I saw some pics in the site gallery of members wheels before and after refurbing thier wheels themselves. They looked beautiful, but none of the posts explain what and how they did it.

I saw some pics in the site gallery of members wheels before and after refurbing thier wheels themselves. They looked beautiful, but none of the posts explain what and how they did it.

 

You might have to copy and paste a link so we all know what your talking about mate.

http://www.300zx.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=126457

A lot of hard work on Dave's part probably!!

I've let him know you want to ask him, so he should post back to you.

 

Dave

I did mine myself mate, alot of hard work and time.

 

I had to rub them down using different grades of wet & dry, i personally used 280 (cos they were awful), 600, 1000, 1200, 1500, 2000 (the last 2 may not be necessary, but i did it anyway, as you end up with a lovely smooth surface).

 

Once i'd done that, i used etching primer, and then normal primer within 20 mins of applying the etching primer (thats quite important ;) ). Then i applied the basecoat and then the clearcoat. Then i just finished off, by wet & drying with 2000 and buffing back up to a great shine.

 

My wheels are all painted tho, so i don't know what people do if they polish certain bits.

 

HTH

Isaac :cool:

I saw some pics in the site gallery of members wheels before and after refurbing thier wheels themselves. They looked beautiful, but none of the posts explain what and how they did it.

 

Cheers Bud :)

 

well im a lazy bugger lol!!

 

I just started off with 400's wet and dry. then straight 800's then 1500's then just buffed them up with Autosol. I let that do most of the final buff. then as joelyp said use colinite to wax them amazing stuff.

 

I did the other 3 today and yesterday and 4 layers of colinite. I will post some more pics up once my new wider tyres are on. :cool:

 

My fingers a red raw now and really sore but i have also been working on my new custom lip ;)

Here is my thread :)

 

http://300zx.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=108932&highlight=refurbed+alloys

Here is my thread :)

 

http://300zx.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=108932&highlight=refurbed+alloys

 

centers should be black ;)

I did quite a comprehensive one here.... http://www.300zx.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=75151

Please feel free to add or amend in any way you see fit, spelling and grammar.

 

Paul

 

It really depends on how bad the wheels are and what sort of finish you want,

as to how you go about it.

Tools you will need:

Drill

Grinder or DA sander and 120 grit sanding pads.

Wire wheels

Soft wire brush

Scraper

3M Rubber sanding block (curved on one side)

Wire wool

Bucket

Washing up liquid

Masking tape

Safety glasses

Rubber gloves

Wet & Dry sand paper, 120/240/320/400/600/800/1000/1200/1500

Autosol or similar

Belgium gom

Mutton cloth

 

Removing the paint and lacquer.

 

If the rim is lacquered you need to strip this off, and the same for the centers if your going to repaint them, easiest way is to get them bead blasted, the other not so easy way is paint stripper, very messy but does the job. If you go the paint stripper way make sure it is washed off leaving no trace of the paint stripper other wise you'll have problems when you start to paint them. Use the drill, wire wheels and wire wool in those hard to get to place's but don't put to much pressure when using the drill as it will eat into the rim. Depending on how much paint and the type you may have to apply the paint stripper more than once.

 

If the edges of the rims are pitted or lightly curbed you can use the grinder or DA sander for these, then start with some coarse wet and dry paper 120 or 240 grit, if you have a DA sander so much the better, but again use only light pressure.

 

Using the wet & dry:

 

Fill your bucket with water and add some washing up liquid, just enough that you get a few bubble's when you whisk it up, this will act as a lubricant between the paper and the surface of the wheel. Always start with the worst rim first, that way you can gage what grade of paper you can start with on the next rim, because the higher grade of paper you use the less work will be involved.

If it's only minor marks that you are trying to remove, start with 600 grit, if the marks remove easily go to the next paper up if not, come down a grade.

 

Starting to sand the rims:

 

Choose the grade of paper you want to start with and cut it into 3 strips fix it onto the M3 block, if your starting by rubbing down the inside of the rim fix it so that the paper is running on the curved side, having dipped the paper in the water you can start to rub the rim down, I found that having the rim upright and at about stomach height was best, work your way around the wheel using straight strokes about 20cm long, rinsing the paper in the bucket of water when you feel some resistance between the paper and the surface of the wheel, do this until you can no longer see the marks. Work your way through all the grades of paper, make sure you remove all the marks left by the previous paper before you move on to the next other wise when you do the final polish you will see them.

At this point I would do any painting that has to be done. Degrease the wheel, mask up the rim, prime, paint and Lacquer as required.

 

Polishing the rim:

 

This is the point where you see how good a job you have done with the wet & dry. If you have a polishing machine so much the better, if not cut 2 piece's of the mutton cloth add some Autosol and with the same straight movements as with the paper go around the wheel until you have a shine you could shave in.

 

Belgium Gom:

This was recommended to me by Bigman and Funkysi, this is used as the final polish to remove any marks left by the Autosol.

Do any of you wheel refurbers know where I can source a set of universal wheel centres for my wheels. I have the internal measurements and photos of the wheels.

Edited June 15, 200916 yr by save-my-arse
photo

centers should be black ;)

 

You taking the p1ss? :rofl:

 

No black on wheels for me thanks, infact no dark colours in general ;)

Thnx for all the info and advise

I,ll do some before and after pics when I get round to do it

You taking the p1ss? :rofl:

 

No black on wheels for me thanks, infact no dark colours in general ;)

 

You should know the saying. once you go black.......:rofl:

You should know the saying. once you go black.......:rofl:

 

Never heard that saying mate - enlighten me :p

I think he is trying to tell you that he likes his women like his tea, strong and black as opposed to sweet and white !

I think he is trying to tell you that he likes his women like his tea, strong and black as opposed to sweet and white !

 

You couldnt be more wrong. you havnt seen my becks :p

you havnt seen my becks

 

 

So show us