Ultrasonic welds...

[scootle]

So some outfits like MidwestPX (among others) ultrasonically weld the baseplate onto the blocked PMAGs that they sell.

Hypothetically, how would one undo said welding? I don't think this is something a heatgun would be able to pull off without destroying the mag.

Sure, it's just $8 or so in current market value (altho they cost a helluva lot more when new... )

[zhyla]

This is a bond between plastic and plastic right? My best guess would be a chisel if you can get at the seam.

[ajb78]

Any idea if callegalmags.com Magpul mags can be opened up somehow?

"Permanently Modified" internally to hold a maximum capacity of 10 Rounds in the 20rd body for states that have capacity restrictions. It can not be opened or changed back to 20rd capacity. Floor plate is sealed shut with industrial adhesive.

Heat gun on low works, appears to just be super glue. Get the base plate hot enough you can't hold it, squeeze the sides in a vise, whack it with a dead blow hammer and nylon punch while pushing the lock plate in.

[17+1]

[CWL]

How many do you have, can you afford to lose one to experimentation?

If done correctly, ultrasonic welding of polymers creates a strong bond that can only be defeated through physical force. When pried, it will either release along the original seams -or break into something unusable.

[G-forceJunkie]

Ultrasonic is a fancy way of melting them together. Will it come apart? Depends on how well it was done. Probably going to take something that cuts or saws considering they are fused together.

[calaveras]

Any idea if callegalmags.com Magpul mags can be opened up somehow?

I'd try boiling water. Many adhesives will soften with heat, and boiling water isn't hot enough to damage the polymer that Magpul uses. It is easy to get too hot with a heat gun.

[scootle]

I thought maybe these were spot welded, so I drilled out what looked like the spot... sadly it seems they are welded along the entire seam of the baseplate. I think this is a lost cause. Those baseplates are not coming off any day soon.

I guess these mags will remain neutered for use in dire emergency only. Maybe I'll link them up with a coupler so at least they are "20" rounders...

I made my own with a rivet in the spine of the magazine, super easy to reverse that, just chisel the head off and punch the rivet out. Looks like crap but you’re back to full capacity in 2 mins. That was back when rebuild kits were being shipped though...

If you’re worried about screwing up a job done professionally, why not just leave as is and buy high caps? It’s not like 10 round mags are useless or anything, they’re just annoying. Like a top speed governor on a car.

Yeah rivet blocks are trivial to remove. I was just thinking I have these neutered 10/30s (which happen to be nice M3 windowed PMAGs) -- they deserve a better future! Alas... this flavor of neutering may be a little TOO effective.

[CWL]

I'd try boiling water. Many adhesives will soften with heat, and boiling water isn't hot enough to damage the polymer that Magpul uses. It is easy to get too hot with a heat gun.

There is no adhesive, it is a weld. Boiling water would be as effective on welded polymer as boiling steel plates welded together.

[Palmaris]

I'd try boiling water. Many adhesives will soften with heat, and boiling water isn't hot enough to damage the polymer that Magpul uses. It is easy to get too hot with a heat gun.

Welding is permanent process to fuse parts together on molecular level, using heat, or pressure, or both in the same time.

[calaveras]

There is no adhesive, it is a weld. Boiling water would be as effective on welded polymer as boiling steel plates welded together.

Welding is permanent process to fuse parts together on molecular level, using heat, or pressure, or both in the same time.

The guy I was responding to was asking about magazines with adhesive. I do have more than 2 brain cells.