OK, so the rear is at the welder's right now. I think I was pretty lucky just to find someone who would weld it. Next, I need to know how to finish them. I read that having them media blasted is a bad idea. The wheel fixer guy said powder coating is a bad idea too. So just how do you clean them. I read that a chemical strip and some Mother's should do the trick. The pic below is after aircraft paint stripping. Should I hit them again? Should I use a different stripper? Should I not bother with it and have them painted? If I have them painted should I go with the fancy wheel fixer's fancy wheel paint or go with a regular paint shop? Should I just hang 'em on the wall and fergit about 'em?

I've seen steel wool and elbow grease do wonders. Should work a treat after that stripper -- can't hurt to have a go before resorting to paint anyway.

Keep hitting them with the chemical stripper until all the paint is gone. They are easy to polish with the right tools and equipment. I use a tapered buff on a pneumatic die grinder, I just turn the pressure down so if wont spin as fast. Start with tripoli, then finish with white rouge. They will look like chrome!

I'd have them media blasted. They dont use sand or glass but plastic beads. Works very well. There is no problem with having the powdercoated either if thats what you want.

Cobra Killer here is a pic of mine that I redid with Mother Polish and alot of elbow grease, and a pic of some that I had media blasted. I actaully like how they both turned out. The media blasting does take alittle toll on them, but I don't ride either of these so I'm not too concerned. I did clear coat the media blasted wheels just to be safe.

I know the decals backwards, waiting for a new decal set to replace.




dbar1681

Yeah, I'm definitely leaning towards the polish now. I guess I need to study up on polishing techniques. The top right mag is just cleaned and Never Dull'ed. I'm assuming Mother's is a better polish. I just want a uniform finish. So I'll work on the front mag while the rear is being welded. More stripping, then hit it with a polishing wheel, then Mother's, and bling, bling.

Thanks guys! You rock!

CK

get em powder coated

I'm trying to polish the front one up right now. I can't seem to get all the stuff off of them. This is a close up of the stuff. It's kinda splotchy if you can't see it very well. Is this just imperfection in the casting that won't come off? Is it tarnish that would come off with like Tarn-X or something? I've only used the white rouge on it so far. Should I go ahead with the Tripoli and jeweler's rouge? Yeah, I know you said Tripoli then white, but the polishing stuff manufacturer said white, tripoli, then white jeweler's on aluminum.



Oh, the powder coat is lovely though. I'd like to try and get a good polish out of 'em first. My neighbor said, "You might as well. You've spent so much time at it already." LOL

[ April 29, 2005, 12:45 PM: Message edited by: Cobra Killer ]

I have a set with that splotchy look too. I was thinking about some sort of chemical agent that would give me a surface ready for polish. Maybe something like the oven cleaner/drain unclogger stuff guys talk about to remove anodizing. Is this splotchiness caused by oxidation? Would what I'm thinking about help or harm?

[ April 29, 2005, 09:10 PM: Message edited by: billn ]

I'm beginning to think it's permanent splotchiness. I polished for a while longer today and nothing came off. I think I'll take it to the mag place and ask them. The lady had a polish there she seemed to think was the magic elixer, so maybe I'll try a bit of that and see if the stuff comes off. If not it looks like a powder coating will be in order. I'm still sketchy about the powder coat. The master aluminum mag welder said powder coating temps would make MM's more brittle.