Semo

First off I know I am a quite tight and that's why I'm behind the times but I really dig the wheels and got a steal(maybe on craigslist..150). I bought wheels off a g35 for my 08 maxima. Have intentions of stripping and polishing them.

I have them totally stripped but noticed pits in the aluminum. I sanded with 320 grit (toughest I had on hand) and didn't get out the dimples. I spent prolly half hour on one spoke and did a test polish and it wasn't good enough.

If I get more paper (lower # more cut) and sand forever before polishing...will this work or should I quit now and paint em?

I can paint wheels same color as car as I am having repairs done on front end..

I'll try to get some pics up at some point. I took a few when I got started stripping but its tough to operate a camera while using paint stripper..

Semo

Fixed below..

Semo

They were plasti-coated when I bought them and I peeled it all off there onsite to get a look..(he let me) and they are rough with rash, but I think a file will get most if not all of it..this is what they looked like to start..

Semo

This is my test area..I did 3 test strips using airplane paint remover and it stripped it to bare aluminum...pic doesn't show it well but its about 2 inch strip there...for the record...3 coatings of stripper to bare aluminum would have been great...

Semo

Once I got going with the stripper...Not sure exactly what had been going on with the wheels...It seemed to take 4-5 coats of stripper to clean all the paint/primer/clear coat off of the wheels..not sure but i think this is after 2-3 coatings of stripper-scraping of the wheels..

Semo

Now we get to my question...Can I get these wheels to a mirror finish? I am asking for advice. I can scuff, primer and paint for a great wheel finish which will look much like before the factory look without the curb rash....

I just need your input on the polish issue...can I sand/polish the dimples out of the wheels? Looks like the cast left lots of dimples...its gonna take tons of time (and beer) to get this sanded out but I really wanted raw polished wheels..

Lemme know your thoughts..better yet I am hoping for someone who has experienced this process...

this I what I got after stripping..

Semo

This pic doesn't do it justice but I had to test it with a quck buff. I need a stronger compund and firmer wheel but this still left the dimples filled with coumpund..its just not smooth enough..I am just curious..anyone done this...I only had 320 grit up to 600 on hand but can get stronger...is this the route?

I know its gonna take tons of time but good singin', beer drinkin', alone time if ya ask me but if I can't get this to mirror shine (almost chrome look) I may not bother. If that the case, I'll just go with some kind of paint for the factory look...

I just didnt realize the surface of the wheels would strip out to feel like 180 grit sand paper...

THX in advance guys..
Semo..

RAZ76

iTrader: (8)

You gonna have to sand a lot to get those wheels smooth before you can polish them and get that chrome like finish.

Semo

A look at the quick buff with light grit compound and a soft buffing wheel...

Semo

I hope the stronger grit will cut it quicker...One thing..the wife won't mind the smooth hands..LOL...I had no clue the wheels would be so rough once stripped...

Kryogen

sand up to 1000 grit and then polish...... I personally dont feel like spending 20 hours polishing my wheels so I'm just keeping them as they are :P
Good luck.

phatboislim

iTrader: (27)

2000 grit, not 1000

Nates78Ski

Polishing them will work. But honestly, they'll start to fade pretty quickly and you'll have to put quite a bit of work into them probably a couple times every summer to keep them looking nice. That's nothing to say of if you use them in the winter...

Nate

phatboislim

iTrader: (27)

not really, i have polished wheels and normal wash and wax/quick spray wax is all that's needed to keep them shiny...i've had mine for at least 6 months and it looks good

killemall2k

yeah, you should have peeled off all the plasti-dip before using the aircraft stripper. i doubt it matters, but it would've probably been alot easier. i suggest you start off with 100 grit (though you stated you only have 320) and work your way up to 2000 grit. once you hit 1000 grit, itll be okay to wetsand, clean, then polish. make sure to post pictures after you're done!

if you really dont wanna sit there and sand your life away, just repaint them. you can replicate the same color or almost identical to it.

phatboislim

iTrader: (27)

here are mine that i did on my integra and still look great. i'm going to hit it w/ compound while its off the car



bad angle, but it still shines awesome...friend of mine saw me rolling one day and said it looked like i was riding on chrome LOL

SESixSpeed

I put in close to 80 hours on two rims off an Integra in the past. It can be done but will take countless hours when the rims starts in that kind of condition.

Not the greatest picture but the rims had previously been hit with a grinder to strip paint off and left deep grooves and marks on them.


Some progress


How they ended up using 2000 grit

Apollos2

iTrader: (16)

Wow a lot of work but it may be worth it in the end. What about clear coating them once they are all polished up?

phatboislim

iTrader: (27)

i would never polish meshies i'd end up throwing them away from aggravation


i think it would be a bad idea

SESixSpeed

Yeah, it was one of the worst decisions I ever made . I stopped after the 2 because I just couldn't see myself putting in another 80 hours on the other two and that was only getting the faces of the spokes.

I ended up painting the darn rims after all that

phatboislim

iTrader: (27)

oh gawd that's sexy...94-97 front end love....recaros??

SESixSpeed

I wish, they are Tenzo R Sport fully reclineable racing seats in red with black accents. A great upgrade for a track car but not as comfortable as I would've hoped for a daily.

phatboislim

iTrader: (27)

they definitely look sexy. i have EP3 seats in my DB1

anyway...OP take pics during the process

Semo

I am really considering giving the paint route a look. I believe I may complete one wheel (if I can hold out) and see how it goes but I am not nearly as excited about the project as I was earlier.

Semo

I am quite encouraged by the responses and discouraged by the responses. I definately can see why you decided to paint. You did have a nice start though...

Apollos2

iTrader: (16)

Does the same method work on removing powder coating?

phatboislim

iTrader: (27)

i think powder coating has to be removed by sand blasting

Apollos2

iTrader: (16)

So your wheels were plasti-dip and factory painted at start?


Yikes, not sure what this stuff is.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecvpiS4ZtGY

Semo

Yes, the person I bought them from had plasti-coated over the factory finish of the wheels.

Semo

looks like i am goin with paint. This was the worse idea ever. I could probably sand the wheels out in a few weeks starting with 220 and moving up a couple times but I have sanded one wheel to the point where its ready to prime then paint....I'm guessing 16-24 hours for the wheel...no buffing...just gotta choose to buy the buffing compound to cut or not....I'm cutting my losses and ego as well

I am PAINTIN"""

Semo

I did file off the logo off the wheels (or whatever the initials are)...

Here are the pics during process..

Semo

May need to start new thread..


I saw a youtube video with a guy restoring a "super rare ultra-light chrome bbs wheels" he used a dark gray base with silver top coat to get darker wheel color...still light but darker than silver alone.

My question is...I have a silver 08 maxima..I want dark wheels but not black...Can I go with paintin black base then charcoal grey or silver top for a decent look...then clearcoat...

Killin me..I may have to experiment..didn't use the gallon of stripper..

om4r

iTrader: (32)

I don't know how I missed this thread! I too am refinishing my g wheels, but not a full polish. So far, I have one wheel finished an about 50% on the 2nd wheel. I'm in no rush since I don't have tires and I like my 17 inch bars. Here are pics of my first wheel.