Wheel refinish update... Never seen phone dials look this good! (real pics too)
10-01-2005, 10:06 PM
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Wheel refinish update... Never seen phone dials look this good! (real pics too)
spent a LONG time workin on these today... I'd say about 5 or 6 hours or so... but they're really coming along.... I'm halfway done. 2 wheels complete, 2 to go.
and hand-polishing aluminum, is NOT my idea of fun....it's a hell of a lot of work!
and hand-polishing aluminum, is NOT my idea of fun....it's a hell of a lot of work!
10-01-2005, 10:16 PM
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unfortunately, we'll have to wait until spring for that... the snow tires (and spare phonies) are on my car now, and I can't afford $600.00 for a new set of tires until then...
unless.... anyone wanna donate a set of tires?
unless.... anyone wanna donate a set of tires?
10-01-2005, 10:19 PM
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Wow! Those look amazing. I can't wait to see them mounted either, how much longer do you think?
EDIT: awww that's a long time to wait...can't you just fudge it on there somehow? haha
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10-01-2005, 10:59 PM
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Hokay... to make them look as such, I:
1) applied aircraft remover to strip any and all paint from wheel
2)washed the wheel really really well, applied "paint prep"
3) Applied about 5 coats of Duplicolor "Storm Grey" color to center area... masked off wheel lips
4) began polishing wheel lips using the below method:
a) spray lip with WD-40
b)sand with 320 grit sand paper until all casting marks were gone
c)wipe with paper towel, check how it looks, apply WD-40 again, repeat with the 320 grit
d) once all casting marks gone, wipe with paper towel, apply WD-40 again, sand with 800 grit
e)repeat A-C with the 800 grit
f)repeat A-D with 1500 grit
g)repeat A-D with 2000 grit
h)repeat A-D with steel wool (Note: no need for WD-40 with the steel wool)
i) finish with mother's aluminum polish
5) Mask off polished area
6)spray with paint prep
7)wipe of paint prep, respray storm grey to fix any "I missed with the sandpaper" marks
8)allow to dry in sun for a while
9)spray clear... a couple coats
10)remove masking tape, polish with mother's polish again
11)take pics, Post on Rennlist for your friends to ooo and aaah over...
12)pray for money to buy tires so you can mount the wheels and drool
1) applied aircraft remover to strip any and all paint from wheel
2)washed the wheel really really well, applied "paint prep"
3) Applied about 5 coats of Duplicolor "Storm Grey" color to center area... masked off wheel lips
4) began polishing wheel lips using the below method:
a) spray lip with WD-40
b)sand with 320 grit sand paper until all casting marks were gone
c)wipe with paper towel, check how it looks, apply WD-40 again, repeat with the 320 grit
d) once all casting marks gone, wipe with paper towel, apply WD-40 again, sand with 800 grit
e)repeat A-C with the 800 grit
f)repeat A-D with 1500 grit
g)repeat A-D with 2000 grit
h)repeat A-D with steel wool (Note: no need for WD-40 with the steel wool)
i) finish with mother's aluminum polish
5) Mask off polished area
6)spray with paint prep
7)wipe of paint prep, respray storm grey to fix any "I missed with the sandpaper" marks
8)allow to dry in sun for a while
9)spray clear... a couple coats
10)remove masking tape, polish with mother's polish again
11)take pics, Post on Rennlist for your friends to ooo and aaah over...
12)pray for money to buy tires so you can mount the wheels and drool
10-01-2005, 11:04 PM
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Oh yes, and lets not talk about how fun hand- painting the center caps is 
in the top pic, you'll notice the lip on the wheel on the right isn't as shiney... that is a product of the clearcoat. I noticed that, and changed my strategy to mask off the lip when applying the clear... to counter it, the clear hadn't completely hardened yet, so it came off easily with steel wool... I then polished AGAIN with the mother's polish and it looks like the one on the left.
in the top pic, you'll notice the lip on the wheel on the right isn't as shiney... that is a product of the clearcoat. I noticed that, and changed my strategy to mask off the lip when applying the clear... to counter it, the clear hadn't completely hardened yet, so it came off easily with steel wool... I then polished AGAIN with the mother's polish and it looks like the one on the left.
10-02-2005, 12:44 AM
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Originally Posted by Vjgtrybno1
Geoff,
Very sweet! Could you use the PC polisher for any part of this process?
Very sweet! Could you use the PC polisher for any part of this process?
Thanks for the compliments guys...I'm excited...
10-02-2005, 12:52 AM
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what's the purpose of using WD-40? just curious
10-02-2005, 12:55 AM
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it's a lube for the sandpaper... keeps it moving without letting the cuts get TOO deep... also keeps the sandpaper from getting "clogged"