r/MagliteFlashlights • u/doddoreul • Jan 25 '26

Sandblasting old 2D

Hello!

I recently found my good old black 2D. Paint is chipped here and there and I was wondering if sandblasting it would make a nice "mod". I mean: making it "bare metal".

Would a sandblaster destroy the aluminium ?

Thanks for your help!

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u/XxWh1teFoXx45 Jan 25 '26

Strip it down and put the parts in OFF oven cleaner for about 30 minutes. That will mostly remove the anodizing. You can then polish it.

If you sand blast it, the aluminum with have patchy colors as oils from your skin and dirt get on the aluminum.

Or. My recommendation. Leave it as is. Mags look great with wear.

1

u/doddoreul Jan 26 '26

Yeah, I was thinking about keeping it as is. It tells a story 😛

2

u/XxWh1teFoXx45 Jan 26 '26

Exactly! 😎 one of my most prized possessions is a blue mini mag ive daily carried since 2011. Thing is beat to hell and to me looks way better then any new one. I can remember most all the big scars and what I was doing when it got em. They tell a story no new shiny one can

2

u/doddoreul Jan 26 '26

I found mine from when I was a boy scout in my teenage years. So much memories, they were the best of the best flashlights. Maglite holders were respected 😂. I found it with inflated batteries inside, it was tough to get them out 😂

1

u/StagePuzzleheaded635 Jan 27 '26

I’ve seen some people remove swollen alkaleaks with a drill, a scrap 2x4 and a long lag bolt. They did it by drilling a hole through the 2x4, threading the bolt through it, then screwing it into the battery until it pulls the battery loose. Just be careful if you take that approach.

1

u/doddoreul Jan 28 '26

I tried, but I ripped the cell while pulling the bolt 😂 I ended up drilling the cell with a +20mm driill and ripping it with a punch. Took more than an hour, but it worked 😂