Wheels.. alloy ones, they're a proper bellend to refurbish

[DaveDorson]

Grim, dusty horrible work.. these are the wheels that have been on the black driveway ornament since 2016 and have been curbed and fucked since I've owned the car.

I decided to do something about it, using a grinder and some poly strip discs. They have about 18 miles of paint on that's crazed and chipped all over the show.

 

 

And here are the wheels that are going on the 72 beetle following a bit of work on the lips.  Undecided what I'm doing with the centers right now.

[chodweaver]

What are you using on them? Not that I've done any alloy wheels, but strip discs of the sponge type on an angry grinder are my favourite atm for removing paint etc.

[DaveDorson]

1 minute ago, chodweaver said:

What are you using on them? Not that I've done any alloy wheels, but strip discs of the sponge type on an angry grinder are my favourite atm for removing paint etc.

[DaveDorson]

Using that.  I'd only recommend doing it if you're not really too happy with the wheels or they have a lot of damage as they will do some grinding as well as cleaning 🤣.  Go lightly with then and work around the wheel evenly and they're fine though.

[DaveDorson]

 

Good idea to use PPE when you're doing this sort of work.. note my safety chins, glasses, and protective stubble 

[dave j]

I've got anthracite Empis on my bug, part way through a quick refurb on them as the lacquer on the rims has crazed.  Not spending too much time on then, partly because refurbing wheels is a chore but also as I want to change them at some point.

[bunglebus]

I used to work as a powder coater, was great chucking them in a tank to strip the paint off, sandblasting if needed and coating whatever colour I wanted.

Sanding those Porsche twists looks like a lot of fun*

[Dave_Q]

10 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

I used to work as a powder coater, was great chucking them in a tank to strip the paint off, sandblasting if needed and coating whatever colour I wanted.

Sanding those Porsche twists looks like a lot of fun*

Having paid for a set to be powdercoated for about the same price as I would have paid for the rattle cans (yay being Northern) - never again will I do them by hand.

[DaveDorson]

21 minutes ago, bunglebus said:

I used to work as a powder coater, was great chucking them in a tank to strip the paint off, sandblasting if needed and coating whatever colour I wanted.

Sanding those Porsche twists looks like a lot of fun*

I'm next door to a proper wheelrite who make alloy wire wheels for vintage race cars, most of my stuff gets dipped by them and then finished by me, but the twists I knew had filler and dings all over so needed a bit more attention, so I decided to go at it with the grinder, mini grinder and sand paper.. also my time is free, theirs isn't.

Because the guy I have in the unit is a painter and panel beater by trade, I get him to do final prep and paint, so I'll hand over to him once I've done the dirty work.

[DaveDorson]

12 minutes ago, Dave_Q said:

Having paid for a set to be powdercoated for about the same price as I would have paid for the rattle cans (yay being Northern) - never again will I do them by hand.

Controversial opinion I know, but I don't actually like powder coat on wheels.. at least with paint if you damage them, you can touch them in again fairly easily, and if corrosion gets under there, you don't end up with huge scabs falling off 

[DaveDorson]

2 hours ago, dave j said:

I've got anthracite Empis on my bug, part way through a quick refurb on them as the lacquer on the rims has crazed.  Not spending too much time on then, partly because refurbing wheels is a chore but also as I want to change them at some point.

Tidy.

 

Yeah water and salt had got under the lips on these so they got stripped back and polished, they'll get a load of nice sealant on before they're fitted and then regularly cleaned.  I won't be chucking any lacquer back on. 

The 72 is going Guards Red.  The wife and I have been chatting colours, I wanted to go gold but I now think a light silver will work better.  I think a dark centre makes the wheels shrink down a bit on the car to the eye.  

[DaveDorson]

 

Had some time to kill today so started to use red scotchbrite on the spokes.  I think the raw finish actually suits these a lot with the polished lips.

[Bren]

I did the snowflakes on our previous vectra. Never again.

[DaveDorson]

 

Observe the use of Adidas Superstar rubber toe cap safety shoes.  Had some time this afternoon so put some more work in, the filler on the lips is to be mostly removed to get rid of some imperfections where someone has kissed a curb.   

These really are a nasty set of wheels that I should chuck over the bridge, but I already have them so they'll go on one of my cars when they're done.

 

Absolutely not worth the effort and investment so far though.

[Stanky]

10/10 for perseverence! I got about 20% of the way through one wheel before giving up and paying a local firm to blast them all for me. Money well spent in my opinion!

Top work, they'll look great once done.

[UltraWomble]

Yeah, I fucked mine off and punted them on after tryingto paint them white.