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Cleaning polishing 'inside' of wheels

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Old 05-23-2017, 01:13 PM
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ArtGle
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Default Cleaning polishing 'inside' of wheels

I did this once on my C5 wheels quite a while ago, but didn't run into THIS.
Apparenly, my C6 wheels that I have on my car have a 'Coating' on the inside of the wheel.

Lacquer Thinner cuts through it, but it's tough.
But that SHINE underneath is what I want.

Anyone else out there strip that 'stuff' off their wheels?
What did you use, how did it come out.
Thinking something like 5f5 stripper, but don't want to stain/burn the metal as I take the coating off.
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Old 05-23-2017, 01:41 PM
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ZigZag
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You just can't leave well enough alone. Lol
Old 05-23-2017, 02:10 PM
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ArtGle
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Originally Posted by ZigZag
You just can't leave well enough alone. Lol
Belly LAUGH....
Old 05-23-2017, 02:10 PM
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FX VETTE
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Old 05-23-2017, 02:11 PM
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They have to match my newly "POLISHED" rear suspension.
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Old 05-23-2017, 02:14 PM
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Peanuts and Potato Chips...
Can't stop
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Old 05-23-2017, 03:23 PM
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The Rabbi
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WOW, such dedication. I painted mine flat black, no more dirt to see.
Old 05-23-2017, 04:26 PM
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grampi50
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That's a clear coat you're taking off...yes, they will look nice once they're polished, but now they'll be bare aluminum and you will have to polish them all the time now or they will oxidize and look like crap...I like the idea of painting the inside of wheels flat black...that way they're not seen, they don't look like crap, and they don't have to be polished all the time...I don't know what to say about the polished undercarriage parts...who's gonna see that stuff?
Old 05-23-2017, 05:58 PM
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Vetteman Jack
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If you want the polished look, that's great. But I would have the barrels clear coated after you get the polished look to your satisfaction. It will be much easier to keep them looking good.
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Old 05-23-2017, 06:46 PM
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skydiven4fun
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Originally Posted by Vetteman Jack
If you want the polished look, that's great. But I would have the barrels clear coated after you get the polished look to your satisfaction. It will be much easier to keep them looking good.


Gonna take a lot of dedication to keep everything looking like your wanting, It's definitively something to think about as far as clear coating once these items are polished to your satisfaction, If your already retired then heck at least you have the time to do it
Old 05-23-2017, 08:58 PM
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frsr06
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Is this what you are looking for? Used a stripper bought from local national hardware chain. Once stripped I then cleaned up with a brown buffing compound. AS you can see, I'm in the process of working my way around the barrel in this picture. Sold the wheels before I had a chance to see how long the shine would last between reclining/buffing.
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Old 05-24-2017, 05:24 PM
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dndrsn
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There is a thread in the C6 section somewhere about stripping the paint off to expose
the chrome underneath.

Results can vary because that part when chromed has tooling marks underneath and
is not polished smooth like the outside exposed part of the wheel.

I had chrome gumbys on my last C6 and had a mind to do that but I sold the car.
Old 05-24-2017, 07:04 PM
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If you have C6 chrome wheels, the coating on the inner barrels is paint. You can strip it off use a paint stripper. I did this to the C6 Grand Sport wheels I put on my C5 coupe. When they chrome the wheels they cannot just chrome the exterior but the whole wheel. The only draw back is that because GM was always going to paint the inner barrels they do not polish the wheels inner barrels like they do for the exterior in preparation for chroming. So you may find spots after removing the paint and exposing the chrome may be dull because the underlying metal is not polished highly.
Old 05-24-2017, 07:07 PM
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Here is a DIY thread about removing the paint coating.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...me-gumbys.html
Old 05-24-2017, 11:52 PM
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My c7 replica chrome wheels were pitting in the barrels, and rather than face the upkeep, I painted them, in my case, body color.
The number of spokes on my wheels prevented the chrome barrels from enhancing the look of the wheels, so I don't miss it one bit.
Old 05-25-2017, 04:24 AM
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SG Lou
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Now that you removed that factory applied paint you better clear coat the chrome or you'll be sorry. Ask me how i know !
Old 05-25-2017, 07:51 AM
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Originally Posted by SG Lou
Now that you removed that factory applied paint you better clear coat the chrome or you'll be sorry. Ask me how i know !
Exactly my point. I find that unless you have a "very open" spoke pattern like a c6 GS, chrome barrels are not worth it.

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Old 05-25-2017, 08:05 AM
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grampi50
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While polished aluminum looks nice, it's a bear to keep it looking nice. I polished the wheels on my motorcycle...they looked great, but were an absolute pitb to keep looking nice so I had them chromed...best decision I ever made...chrome is so much easier to keep looking nice...
Old 05-25-2017, 11:45 PM
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It's hard enough keeping the outside of the wheels looking like new, so before I get new tires(probably in the fall), I decided I will do the barrels the same as the body,Mag red.
Good project for the summer.

Bob.
Old 05-26-2017, 02:41 AM
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You have waaaaaay too much time on your hands!


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