Alloy Wheel Refurb Tips & Tools wanted

[gonzomagic]

I have a set of wheels, which I wish to refub. They are one piece. I will get them powder coated, but before I send them off to be done, i want to sand them down, as they have kurbing around the edges, which I intend to sand down.

Is there a filler, as I do recall a website, where I read once, via here, where filler was used, then sanded, to treat/deal with the kurbing.

Thanks

[Sx Olli]

I used to refub alloys as part of one of my jobs, you can buy a gel that you put on the curbed edges and then spray a hardener and it drys instantly and then sand into shape, couldnt be easier, if the curbed bit is on the outside edge and its not to bad u can use a fine body file to re-shape them, obviously being v carfull not to take to much off,
Im sorry but i dont know where u buy the gel from as i only used to use it not buy it, but it is around.

[gonzomagic]

I used to refub alloys as part of one of my jobs, you can buy a gel that you put on the curbed edges and then spray a hardener and it drys instantly and then sand into shape, couldnt be easier, if the curbed bit is on the outside edge and its not to bad u can use a fine body file to re-shape them, obviously being v carfull not to take to much off,
Im sorry but i dont know where u buy the gel from as i only used to use it not buy it, but it is around.

I am looking for the site, similar, that comes out of a tube, to harden, then sand into shape.

Pretty much what I am looking for:)

[George]

Any self respecting wheel refurb place will do all this for you but if you want to do it yourself...

Standard powder coating practice:

1. Dip the wheel in a barrel of dichloromethane to remove/soften all the old paint. (blasting without chemicals first can damage the surface of some wheels)

2. Blast clean the wheel using grade 3 aluminium oxide or similar, the entire wheel must be back to bare metal. (any traces of old paint can be bad news so it has to be really clean)

3. Using a flap disc on 4 1/2" grinder carefully remove any minor kerb damage.

4. Fill any remaining kerb damage (serious damage will require TIG welding) or corrosion marks with a two pack epoxy filler such as quick steel. (you can't just use any type of filler as it will ping off durig the baking process).

5. Sand the lip of the wheel down until perfectly smooth and even using a DA sander and P120 sand paper.

6. Go over the whole wheel by hand using P120 or a stainless wire brush to remove any surface roughness.

7. Powder coat it.

Hope that helps:)

[gonzomagic]

Any self respecting wheel refurb place will do all this for you but if you want to do it yourself...

Standard powder coating practice:

1. Dip the wheel in a barrel of dichloromethane to remove/soften all the old paint. (blasting without chemicals first can damage the surface of some wheels)

2. Blast clean the wheel using grade 3 aluminium oxide or similar, the entire wheel must be back to bare metal. (any traces of old paint can be bad news so it has to be really clean)

3. Using a flap disc on 4 1/2" grinder carefully remove any minor kerb damage.

4. Fill any remaining kerb damage (serious damage will require TIG welding) or corrosion marks with a two pack epoxy filler such as quick steel. (you can't just use any type of filler as it will ping off durig the baking process).

5. Sand the lip of the wheel down until perfectly smooth and even using a DA sander and P120 sand paper.

6. Go over the whole wheel by hand using P120 or a stainless wire brush to remove any surface roughness.

7. Powder coat it.

Hope that helps:)

Nice one mate, the kurbing isnt too bad, one wheel has grinded down a little, the tyres are still on the wheel and are fine.

I intend to take them off, and prepare them for myself, for either painting or powder coating (as I can get them done cheap).

Will do so, just wanted to get the know how, and need to get my hands on some two pack epoxy filler (quick steel).

Thanks

[DLowe]

i justed used some quick steel on one of the dings in the civics new alloys, worked well, will see what happens when they get powder coated on saturday

[George]

i justed used some quick steel on one of the dings in the civics new alloys, worked well, will see what happens when they get powder coated on saturday

The only thing you have to watch for is that the filling is done after the shot blasting as it won't survive the process and they will have to do it again.:)

[DLowe]

oh dear, don't know what will happen then, they need to be blasted and sprayed in one quick hit before the boss turns up, mate who is doing it said they should be fine as ive totally filed back and flatted the lip so they wont need too much attention with the shot blasting, will see how it goes, good job there for the civic and not the sx

[gonzomagic]

The only thing you have to watch for is that the filling is done after the shot blasting as it won't survive the process and they will have to do it again.:)

Will keep that in mind.

:thumbs: