cleaning up old rims

Post by **j-top paj** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 8:05 pm

anyone know how to clean up some old rims?

the paint is starting to flake off but i want to take it all off and then paint them so they wont rust.
ive tried a wire brush but it wont get it all off.
thinking of trying a gurney next???

any ideas?

Post by **chimpboy** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 8:10 pm

Get them blasted. You will take forever to get a worse result doing it by hand.

I've done both.

Post by **BundyRumandCoke** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 8:23 pm

Agree with sand blasting. But, go to an engineering works/fabrication place, the bigger the better, and see if the blaster will do it for a carton or two, at the same time as another big job is being done. Better than paying specifically for your job to be done.

Post by **evanstaniland** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 8:25 pm

i stripped mine with WURTH gasket stripper.

sprayed the crap out of it left it for 15-20 and then wiped it all off!!

Evan

Post by **j-top paj** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 8:44 pm

i was thinking about sand blasting, but is it worth it for old rims?
i mean a brand new set is worth $200

they are only weekend/play tires so dont realy want to spend too much

Post by **j-top paj** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 8:44 pm

evanstaniland wrote:i stripped mine with WURTH gasket stripper.

how much is that stuff worth?? is it similar to paint stripper?

Post by **ISUZUROVER** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 11:06 pm

I did one set using a caustic soda bath, and 2 other sets using paint stripper and a wire wheel on an angle grinder.

It is a PITA and takes a while, but you get a good result in the end.

Post by **j-top paj** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 11:20 pm

ISUZUROVER wrote: wire wheel on an angle grinder.

thats a good idea, im sure i have one of those wire wheels in the garage somewhere.
they dont have to look brand new or anything.. just better than this

Post by **benhl** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 1:09 pm

How'd you get those big bastards in under there??

Post by **coxy321** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 2:28 pm

IMO, dont waste your time. Get a wire wheel and some 400 grit paper. Wire wheel off the big flaky crap, then smooth it off with the 400 grit, wipe it down with wax and grease remover, then slap on some metal armour/killrust type paint. They're only going to get scratched anyway.

I had some wheels blasted a few years back (cost a slab of VB), and the etch primed them, filled them, then painted them. A lot of rooting around for not much outcome.

Post by **j-top paj** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 6:06 pm

benhl wrote:How'd you get those big bastards in under there??

they are only 38s.. not that big for a GU

Post by **j-top paj** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 6:13 pm

i gave it a go this arvo with the wire wheel and got most of the rims back to bare metal..
then gave them a very quick spray with some cheap enamel spray paint...

you cant really tell in the pics, but there are some parts of the rim where the paint wouldnt stick.. its like mixing water with oil (sorry i dont know much about paint)
there are spotty parts that the paint wouldnt stick to.

i went to bunnings and got some undercoat (i dont know why i didnt think of it to start with

)

although i sortof like the silver look, i cant decide between silver or white..
i was thinking of painting them black but thought that would look to "mean" and stand out more to the cops.

Post by **j-top paj** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 6:18 pm

coxy321 wrote: They're only going to get scratched anyway.

thats what i was thinking.. time isnt too much of an issue its the $$$ side of things that im thinking about.. for a new set its $200 and so far i have got the rims for a case.. ($30 or so) and then $15 for the undercoat.. and the paint i already have. if it starts getting over $100 then i may as well just got a brand new set..
they are old rims and will get treated that way.... if they can look half decent from a distance than il be happy

Post by **80's_delirious** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 6:30 pm

looks like it could be silicon contamination on them (from polishes) try wiping them clean with some grease and wax remover before undercoating/painting, Bunnings should have some.

Post by **j-top paj** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 6:43 pm

wouldnt the wire wheel get rid of the silicunt from it?
i probably spent a good 40mins on each wheel

Post by **80's_delirious** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 7:05 pm

j-top paj wrote:wouldnt the wire wheel get rid of the silicunt from it?
i probably spent a good 40mins on each wheel

you would think so, but doesnt seem to, it seems to just get spread around, doesnt take much contamination to cause problems

Post by **coxy321** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 7:08 pm

j-top paj wrote:wouldnt the wire wheel get rid of the silicunt from it?
i probably spent a good 40mins on each wheel

But did you wipe it down with brake-clean or wax and grease remover before you painted them??

If not, do yourself a favour and strip off the paint you just put on and start again. Not wiping them down would be like.....not taking a photo of the Toyota you're just about to recover...

Post by **j-top paj** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 7:10 pm

i did wipe them down quite clean but didnt use anything like wax and grease remover etc...

would metho or something similar work???

Post by **coxy321** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 7:31 pm

j-top paj wrote:i did wipe them down quite clean but didnt use anything like wax and grease remover etc...

would metho or something similar work???

Possibly, but they make the prep products for a reason. You can get a 700ml can for $12, so its not exactly expensive. Use a clean/new rag too - and not a towel type material, just plain cloth rag.

Post by **j-top paj** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 7:56 pm

coxy321 wrote:
j-top paj wrote:i did wipe them down quite clean but didnt use anything like wax and grease remover etc...

would metho or something similar work???
Possibly, but they make the prep products for a reason. You can get a 700ml can for $12, so its not exactly expensive. Use a clean/new rag too - and not a towel type material, just plain cloth rag.

probably get a can in the morning and give it a go..
thanks

i used a new rag and also some new paper towel

Post by **micks troll** » Thu Feb 12, 2009 1:57 pm

j-top paj wrote:just better than this

Damn that'd give a jellyfish a fat

Tidy lookin truck!
Definetly use wax and grease remover, also dont use paper towel as it leave bits behind. good old cotton clothe or old but clean work shirt (lint free) does best job

I found white to be much harder to cover up dark spots than darker colours. needs more light coats to look ok.

The silver/chromey look looks better!

Post by **ISUZUROVER** » Thu Feb 12, 2009 2:24 pm

j-top paj wrote:i did wipe them down quite clean but didnt use anything like wax and grease remover etc...

would metho or something similar work???

The oil/water effect is nonwetting caused by traces of silicon left behind from polish/carwash, etc.

The best way to get rid of it is to use PREPWASH. It is specially designed for removing that sort of thing before painting.

Post by **ferrit** » Thu Feb 12, 2009 6:39 pm

j-top paj wrote: although i sortof like the silver look, i cant decide between silver or white..
i was thinking of painting them black but thought that would look to "mean" and stand out more to the cops.

As if a set of tires nearly as tall as a cop cars windows doesnt get their attention!

Post by **fatsogq** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 2:00 pm

80's_delirious wrote:looks like it could be silicon contamination on them (from polishes) try wiping them clean with some grease and wax remover before undercoating/painting, Bunnings should have some.

prepwash from autopro works very well also good at removing decals

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cleaning up old rims

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