sparky1562

Has anyone removed and replaced the clear coat on the sawblade rim without painting them at the same time? Wondering if I can just re-clear coat them and if it will look okay?
Or should I paint the entire wheel silver first?
Just trying to clean them up a bit.

GGENIUS

iTrader: (1)

it entirely depends on the condition of your wheels now. if the clear is in tact its just dulled, you can sand and spray. but if theres oxidation, scratches, or the like, you need to sand it all down until the surface is smooth and flawless.

then you will probably need to spray a base. then clear on top of your color.

max_pusher

iTrader: (1)

This sounds about right. I've read this on prior posts.

Not sure if you really want to repaint your wheels since OEM work is usually the best. But here are some links to a few posts I like on how people repaired and repainted their wheels, and their results are pretty good.

http://forums.maxima.org/tires-wheel...l?ref=esp-link
http://forums.maxima.org/tires-wheel...l?ref=esp-link
http://forums.maxima.org/detailing/6...l?ref=esp-link

Hopefully, you'll able to find your answer.

GGENIUS

iTrader: (1)

post some detailed pics of your wheels and ill tell you what to do with them.

sparky1562

They were a mess, 232K miles was kind of hard on them! I already striped the old clear coat. Just wondering if I need to paint them or just clean them up best I can and re-clear coat.

I think I read most of those threads.

I am going to sell the car soon, so I just want them to look better. If i was going to keep it, I would just get new rims.

GGENIUS

iTrader: (1)

id really have to see them in order to tell you specifics on what you need to do.

sparky1562

The greenish yellow is the residue from the removing the old clear coat. There are surface scratches on the outer face that dont show up well in the photo, and there a dark splotches that I dont what they are! The lip has a lot of dings and dents in it.

GGENIUS

iTrader: (1)

i would say get some 80 grit and go to town on them. also chips/curb rash is going to need an angle grinder or something similar. but as for the rest start with 80grit. once the imperfections are gone with the 80 switch to 180 and get all those 80 scratches out. by this time you will probably need to spray color unless you want the brushed metal look.

phatboislim

iTrader: (27)

or you could hand polish them..

GGENIUS

iTrader: (1)

he wants to get rid of the imperfections and reclear them. polishing them is nice too but im just answering his questions. he already removed a bunch of clearcoat he said so even if he polishes now, they will surface rust.

sparky1562

Would you guys sand on the machined surface with 80? I guess I dont have much to loose.

phatboislim

iTrader: (27)

naw...if he uses aircraft stripper to completely strip the rim of clear coat and wetsand them..starting from about 600/800 grit to 2000 grit, it'll be money and as long as he keeps them maintained theyll be fine

njmaxseltd

iTrader: (19)

Take the weight off, mark the location on the back of the rim so you can put it back when your done with the refinish.

phatboislim

iTrader: (27)

or just remove the rim and have them rebalanced when reinstalls the tires..

GGENIUS

iTrader: (1)

theres nothing to lose. 180 takes 80 out. then 320. then 400. then you can either clear them, or continue sanding up to 2000 grit like phatboi said and polish them. without clear i think theyd surface rust over time but he says naw so, maybe?

you should call it a day and buy my sawblades that i already mediablasted, sanded, and powdercoated 98% gloss black. and theyre already balanced, with relatively new tires.

GGENIUS

iTrader: (1)

but like i said, 80 grit will take out those scratches and galvanized spots you were talking about.

sparky1562

The cost and shipping would kill me! LOL!
I actually looked locally for some decent saw blades to just replace these with but didnt find anything.
I just want to get them looking better to sell the car. I think I will sand them down and see what they look like, then maybe paint them, but for sure clear coat them.

Thanks for the input guys!

max ride 41

iTrader: (4)

i just paid a service to re-do 2 of my hyper silver wheels and i can tell you its not as easy as it looks. you really have to get the surface smooth and make sure you repaint them with a silver base before you re-clear them. with a pro it only took him an hour and a half, of course he had a compressor and blasted the wheels before repainting and re-clearing them. good luck

phatboislim

iTrader: (27)

you dont have to go all the way down to 80 grit...unless you have ALOT of EXTREME gouges in the rim, 600 grit on up will give you what you desire

GGENIUS

iTrader: (1)

i only went that low to be safe because pics can be deceiving, and he said there were dark spots, which i know galvanization can be a ***** to get off sometimes. 600 is pretty fine to be doing metal prep with, especially if any of the scratches can be felt with your fingernail.

GGENIUS

iTrader: (1)

thats why i told him to go down to 80. because itll really cut through any scratches and corrosion. he could prolly go with 180 tho i guess

phatboislim

iTrader: (27)

looking at the pics he posted, after the aircraft stripper, it'll be fine w/ the, 600 and up, if he wants to go to a 400, that's up to him, but 600 is plenty.but 80 grit, i wouldn't look at going that low. what he has going on there doesnt look too much worse than the fat fives from my integra were when i first picked them up...

my post is just referring to polishing the wheel by hand btw