Aluminum wheels

[RichP]

Picking up a set of 5 of the 5 hole jeep aluminum wheels, practically mint with the clearcoat still intact. Was considering changing their color. Whats involved in aluminum refinishing, is anodizing them to a different color practical, powdercoat, want them to took good.

[Mr.OverKill]

i would just strip them and polish the cr@p out of them if you want them to bling.


my .02

[Bent]

i would just strip them and polish the cr@p out of them if you want them to bling.


my .02

Cast will not take a bling polish, only trailer sparkle.

Look here, bottom half of the page. (http://www.thevincent.com/vinpolish.html)

[Mr.OverKill]

Cast will not take a bling polish, only trailersparkle.

Look here, bottom half of the page. (http://www.thevincent.com/vinpolish.html)

ok, ok, gheto bling then.

[dizzymac]

it will be ghetto bling...I buffed, polished the hell out of mine, with the proper compounds and wheels, still no bling...would have to send them out to get a mirror finish.

[imma honky]

Rich, I have 4 of the same wheels and i am looking for a fifith. I plan on powdercoating them black (cheap and fairly durable). I can get my set done for around 100 bucks (well worth not having to clean/sand/paint/repaint/repaint until right). After running the heavy black steelys on my 91, I decided to return to the aluminums.

[RichP]

Yea, I'm going to look intoo getting them powedercoated, will have to see what they look like close up on thrusday when I pick them up...

[RichP]

Well, did a bit of research and I think I'm going to consider anodizing them either black or dark green, the process looks pretty simple and the starter kit of chemicals and dyes are in the $144 price range. I just need to get a big enough set of tanks to fit the wheels in. It's not any worse than bluing and I had a setup for that many years ago, need to talk to one of my customers who has a body shop and see whats involved in stripping the clearcoat off. Still need to research it some more.

[imma honky]

Well, did a bit of research and I think I'm going to consider anodizing them either black or dark green, the process looks pretty simple and the starter kit of chemicals and dyes are in the $144 price range. I just need to get a big enough set of tanks to fit the wheels in. It's not any worse than bluing and I had a setup for that many years ago, need to talk to one of my customers who has a body shop and see whats involved in stripping the clearcoat off. Still need to research it some more.
We have a chemical by ZEP* that takes the clearcaot right off. It a super concentrate degreaser/cleaner (we get in 55gal drums). I have seen first hand what happens when it gets on rims....not a pretty sight.

[Bent]

ZEP? Huh? That is some handy information to have there; I don't care who you are.

[RichP]

We have a chemical by ZEP* that takes the clearcaot right off. It a super concentrate degreaser/cleaner (we get in 55gal drums). I have seen first hand what happens when it gets on rims....not a pretty sight.

What does it do to aluminum ?

[hackedxj]

I've bought clearcoat stripper for made for aluminum wheels, can't remember the name of it, got it at a hot rod shop, aircraft strippers not strong enough. I've painted several sets of aluminum wheels, just sanded them with a red Scotchbrite pad, a good cleaner, sprayed a coat of self etching epoxy primer and then base cleared. Run one set for several years, no peeling at all.

[Weasel]

My Mickey's bling pretty good but I need something to get all the brake dust and oxidation crap off again. Eagle One cleaner works pretty well but it takes a few applications, would be nice to have soemthing stronger.

I've also considered anodizing them, but wonder if you can de-anodizing them later if you want to go back to the bling. Also is you polish them up and anodizing, will the shine show thorugh, like black chrome?

[01XJLIMITED]

Mid America Corvette used to have an aluminum wheel resto kit - remove clear coat, aluminum prep and new clear coat. I used it long ago on an 88 vette and it worked great.
http://www.madvet.com/