Cleaning up rusty rims

[hillbilly deluxe]

Any acvice on how to clean these up? I have a drill with some wire attatchments and a 4.5" grinder with a wire wheel bit they're hard to get into the tight spots. Thought about sandblasting but I don't want to run the bill up. What do you guys think the toughest paint is? IME spray paint doesn't hold up too good. The paint that's on the wheels is very tough.

 

[clandr1]

Stop by your local paint supply shop -- I was able to get something (been two years, can't remember) that was a rust convertor/inhibitor that you could then paint over.

 

[Fordum]

I really really hate to suggest this........
It just sounds too weird.
But have you considered Molasses?

If you have not been keeping up with the Chief's huge rebuild thread, you might think I'm crazier than is generally thought around here.
But he went to the local feed store and bought some molasses and soaked his rusty parts.............That just sounds wrong somehow.......
Anyway, it took the rust off.

Here is the start of that part of that thread. Had to search for Molasses, so all those are highlighted.
You will have to read for a few threads since the experiment went on for a couple of days.

http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=283048&highlight=Molasses&page=155

 

[AaronJen]

Gotta admit, I did not expect to find molasses among the suggestions.

All I could see was my grandpa standing in his pasture saying "Son, take them wheels over there where them cows is hangin around and drop 'em in that syrup tank. Come back in a couple of days an you'll be ready to get straight to paintin."

Good stuff.

 

[AaronJen]

By the way, HBD, those rims are old school cool. Dig 'em.

 

[sweetk30]

have you checked blasting ? average around here 15-20 each and its stripped clean.

if you have a big truck tire shop near by that also does tire caping ask them if thay do big truck rim refurb . if so thay should have a steel shot cabinet that thay set rim in and close door and its all done inside and door opens and 1 bare rim done.

me i would use a good oil based paint and if not to crazy on perfect nice and thick brushed on. or if you can epoxy marine grade primer to seal them from crap.

fyi this is still oil based and everywere http://www.rustoleum.com/CBGProduct.asp?pid=150

last i miss all the old school white rims keep them white please

 

[diesel4me]

Sandblasting or glass beading is the best method by far....but I have seen some use an electrolosis tank setup with excellent results also---its not that hard to make one,using a plastic container large enough to submerge the part to be de-rusted in,and a battery charger,some washing soda and some re-bar & wire --you can find the specific plans on making and using one online at many antique car sites by googling "electrolosis rust removal"....like blasting,this gets ALL the rust out of any pits and gives the best possible prep for painting.................................................................................................we used to soak parts we wanted the paint taken off of in old brake fluid we drained from the junk cars at the junkyard...let it sit in it for a few days,and the toughest paint wizzled up like a prune,and could be wiped off with a rag ....They sell "wheel paint" in spray cans but I like using Epoxy appliance enamel on white rims,its tougher and holds up longer..POR-15 is the best undercoat IMO for wheels...Rustoleum works good too and is cheaper,but it takes a long time to dry unless you force dry it in the sun,or near a heat source,it'll stay soft for some time before fully hardening too..

 

[hillbilly deluxe]

Thanks everybody for the help. I tried to get them sandblasted but it's easier said than done in Rifle, CO. I went to the local body shop and they said they don't sandblast and didn't know who does. So I looked up sandblasting and they were all an hour away except one guy and he wanted "$25 to $75 per wheel depending whats on them". So I went back to square one. Yesterday I went to a paint store and asked for the best paint for rusty rims. He sold me a quart of rust proof heavy duty paint. I spent all day today wire wheeling and painting them.

 

[hillbilly deluxe]

This wire wheel didn't even last one rim.


This was the ticket. I thought it looked too aggressive but it's not.

 

[hillbilly deluxe]

Here's what they looked like after wire wheeling them. I went after anything that looked orange. Any paint that didn't come right off I left. I figured if it didn't come off with that wheel then it was tough enough.

 

[hillbilly deluxe]

After that I put 'em up on my custom made painting stand. I wiped them down with lacquer thinner. Then broke out the trusty $15 Harbor Fright paint sprayer and went to work. I bought it to spray polyurethane on doors but it got hijacked for this. Gotta say, never used an HVLP gun before and it was a pleasure.

Before:


After:


Just another shot:


Can't wait for them to dry. Got these waiting

 

[Chief Brody]

For what it's worth, the guy that sandblasted my wheels wouldn't do those kind...the first thing he said is "ain't them old white wagon wheels is it"?

said it took him 500lbs of sand to get the powder coat off of a set and took too long, he didn't ever want to do another set again.....I didn't know they powder coated that long ago...but apparently those type wheels were....

 

[AaronJen]

Couldn't look better if you bought 'em new. Good work!

 

[magik235]

Couldn't look better if you bought 'em new. Good work!

 

[Chief Brody]

Jacks stands are a great idea too.

I been painting my set of skinnys one side at a time...could've done both with the jack stands

 

[hillbilly deluxe]

They might have been powder coated. That must have been why that guy was so interested in what's on them. I was like, "it's four rims dude, what's the issue". Where there wasn't any rust that white was on there like a mofo. That's why I didn't try to wire wheel them totally clean, it would have taken forever. I spent about 6 hours as it was! That's good to hear actually, because I nearly went to HF and got a sandblaster. That would have been a real pisser to get home and not know what I was doing wrong!

Thanks for the compliments. Of course the pics look a little better than real life. A quart of paint thinned with 10% lacquer thinner was enough for 3 front coats and 2 rear coats (barely). It dried really fast. If that paint is durable I will be happy. I'll post some pics on my Suburban when I get em mounted.

 

[rdn2blazer]

Good god go have them grit blasted and have them powder coated.

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

Good god go have them grit blasted and have them powder coated.

They look pretty good and done to me

 

[79rustyk10]

for $70 a wheel at the most, Id be looking at buying new ones. but I HATE doing stuff like that.

They did turn out well though.

 

[hillbilly deluxe]

I'd do it again. Now I know how and wouldn't spend so much time figuring stuff out. I basically spent $50 on the whole deal (paint, lacquer thinner and new wire wheel). Trust me I considered new but last year when I called looking for new 16.5x9.75's they were like $105. Besides, right now I have more time than money!