Sawblade Wheels
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 765
Likes: 0
From: Houston Texas
You can buff them but it probably won't make them look much better. If you want them to really shine like polished aluminum (near chrome finish) you can use a stripper to remove the paint and polish them with aluminum polish for a mirror shine.
To strip them, use a product called Aircraft Remover stripper, I know its a funny name, but it will strip the paint and then use a hi-quality aluminum polish...they will look great if the wheels are in good condition.
The stripper works fairly fast and can be washed off with water when the paint crinkles up. You may have to redo any areas that you may miss, but the stripper will remove the paint in about 30 minutes and will not damage the wheel aluminum...the center caps may be harder to do if you still want to use them rather than replacing them with chrome ones. They can be polished if you strip just the clear coat off and polish the paint underneath. Its a shot in the dark if you strip the paint also, but could be repainted. I have not done the center caps but some on here have had good success.
Pick up the stripper at an auto paint store...some auto parts stores carry I'm told. Comes in a aerisol can. Good luck.
To strip them, use a product called Aircraft Remover stripper, I know its a funny name, but it will strip the paint and then use a hi-quality aluminum polish...they will look great if the wheels are in good condition.
The stripper works fairly fast and can be washed off with water when the paint crinkles up. You may have to redo any areas that you may miss, but the stripper will remove the paint in about 30 minutes and will not damage the wheel aluminum...the center caps may be harder to do if you still want to use them rather than replacing them with chrome ones. They can be polished if you strip just the clear coat off and polish the paint underneath. Its a shot in the dark if you strip the paint also, but could be repainted. I have not done the center caps but some on here have had good success.
Pick up the stripper at an auto paint store...some auto parts stores carry I'm told. Comes in a aerisol can. Good luck.
Last edited by Eddie & the Cruisers; Jun 5, 2007 at 10:19 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,564
Likes: 6
From: Woodstock Georgia
Eddie has it right. Just want to add that the stripper is harmful to rubber and any overspray will really screw up your paint job.You can get it at lowe's or Home Depot as well, I can will easily do two wheels. Blue Magic is a very good al polish.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 765
Likes: 0
From: Houston Texas
I haven't done my wheels yet, but I put some on bare aluminum and on some rubber I had and left it for 48 hours...didn't seem to do any damage to either. The rubber I had was about 1/4" thick and very similar to tire rubber. I was going to mask off the tires with heavy masking tape mainly so I wouldn't get the polish on the rubber since it is hard to remove. Very interrested on damage to rubber!!!!!
To try the stripper I put it on a metal electrical box and it removed the paint in about 15 minutes and easily washed it off...no damage so far to the metal either.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,564
Likes: 6
From: Woodstock Georgia
I refinished two sets of sawblades. Both times I pulled the tires and valve stems off, took about 1-2 hours per wheel and they came out very nice and shined like new. I have read where others masked off the tires and had no problems. ps--another tip--use Blue Magic polish with very fine grade of steel wool after the stripper. It leaves no marks and polishes them nicely.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 16,475
Likes: 270
From: Kingman AZ
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Cruise-In VIII
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Be aware that the 91 and possibly the 92 sawblades are rough cast and you cannot get a smooth finish like the later sawblades have without a LOT of work. The later ones have a machined face.
Here are a set of 91s I had after media blasting:
I sold them to a Forum member in Australia. Here is one of them after he had a commercial shop smooth and buff them:
Here are a set of 91s I had after media blasting:
I sold them to a Forum member in Australia. Here is one of them after he had a commercial shop smooth and buff them:
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