Alloy Wheels
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 2,675
Likes: 13
From: Sudbury MA
Alloy Wheels
How hard is it to restore alloy wheels?
What is involved and can it be done by a do it yourselfer or must they be sent to a professional?
No specific wheel in mind, just a generic question.
Thanks,
Kurt
What is involved and can it be done by a do it yourselfer or must they be sent to a professional?
No specific wheel in mind, just a generic question.
Thanks,
Kurt
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,547
Likes: 12
From: Carbondale Pa.
It depends on the actual condition of the wheel, rough cast, smooth cast, polished, clear coated,? The work involved is tedious,, not hard physically but very labor intensive. Any clear or any coating needs to be removed by whatever means you choose, then "polishing" by progressively finer and finer abrasive (sandpaper?) until its as smooth as a babies butt and finally a good polishing, try a google search for "ZOOPS", see what ya learn from them,,,,,Peace,,,Moosie 
try this link: http://www.zoops.com/zoopseal.asp
try this link: http://www.zoops.com/zoopseal.asp
Last edited by moosie982; Nov 11, 2006 at 10:25 AM.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
From: Lacey WA
If you use paint stripper it will take the clear coat off then if there just small pits start with 320 wet or dry then go to 600 wet or dry wet sand then use major cut rubbing compond and work your way to mothers wheel wax
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Racer
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 315
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by 19vette80
Does the powerball work as good as they say!
If you do get the powerball,get the mini,easier to get in small cracks..Takes me about 10 minutes each wheel.By hand it takes me over an hour and my hand hurts like hell after.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 2,675
Likes: 13
From: Sudbury MA
It is black corrosion and it has eaten slightly into the wheel.
When I tried to clean it off, it leaves a black spot which is noticeable since the rest of the wheel is silver in color with a clear coat over it.
I am concerned that I will do more harm than good but realize that there are companies out there who restore wheels so I am wondering How they do it so I can duplicate the process.
Kurt
When I tried to clean it off, it leaves a black spot which is noticeable since the rest of the wheel is silver in color with a clear coat over it.
I am concerned that I will do more harm than good but realize that there are companies out there who restore wheels so I am wondering How they do it so I can duplicate the process.
Kurt
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
Originally Posted by 19vette80
Does the powerball work as good as they say!
only if the wheels are in good shape to begin with.....it will maintain a nicely cleaned wheel pretty well.....it will not restore a badly oxidized wheel.......i used a die grinder, stone wheel, buffing pad, 320 soft pad 220 and 100 sand paper and went to town this weekend on some road rash on my wheels.......turned out to be a surprisingly good job, took some time but the road rash is gone...........
