Wheel restoration..

[djsounds02]

Searching the forums i havent come across any good guide to restoring alloy wheels and with many of us using standard ford wheels.

Mondeo si, escort gti propellors multi spokes frp wheels they are all of used condition so how would you go about restoring these?

Pictures above are images of my wheels bought like this for 50 quid. I want to restore them. But dont know where to start..

Should i remove the existing (remaining) paint?

What should i remove it with?

Is it advisable to do the whole wheel or just the face?

How do it i get rid of the chunks missing around the edges?

Should i sand the wheels down and if so with a fine or coarse paper if paper at all?

Should I prime the wheels?

What should I prime them with?

Do they need an undercoat?

What paint is best?

How do you match original colour in the paint shop?

Should i use laquer?

Should i use any hardeners?

After finishing coat has dried should I put any protective wax/polishes/clays on the wheels to protect the paint?

The answers to this topic should prove to be a great guide with different peoples suggestions, ideas and skills that should match everyones level of skill.

 

[FlashBastd]

Have a look on zsoc.com there are a few guides on there.

 

[djsounds02]

could you link to them just had a quick look. only one that wasnt much help. got any advice yourself?

 

[FlashBastd]

http://www.zsoc.com/forum/showthread.php?t=117212&highlight=Wheel+refurb" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[stuey650]

I done a set of capri wheels and they came up a treat.

I sanded them with a DA sander the bits I could, and by hand the bits I couldn't get into.

Then some filler for all the chunks, once dry sand that, fill again is necessary, sand again. Takes time if your rim is badly kerbed.

Then prime with filler primer, 3-4 coats. Then paint them with guide coat or a dust coat. This means you paint them in say yellow or red.

Then take 400 dry paper and start sanding, the idea is to get rid off all the coloured paint and just leave smooth grey primer. Get about 80% off with the dry, then do the final 20% with 800 wet paper. You should then have a perfectly smooth wheel and no colour left.

Next up apply your colour, couple of coats then laquor. You can do a wet rub with 1200 or something extra fine between coats if you want but personally I never bothered and they came out ace!

I've got pics but not here.

 

[haGGard]

Not as hard as people can make it really.

Yea you can get really anal about it and go on about using different grades of wet and dry, etc etc.

Bottom line as with any rubbing down/painting job is: preparation is everything

If you dont spend time on the preperation, dont expect a good finish.

I've only ever refurbed 2 sets of alloys before (pepperpots and RS Series 1 Alloys)

I only did the face of the wheels because i couldnt be arsed to remove the tyres. Can use paint stripper, but i just bought a cheap electric palm sander and removed the paint that way. Finished them off with a fine paper by hand.

Next i just gave them a quick clean to remove dust etc.

Then i masked off the tyre wall, and started spraying the paint, a layer at a time. Probably done about 4 or 5 layers in total. Left for 24 hours.

The finally after 24 hours, i did about 3 layers of clear lacquer. Leave for another 24 hours.

Came out fine really. Finish is still lasting till this day. And here are the results.

Series 1 Alloys:

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