Alloy wheel refurb

[DodgyBastard]

Steel wheels - Wire wheel on an angle grinder. 

 

DSC_0631 by srblythe, on Flickr

 

DSC_0633 by srblythe, on Flickr

 

DSC_0705 by srblythe, on Flickr

 

DSC_0276 by srblythe, on Flickr

 

DSC_0282 by srblythe, on Flickr

 

A few coats using a compressor seems to work quite well, I've been using Aldi's metal care paint which comes in at £5 a tin.

 

Alloys - some light sanding, especially on the bubbly bits then a few coats of paint.

 

Peugeot Pepperpots by srblythe, on Flickr

 

DSC_0979 by srblythe, on Flickr

 

It's better just to break the bead, cover the tyres then inflate them when done. I managed to damage the paint on every proton wheel when refitting the tyres...

 

DSC_0199 by srblythe, on Flickr

[riber3]

I have polished ones before just using autosomal and a home made rig to spin them. City powder coaters in Brum will do them for £20 a wheel so I have never messed about trying painting.

I just read this link about city powder coaters I know you cannot please everyone and sometimes things go wrong but for 20 quid each thats a great price

 

http://www.tyresmoke.net/forum/topic/124948-city-powder-coaters-beware/

[Pete-M]

I'm trying to find somewhere (preferably fairly local) that'll do Diamond cutting on a set of alloys.

 

Yes, I know all it takes to screw them up is a stone chip or over enthusiastic car wash attendant, but the rest of the car is in bloody good condition and the wheels are beginning to let it down. The car is (only) 15 years old so they're doing well looking as good as they do so I figure that if I get them done in spring they'll look good at least as long as I own it.

 

Problem is, it's bloody expensive that Diamond cutting lark and all the engineering places I know don't fancy setting the lathes up just to make a set of wheels look pretty.

[Captain Furious]

Don't doubt that you can get decent results with DIY alloy refurbishing if you have the skills, patience and time to do it right, but having tried it years ago it is far more of a ball ache than it's worth to me. You spend literally hours prepping each wheel and just when you think you've got it just so you put the paint on and it highlights a million imperfections.

 

Had my last set done at city powder coaters in Birmingham, as mentioned above, £20 a wheel and turned around in 48 hours, finish was far better than I could have achieved and lasted pretty well too, if I had to pick a fault they were a bit...err, sparkly

[Pete-M]

I used to mirror polish the rims on RS 2000 wheels. By hand. Clamped them into a Black & Decker Workmate and just went at them starting with 400 wet and dry, then 800, 1200, 1500, rubbing compound then Autosol. Took anything up to a day a wheel but they looked bloody great when they were done.

 

I could do the wheels I'd like Diamond cutting, but frankly I can't be bothered.

[Tamworthbay]

I just read this link about city powder coaters I know you cannot please everyone and sometimes things go wrong but for 20 quid each thats a great price

 

http://www.tyresmoke.net/forum/topic/124948-city-powder-coaters-beware/

I read a couple of negative reviews before I used them but saw what my mates were like and was more than happy with the finish. As I said before, if you are doing a million pound car to take to concourse competitions then they might not be perfect but for real world use they are spot on. I had great service, I dropped them off on a Monday and was told they would be ready close of play Wednesday, I went back first thing Thursday and they were waiting for me. I couldn't grumble. They also do a drive in drive out service which takes about 6hrs I think but obviously costs more. I suppose most firms cock up now and again and with the internet it's easier for people to pass on their annoyance to a lot of people. I think that's generally a good thing as it makes companies think twice about the service they are doing but I see the other side where people pay bargain price but expect premium service. I wouldn't hesitate about using them again.

[gordonbennet]

I'm trying to find somewhere (preferably fairly local) that'll do Diamond cutting on a set of alloys.

 

Yes, I know all it takes to screw them up is a stone chip or over enthusiastic car wash attendant, but the rest of the car is in bloody good condition and the wheels are beginning to let it down. The car is (only) 15 years old so they're doing well looking as good as they do so I figure that if I get them done in spring they'll look good at least as long as I own it.

 

Problem is, it's bloody expensive that Diamond cutting lark and all the engineering places I know don't fancy setting the lathes up just to make a set of wheels look pretty.

 

I used to visit one of the MB forums regularly, some of the posters had seen previously diamond cut and laquered wheels coated in new chrome paints, apart from the finish being as tough and long lasting as normal powder coating and cooking, they were of the opinion that the finish was surprisingly close to OE.

Might be worth investigating, i know people who have had wheels recut and laquered and after one winter they were back to spiders webs and bubbling.

[MikeKnight]

If you don't get ALL the rust off (ala bead blasting) won't it just quickly come through again?