refinish options on 8 spoke 20s

[little luke]

I thought about doing this to my 18" lariat wheels but wasn't sure of the results. Im convinced I need to do it now

 

[truckman1974]

Looks amazing........how many hours do you think you have invested in that one wheel?

 

[Jason]

I got a set of 16" lariat wheels I need to try this on lol.

 

[swinky]

Oven cleaner strips clear. As well as aircraft paint remover.

 

[mandkole]

Looks amazing........how many hours do you think you have invested in that one wheel?

About 8 .. If I get it stripped better it will go much faster next time

 

[swinky]

About 8 .. If I get it stripped better it will go much faster next time

Try oven cleaner.

 

[mandkole]

On coat #3 of stripper.. Tried the oven cleaner and it etches the surface more so it will require wet sanding as well. This clear adheres real well..

 

[little luke]

So does the stripper not hurt the tire?

 

[mandkole]

So does the stripper not hurt the tire?

It certainly doesn't help it lol... The tires are just rim protectors right now so I haven't cared. But, it's not on long enough and after they are pressure washed it's gone anyway. The tire is heavy and it would be better to do it without the tire.

A pic after wetsanding with 800. I'm convinced now that you cannot skip this step. I got it down to a little over an hour for sanding.

 

[swinky]

That's weird. I pulled the clear off my trailblazer ss wheels with oven cleaner and it didn't etch them at all.

 

[Pockets]

A pic after wetsanding with 800. I'm convinced now that you cannot skip this step. I got it down to a little over an hour for sanding.

Are you talking about the oven cleaner or sanding?

 

[mandkole]

That's weird. I pulled the clear off my trailblazer ss wheels with oven cleaner and it didn't etch them at all.

In all fairness, I haven't given oven cleaner much effort--the can was almost done and put this blotchy spray on it. I'll get new can. Even if it leaves a different finish on the polished surface, if it cleans better (and more thoroughly) it will save a big sanding step. The stripper doesn't clean the surface completely and leaves a film that needs to be scraped/sanded off.

Ive got 2 more wheels to play with.

Im now believing that no matter how you do this, its a big job..:doh:

 

[mandkole]

Are you talking about the oven cleaner or sanding?

sanding

 

[swinky]

In all fairness, I haven't given oven cleaner much effort--the can was almost done and put this blotchy spray on it. I'll get new can. Even if it leaves a different finish on the polished surface, if it cleans better (and more thoroughly) it will save a big sanding step. The stripper doesn't clean the surface completely and leaves a film that needs to be scraped/sanded off.

Ive got 2 more wheels to play with.

Im now believing that no matter how you do this, its a big job..:doh:

It is a big job. 3m has a 3000 grit paper that works wonders as a final step before polishing. It's like a green spongey type of deal.

 

[little luke]

Damn, the furthers I ever took my center lines was 2000 grit

 

[mandkole]

The polishing compounds easily finish 6-800 grit papers. Anything more just takes more effort with limited results.

I used the Mothers power cone in the holes and a wool pad on the top surface. It really works pretty good. Compounds are the Infinish Pre-Cut, the Mothers liquid metal polish (softer than the precut), then Infinish Flash Billet as top dressing. The flat surfaces are what you see the most so I spend most of the time on those.

Im still experimenting, but this is working pretty good so far. Even if they were professionally polished, the truck is driven and washed, so the raw surface will always take some maintenance. The Flash Billet was recommended by a polisher shop and works great for that.

 

[psduser1]

You've got more time, or patience than me, lol. Sandblast and clearcoat!

 

[zilla68]

man I got a hell of a deal on getting my old school weld's repolished at 40 bucks each then. If you asked me they were ruined, damn near white, and the wheel shop polished them to chrome for 40.00 each.
No way I would spend that much time on a wheel, I just don't have the patience.

 

[mandkole]

I finished the 2nd one today.. got the polishing and 2nd sanding done in a little over 2 hours. (Had to sand again because there were some weird scratches that showed up after polish on the first couple holes.) Working with more purpose now and its going much faster.

Zilla, you got an awesome deal. For grins, Im gonna call a couple of wheel finishing shops next week on the last two. I'd like to say its therapy, but I think that I need therapy for doing it. The thing is, its just time and Im still on vacation

A couple more pics... a closeup and next to an untouched wheel.

 

[njjeep]

Wow they look awesome!

Are factory 20's forged or cast?


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