wheel restoration
 

i have some i think called iron cross rims im wanting to restor them they look like birds carped all over them ten years ago and looks like someone tried to paint over them. i dont want to damage them so im wondering if you guys have done this? im about to post some pictures

o and i was wondering how to take of the black buld up it looks like on the enkies

any suggestions help?

Personally I'd take them to a powder shop have them blasted and powdered in what ever color u want. Course I'm a lil bias cuz that's what i do. But as long as u keep them waxed there far easier to clean then chrome and it dosent chip like paint dose.

You can get one of those polish balls put it an a drill and go to town with some compund.

Well, if you want to just clean them up, some good wheel cleaner, brushes, rags"fake"steel wool and shit tons of elbow grease should take care of them... * If they not clean up, figure out what metal they are (steel, aluminum, or rarely magnesium) are they painted or clear coated(which you said someone did) assuming they are aluminum, *strip the paint with paint stripper ( kleen-strip works good, use gloves and don't leave it on too long, gnarly stuff will turn your lungs and skin to goo) after all the paint its stripped, clean and dry it, ether sand with 220 and high build primer/paint, or sand with 220,320,400,600,800,1000 anne of further if you like, then polish with mothers mag polish to mirror shine... I just finished a set verry similar to the mesh wheels you posted and in similar condition. Turned out awesome ;)

Thanks I think there both there wheels are aluminum

Sorry silverxbullet I'm a DIY kind of person

Oh and the mesh wheels I there nice its just that black stuff I can't get of I trie like every cleaner

Aroun the lip

ok so i used this think called goof off i found at wallmart with some grade 3 steel wool with some elbow greese and managed to take off lots of thank black build up on the enkie mesh weels and im thinking of using the aircraft remover on my wheels do you think they will damage them it looks like hard core stuff :icon_super: :023:

on the datsun crosses

Honestly that spray stuff is junk, use the goo stuff in a can, can be found at walmart paint section... Copper looking can by kleen-strip...

Ether one I repeat, be very careful... The spray will away your lungs and the gel will burn your skin right off the bone if you let it... But is the best way to get the paint off

Grab a paint brush (real hair recommended) pour some in to anothe clean metal container like a soup can... Brush on good(kinda thick, but not over doing) wait 15-30 min, you'll see the paint literally lift off of the aluminum, grab a plastic scraper of some sort and strach off remaining paint. rinse of throughly with hose(pressure is good) dry and repeat as needed...
Then go to town with sand paper ;)

shits and giggles, here's my wheels
Attachment 17478

Nice ! But isn't that aircraft remover the same thing? But yeah ima try the goo stuff tomarrow after work

Well what do you do with the rims now that the clearcoat is removed?

Bead blast then polish the protruding surface with a cotton buffing wheel (sorta "A" shaped on this wheel). Mask and paint the rest of the wheel with an engine enamel - satin black or whatever.

Do you know if they are aluminum? And sorry I don't know what bead blasting is

Yes, they are aluminum. Bead blasting is the same as sand blasting but with a special media that's made of glass "beads" that will not damage the material like a sand blaster.

Ok that kinda sounds expensive is there special shops that do this?

You'd have take it to a sandblaster... not worth it imo unless you really like stock wheels, just clean, sandand polish or paint as need, it doesn't look like you have much lip so id say paint em... I used plastidip fwiw... Good stuff

I say goo over spray because its hard to get good coverage, doesn't stick on very will and very easy to breath it... Every time I've ever used it I had breathing problems...
Ntm they cost about the same but the kleenstrip will last longer if you use it right...

You could call PowderTech here in Wichita and see how expensive it is.

Thanks everyone im going to call powder tech and if it's to much I'm going to just use the aircraft stuff.
Murph do you know anyone else in Wichita?

And probaly paint them but can't I leave them bar aluminum or will it carode do I have to put a clear coat or somthing? I kind of want a shiny aluminum look

Ok kleenex strip can you use a power washer with it?

PowderTech don't do rims

Sand/bead blasting is cheap and takes a fraction of the time and gets in crevices you'll have a tought time doing. There are even places you can bring your stuff and blast it yourself in their blaster