Mag V Aluminum

I have just bought a secondhand hat which I believe is a Gerardot style hat with the big square butterflies. How do I tell if it is made of magnesium or aluminum? As the previous owner polished it but it just keeps going back to a tarnished look.
Also I have gone from a normal Enderle bird with square b/valve .050 hat nozzels only to a K-style valve with port nossels. What would be a good starting point?

 

it's mag..Dave remember always keep it dry as in after a race wipe it down and spray it with some type of oil alcohol will attack it and eat at it also I would look into anodizing it..Dave
www.myspace.com/daveloweswr

 

MagV.Al

Just to be shure. You can file a little bit off. Gather the filings and see if they will burn

 

get some Gibbs brand penetrant, heard many praises for it protecting mag

 

have it dowel 7

 

'Er, that's Dow 7, as in Dow Chemical Company that developed the process. BTW, if you have them pull it out half way thru the process, it comes out a beautiful gold color.

 

Alum. wil stay shiny, it's mag.
Mag can't be anodized.
Alodine can be done in plastic trash cans at home, but will last about a month.
Dow 7 is not done in very many places. Even Murf and Attac ship their stuff to Aerodynamic Plating in Gardena, Ca. (310-515-1585)
The beautiful gold turns to crap in sunlight as it bleaches out. Ask them to soak it as long as possible. It may wind up with a greenish tint at first, but it will bleach out and stay good for years.
And yes, Gibbs will keep it from growing potatoes, it'll get you bye for a while, but you'll have to keep spraying the inside more than the outside because of the alky.
48 years of working with mag.......... but,
std. disclaimer, I'm just a welder.

 

I powdercoated mine, then sent it and had it black chromed at a company that does a paint on style chrome. Here is the results.. I dont know how it will hold up time will tell, I also had the butterfly's airbrushed to look carbon fiber. I am very pleased with it...

 

I like it...looks great..also one bad ass 1968..Dave
www.myspace.com/daveloweswr