Wheel refinishing Q's...

[lanemeyer14]

Muriatic acid and HCL will remove the chrome but probably won't do much for the nickel and copper under it. It may be detrimental to the Aluminum as well.

This would be a good one to ask Pu241 about.

I was wondering if muriatic acid would work....I was also hoping Pu241 or maybe FB71 would have some info

Have you thought about powder coating? I priced having mine done was between $150 - $200. But I believe the finished product would be very durable.

Seriously thinking about it now.....would save me some work and I know I'd have a good finished product. Just worried about putting that money into them with all the thieves in my area!

[Pu241]

I'm not sure muriatic/HCl acid will remove the chrome in a reasonable length of time.
But, I'm sure it will eat the aluminum and copper tie layer very quickly.
I'm also somewhat skeptical on the walnut shells, which are good fore decarbonizing aluminum parts.
Chrome is a hard and fairly inert coating.
Careful blasting or the better route in terms of keeping the aluminum in tact is the previously mentioned electrolytic removal of the chrome. Probably not cheap though.

$ for $, I think sanding down the chrome where its peeling and prepping the surface for powder coating will likely be your best bet. You may well be able to have that copper color you wanted as well.

[kumalaba]

^ yeah john when i had my alloy wheels blasted with the walnut blast there was no paint or chrome on them, but they turned out super nice. i then had them clear coated & they looked brand new. the total cost was 27.00 per wheel for the blast & clear finish

[lanemeyer14]

I'm not sure muriatic/HCl acid will remove the chrome in a reasonable length of time.
But, I'm sure it will eat the aluminum and copper tie layer very quickly.
I'm also somewhat skeptical on the walnut shells, which are good fore decarbonizing aluminum parts.
Chrome is a hard and fairly inert coating.
Careful blasting or the better route in terms of keeping the aluminum in tact is the previously mentioned electrolytic removal of the chrome. Probably not cheap though.

$ for $, I think sanding down the chrome where its peeling and prepping the surface for powder coating will likely be your best bet. You may well be able to have that copper color you wanted as well.

Sweet. Think I'm gonna shop around for some powder coating and see how that goes....sounds like my best option

^ yeah john when i had my alloy wheels blasted with the walnut blast there was no paint or chrome on them, but they turned out super nice. i then had them clear coated & they looked brand new. the total cost was 27.00 per wheel for the blast & clear finish

Sounds like a pretty good deal there

[drddan]

I think if you powder coat, the chrome will still flake and all for naught. The chrome needs to come off. It will have viods where it is not sticking to the wheel in spots. To have them stipped is not all that expensive, its just what you want to put in them $$$$ wise.
The copper and other plating under the chrome is VERY thin, and is on there just for the chrome to hold on to. Sorta like a primer for the chrome.

[lanemeyer14]

I think if you powder coat, the chrome will still flake and all for naught. The chrome needs to come off. It will have viods where it is not sticking to the wheel in spots. To have them stipped is not all that expensive, its just what you want to put in them $$$$ wise.
The copper and other plating under the chrome is VERY thin, and is on there just for the chrome to hold on to. Sorta like a primer for the chrome.

Yeah, I believe the powder coating places take care of sand/media/soda/whatever blasting before powder coating (at least the one I have in mind does) so I'm sure they'll know what process is needed for these particular wheels
Edit: Almost forgot.....I got in touch with a guy on a honda website that says he can chemically strip the wheels for $25 a piece

[drddan]

Yeah, I believe the powder coating places take care of sand/media/soda/whatever blasting before powder coating (at least the one I have in mind does) so I'm sure they'll know what process is needed for these particular wheels
Edit: Almost forgot.....I got in touch with a guy on a honda website that says he can chemically strip the wheels for $25 a piece

Well, there ya go. That is now $175 for the wheels and still no paint.
Do you plan on taking them to the powder coater? How much for that?
Still not to bad a price for nice looking rims.

[lanemeyer14]

Well, there ya go. That is now $175 for the wheels and still no paint.
Do you plan on taking them to the powder coater? How much for that?
Still not to bad a price for nice looking rims.

Waiting on pricing for the powder coating. Same guy on the honda site also works for a powder coating company and he said it starts at $75 for powder coating wheels....didn't clarify if that was per wheel or per set though....I'm hoping per set

[kumalaba]

that will b 75 for each weel

[lanemeyer14]

that will b 75 for each weel

Ugh, I don't like that if it is!

[FestYboy]

custom = $$$

[91_festy_Gl]

I have the same exact set of wheels with no center caps. My chrome looks good but alittle faded. Im thinking about going black center with chrome lip possibly.

[lanemeyer14]

I have the same exact set of wheels with no center caps. My chrome looks good but alittle faded. Im thinking about going black center with chrome lip possibly.

I'm sure I've seen a post of yours (other than in the truckstiva build) that you mention them and have pics of them. Maybe a pic of them on your old white festy?

[91_festy_Gl]

I'm sure I've seen a post of yours (other than in the truckstiva build) that you mention them and have pics of them. Maybe a pic of them on your old white festy?

Yep good ol whitey. I miss that car atleast I got the wheels back.

[91_festy_Gl]

Here is a picture of the condition my chrome is in. This picture has some road salt on them but they still kinda reflect.