Never Late

Hey guys, i purchased a set of awesome wheels from a member here some months ago, they are matte black centers with gloss black dish/lips. The issue is the powder coating on the dish/lip is starting to chip a little and i was wondering if it is possible to have it sanded down and buffed back out to polish which was the original finish? Anyone know how expensive it is to have this done? also can it be done with the wheels tires on the car or just the wheels/tires off the car. I was hoping i could do it/ find someone to do it without having to take the wheels off the car let alone the tires off the wheels.

Input is greatly appreciated thanks

hotwheels57

Talk to powder coating shops in your area. I know brake fluid will degrade it. But, it's tough. I suspect that either a very caustic chemical paint remover or bead blasting will be required to remove it. If your tires are in good shape, I'd think that removal of the tires would be required at the minimum and no way would I leave the tires/wheels on the car to do it. It's your car...

Mello03

I have used aircraft paint remover before but not on powder coating. I would think that stuff may have a chance removing it. It is thick and clings to one spot, even on vertical surfaces. I used it to take off clear coat on my old wheels to get them to the aluminum and it worked perfectly.

NVTHIS

Probably will require sandblasting to remove baked on powdercoating. I have heard gasket remover works, but cannot attest to that.

ls2alex

Sandblasting is most likely required. I wouldn't keep them on the car if that was the case.

Never Late

I will probably have to de-mount the tires from the rims as well to be safe. I do have my stockers in the garage with tires ready to be swapped. I will have to talk to some body shops in the area that may be able to help perform the job.

STALION

Sandblasting is pretty much the only way to do it properly...tires will have to come off the car and wheel.

You can attempt to try it with a grinder and flexible sanding wheel, but expect long, long hours, and you will most likely shave some of the metal off as well. Depending on your rim, you may not get all of the coating off where the spokes meet the lip...trust me, its not worth it. If you want an alternative, go see a power coating specialist and he can show you some powder coating color options for the lip. They do have a finish that looks like polished metal...check it out.

Latterlon

They must be sandblasted with the tires off. Careful with the blasting media, for it could possibly pit or texture the surface if too abrasive. Polishing them could possi ly be a huge ordeal. You may want to have them powdered a different color, or have a competent painter do the job (laying the paint on THIN.)

Never Late

hey guys i was informed from the previous owner that they were just painted, so no powder coat on the lip/dish just gloss paint

STALION

In that case, use aviation grade stripper...nothing less. Be careful though! Make sure your in a ventilated area and wear goggles, and perhaps one of those cheap fiber mask wouldn't hurt. Also make sure to cover areas of the rim you don't want paint to be removed.

hotwheels57

And I'd still remove the tires unless they're in poor shape anyway...

Never Late

unfortunately the tires are brand new, so i will have to find time when i can have them removed, this may be a project ill have to hold off for until the winter.

STALION

TS Motorsport

Aircraft paint remover will remove it, sand blasting, soda blasting with the right media will also do it.

Never Late

what happens to the tires if they are hit with the stuff? Is it possible for me to take extra care to tape off and bag my tires so that i do not get the stuff on them while the tires are on the wheels?

hotwheels57

It would depend on the chemical makeup of the particular paint stripper you're using. Read the labels carefully. Follow the safety precautions. Contact the manufacturer if you have any questions.

Automotive paint stripping products are extremely caustic, and from what I've read the aircraft stripping products are more so. I would imagine the chemicals could possibly degrade/soften the rubber tires or valve stems. Covering them may be sufficient, but I wouldn't risk $1,000 or more of new tires to find out.

But they're your tires...

Never Late

No i def agree, the tires were some $$$ and to be honest the money is even the greatest risk, a blow out because of a weekend sidewall would be worse. i guess ill check with a body shop see if i can get them done and ill have to pop on the stock z wheels for a few days or so.

ApexerER

I had the wheels on my bike powdercoated green and then i changed the color combination. The aircraft stripper mentioned above removed the powder coating. I did it with the tires on but I planed on leaving my bike wheels plain magnesium. You can get aircraft stripper at any hardware store in aresol or a brush on. It is mess but it works. Make sure you wear gloves. Like an idiot I didn't and it didn't bother me while I was doing it but after a couple of hours my hands were all red like a bad sunburn. Bothered me for a couple of days.....