Powder coating (clear) polished style 71 lips question

[darren1284]

I am planning on refinishing some style 71 wheels to remove some curb rash and failing factory clearcoat. The centers really don't need anything done, so I plan to remove them and remove the clearcoat off of the lips with aircraft remover. I don't want a chrome- like polish on the lips, but more of a satin finish that you would see on m-system wheels. How do I achieve that finish? If the lips are then powder coated clear (I don't want to have to polish wheels more than once a year), does the area where the center piece fits in need to be masked prior to powder coating to prevent too tight of a fit of the centerpiece? Also, do the center pieces have to be put back in the same orientation as before? Lastly, do I need to keep track where each of the bolts go, or does it even matter? Thanks!

[pDubs]

It sounds like you want a brushed finish on the lips.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8163/7157897135_0e27c4dc98.jpg

http://i820.photobucket.com/albums/zz127/ADV1WHEELS/Screenshot2010-12-02at63306PM.jpg

http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/59/f5/36/59f53671044bef556520adb8aafc567e.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i109/breytonm20/DSC06995.jpg



Brushed finish is not an easy task. Fully polishing is almost easier, yet more time consuming.

Check out my thread that has my DIY wheel refinish with polishing pics.

http://www.stanceworks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=45050

If you scroll down to post #7 you can see a little "DIY" on how I did it.

I would disassemble the wheels and clean them really well. Strip the clear off of the lips with aircraft stripper. You should mask off everything but the lips and use the spray can. Wait like 20 minutes to let the clear bubble up and the stripper do it's magic then rinse with a hose. Let them dry a bit then repeat till the clear is all gone.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31ggNwI2HIL.jpg

You should wet sand with 600 grit, 800, then 1000. Then a scotch bright pad in a straight pattern. You should basically be doing circles around the lip as if the wheel were spinning and your hand was still.

After you get the lips brushed nice you can have them clear coated. Clear coating them will dull them even further so don't be worried if they are a little shinier than you like after sanding and brushing.

You could always run them raw brushed and maintenance is a bit easier. You never have to worry about the clear starting to go again. Every couple of months just hit them with the 1000 grit and scotch brite pad again and you'll be golden.

That's what I would do.

[darren1284]

Perfect! The info I was after and the look I am after. If I dont powder coat, am I going to have to wipe the wheels off everytime they get wet to prevent water spots? I would rather not pay for powder coating, but I don't have much extra time for wheel maintenence. It is hard enough to find time to wax the car a few times a year. Is there a wax or something that could minimize the maintenence to a few times a year? I guess if it took 2 minutes every few months, no big deal, but 30 -60 mins would be too much time.

[pDubs]

Maybe look into having a paint shop just clearcoat them instead of powder clear. I have ran raw polished aluminum wheels and every few weeks just carefully clean them. Every few months I would do a quick repolish (20 minutes a wheel) and then put this stuff on.

http://www.autopia-carcare.com/sonus-aluminum-sealant.html#.VGYQw_nF_OE

"Works great on chrome as well as uncoated aluminum parts"

I have never had polished or brushed finished cleared afterwards so that is new to me as well. I know some people polish their lips to a mirror shine and then have them powdered clear because normal spray clearcoat won't hold up. The polished finish gives the clear nothing to grab on to.

That's why you sand before painting to give the paint and clear something to adhere to. Since you aren't running a polished finish the clear might work out perfect.




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Oh and BTW if you are doing this yourself expect to spend about 3 hours EACH wheel. I always do mine over the summer so I can stand outside drinking a nice 6 pack and listening to some music. Wetsanding will get you wet and if it's cold out it's going to be twice as miserable.