ReTro Valve

[correia3]

Hi - Just wondering if anybody knows. Is the back half of the RetRo Valve Stainless or Aluminum? Also, can the color be removed and the metal polished to make the front and back halves match? Would an RT Pro Valve be the same? Has anybody out there ever done this? Thanks.

[michbich]

Hi - Just wondering if anybody knows. Is the back half of the RetRo Valve Stainless or Aluminum? Also, can the color be removed and the metal polished to make the front and back halves match? Would an RT Pro Valve be the same? Has anybody out there ever done this? Thanks.
The ReTro valve is stainless.

I would assUme that it can be polished to match the front. I don't see why it couldn't be done. The only reason I can see would be because of tolerance issues.

[BiNumber3]

Im pretty sure the back half of the Retro is aluminum, i have one sittin next to my rt pro valve. That n the back half appears to be annoed.

As for polishing, i wouldnt, since polished aluminum looks different from polished steel, unless u want that look.

[Watcher]

Plus wouldn't it remove the serial #?

I thought only the x-valves were aluminum...
or are those 100% aluminum while the previous valves had just aluminum reg halves?

So, if I have a RT Pro can I anno the reg body or is it stainless?

edit: just found out there are stainless and aluminum versions of the RT Pro valve, how do I tell the difference?

[michbich]

Im pretty sure the back half of the Retro is aluminum, i have one sittin next to my rt pro valve. That n the back half appears to be annoed.

As for polishing, i wouldnt, since polished aluminum looks different from polished steel, unless u want that look.
Retro valves have stainless fronts and backs. Would you have pics of yours?

[BiNumber3]

Sure
<a href="http://s33.photobucket.com/albums/d74/BiNumber3/?action=view&current=DSC00013.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d74/BiNumber3/DSC00013.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Also weighed it and my rt pro, same mass pretty much, and im pretty sure the coloring on the back half isnt powder

Although i just did a search n wiki says theyre steel front n back. But definitely doesnt look that way, n ive had another retro that was the same, have never actually seen a retro that wasnt like this.

[michbich]

Plus wouldn't it remove the serial #?

I thought only the x-valves were aluminum...
or are those 100% aluminum while the previous valves had just aluminum reg halves?

So, if I have a RT Pro can I anno the reg body or is it stainless?

edit: just found out there are stainless and aluminum versions of the RT Pro valve, how do I tell the difference?
If you polish it, the serial will get removed.

If the rt pro's back is grey, it's stainless.

In that picture, it's a stainless front and back valve.

[BiNumber3]

so can u explain the coloring? is it powder coat?

also, weighed the back half alone, 1.4 oz (using a really old shipping scale that's not too accurate, but its under 1.5)

1.4oz = 39.69g

measured the volume with a beaker, came out to be about 15ml

m/v = 39.69/15 = 2.65 g/ml

according to google, average densisty of pure aluminum is 2.7g/ml

density of steel can be betwen 7.47 and 8.03 g/ml depending on the grade/carbon content

Thats the best way i can think of to ddetermine whether or not the back half is aluminum or steel. U can believe me or not, just tryin to make sure that the back half is one or the other:)

[correia3]

Not particularly worried about the serial number, to be honest. We all know how rock-solid reliable AGD parts are, and any ReTro valve available today would likely be out of waranty. If both parts are stainless, they should look the same polished, right? I just have a problem with the whole 2-tone look and was considering it with a polished/chrome body...

[Watcher]

The only problem with the serial number would be rebuild and re-sale. I don't think anyone who knows mags would buy one without a matching reg/valve.
Plus AGD will not tech valves without matching regs.