Well so I started the unthinkable and decided to try polishing my old ss/sc rims. The clear on them started going years ago and so they looked like crap. I decided to start with 80 grit due to this so. I'll keep updating as I go but this is start to about 1/2 done with first step. Still need to do the inside and some corner spots. To this point took about hour and a half to 2 hours with a electric hand sander.











Mid Way









Just starting rear lip



To This point:



still need to do around valve stem, corners, back and inside lip. I hope each step goes little faster then this one but im assuming they each take longer lol

 

pics look good :-P

 

Starting with 80 grit? holy hell you're going to have one of of a time sanding them scratchs out.

 

yea i figured i would but i cant imagine how long it would take with 400 or something when it took this long to remove with just 80. any way to speed up the removal phase without getting into lots of chemicals?

sorry lol they were uploading

 

Why are you sanding!? Just get a $30 can of paint stripper.

 

Best thing to remove paint. Klean-Strip QAR343 Aircraft Paint Remover

Buy 2 quarts of it to be safe and buy some foam brushes or other brushes. Well worth it and it saves some serious time!

 

Because in a noob I guess haha. I'll remember that for the others. So use that strip paint then sand?

 

Ya strip the paint with the stripper. If there's any imperfections or machining marks, sand them out.

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Ok I ordered some. Then just start sanding at a 400 and go up to 1500 or so? Then polish?

 

Ya. Depending if there is machining marks or not you could just start at 1000 grit and work your way up to 200-2500. That's your choice really.

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Not to thread Jack but if you use paint stripper will it remove the factory finish on the wheels? I assume it will but my wheels were painted when I bought the car and am trying to figure out how to remove the paint.

 

Yes it will take it down to metal. You might have to apply it a couple times to get all the paint off.

 

^^ yup aircraft stripper took off all my paint/clear and i just used mothers mag and aluminum Polish along with some autosol and it looks amazing!

 

FYI you can buy paint stripper at most auto part stores..

 

Hmmm wondering if that would be the way to go or if it would just be fugly.

 

So basically I sanded for no reason? I just strip sand with High grit then polish with metal polishing compound and I'm good? Want that mirror chrome like finish

 

Haha. Yep. Just as long as I said there isn't a ton of machining marks.

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Yes lol.. It's messy stuff but you will thank me when you see how much easier it is.

 

lol you can pick up aircraft remover at almost any walmart. and its not super expensive. i used the stuff when i stripped the wheels on my ninja. i got it in gel form and works amazing. the paint wrinkled right up and i rubbed it off.

 

I guess I was under the impression that you had to sand it up to a high grit to get that mirror like shine

 

You do really but it all depends on what condition of the rims to decide what grit to start with. If they aren't at all bad you can start at a fine grit like 1000 or so and work up. It they have marks or you wanna get rid of the machining wrinkles you gotta start lower.

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Is there a difference in what a electric sander, sand paper block or sanding discs will do to the metal. As in will one leave swirls or anything. Or will the progression of paper grit just remove the previous pattern left? Also after sanding with the 2000 grit then what? Just polishing compound and a polishing pad?

 

Lower the grit, deeper the cut. It also is harder to get out. Just means more work in the long but with a lower grit you get more imperfections out and in the end it will be super smooth just as long as its done right.

Once you get to a higher grit, rinse it off and then just use a polishing pad or ball and polish them up! Get your shine on!

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Hopefully by weekend will have one of them done at least. Just doing one at a time as I'm in no rush lol. This is my first attempt and worst case I'll powder coat them. But really they are my practice and spare set. I want to do the valve cover and m62 but we'll see how these go. Hopefully the paint stripper will help a lot it's on order lol