Repairing mag wheels

If they really are magnesium then you need to be wary of them. Magnesium is much more prone to age related problems and can even have hidden internal corrosion weakening the structure.

Not saying they are useless necessarily, just that care is needed as techniques needed for checking them and refurbing them are more demanding than an ordinary aluminium alloy, are done by far fewer companies and doubtless cost more. But then a busted wheel can really spoil your day....

Welding wise, I'd say great care and not a little expertise would be needed as magnesium alloys can burn extremely enthusiatically. Early VW aircooled engines used magnesium casings and I once watched an split screen VW bus burn completely out (in Africa, no fire brigade) and once the engine and gearbox casing got going the fire went bright white. Nothing left after but crank, rods, piston rings, valves springs etc.

www.weldingtipsandtricks.com/welding-magnesium.html

Can be dangerous to use a grinder on it too apparently.....

Nick

You can Tig it but mag filler rods are bloody expensive.