reconditioning factory aluminum wheels

[Cornfield creations]

I have a set of machined aluminum wheels off of a 96 s-10 blazer. The ones with the small holes w/o the rivets like the older early 90's s-10's.

The clearcoat started peeling on the wheels and there is corrosion underneath. Is it possible to strip the clear off and clean them up? I have heard of using oven cleaner to get annodizing off of trim. Would that work? Or should we just look for a newer set? Thanks!

 

[bp71k5]

I doubt you can get anodizing off with oven cleaner. Sand blasting is about the only way to get rid of that. You can get them powdercoated.

 

[Madspeed]

oven cleaner

easy off does work to remove anodizing.
I used to do it all the time to bike parts I didnt like the color of.
It will leave a very dull finish
Sounds like yours is a plastic clear coat though not anodized and easy off wont work on that

 

[obijuan]

you have to torch off the old coat and then chuck it up in the CNC and turn it down to get a new finish. then re-powdercoat it.

 

[toomany]

I've done a couple of set of IROC wheels that the clear coat was peeling and and starting to yellow. Both sets I used some really fine sand paper. I think I started with 1200 then went to 2000 grit. I know it was wet sanding sand paper...but I didn't use any water. Took forever (5 plus hours per wheel!), but they came out looking awesome. One set I went on to polish, the other I left as is. Both are still in great shape with just the raw alluminum. But both of these cars are stored inside, and I only drive them once a month (if that), and only in nice weather. IDK how well the alluminum would hold up out in the elements.

 

[83ZZ502_Jimmy]

Aircraft Paint Stripper. Can get at local auto parts stores... Then shine them up.

 

[Cornfield creations]

Thanks guys I'm gonna try some of your ideas. They can't look anyworse if something doesn't work out. yeah it seems like a plastic clearcoat. So if I took a torch to them it would melt it off, and then try wet sanding them?Or would the torch make a mess of them?

 

[obijuan]

are they machine finish or polished? either way i would use stripper first. and the torch will leave torch marks on it lol. stripper is a little more user friendly.

 

[British Slave]

Check at a local truck stop and see if there is a polishing service. I can get wheels polished to a chrome like shine for about 10 bucks each at a local truck stop.

 

[83ZZ502_Jimmy]

Aircraft Paint Stripper. Can get at local auto parts stores... Then shine them up.

Same principle... different wheels..

http://www.thirdgen.org/sergiowheels

 

[dremu]

stripper is a little more user friendly.

I think I missed the good part of this thread ... where's the pix???

-- A

 

[Cornfield creations]

yeah they are the machined finish, which if they were polished it would be ok. Thanks for the link. I think that'll work.