that.

Powder coating will adhere to magnesium no problem and will be tougher and should last longer than other mentioned coatings.Your local shop just needs to know how to deal with it.It is true that mag casings 'gas out' but the same can be said of sand cast alluminium casings. They need to release the gasses before they coat it and then apply an etch primer before they p.coat it.I have coated loads of magnesium stuff as we do quite a lot of w. superbike stuff,incl. casings and magnesium wheels etc. hope this helps.

Powder coating will adhere to magnesium no problem and will be tougher and should last longer than other mentioned coatings.Your local shop just needs to know how to deal with it.It is true that mag casings 'gas out' but the same can be said of sand cast alluminium casings. They need to release the gasses before they coat it and then apply an etch primer before they p.coat it.I have coated loads of magnesium stuff as we do quite a lot of w. superbike stuff,incl. casings and magnesium wheels etc. hope this helps.

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How do you "release" the gases from the casting? Maybe I can work with the local powder coating guy to get him up-to-speed on the method.

Whilst i woild like to be of more help , im sure that you appreciate Don that i am reluctant to give out a quick fix to a problem that i learnt how to deal with after a lot of time and a lot of cock ups!!

Here is the cryptic tip then.

Tell him to work out in which part of the process the problem occurs and then deal with the problem 1st!! You/he should get it from that.

Edited January 12, 200620 yr by marky boy