Removing powder coat from lug wells

[Jameel]

Had a set of cookie cutters powder coated, but they forgot to mask the lug wells. What's the best way to get the powder coat out of the wells?

[Solamar]

Best way? Probably get a reamer with the correct taper and slowly ream through the PC.

I doubt you could control a stripper well enough for that to work.

Maybe sacrifice a lug nut and fabricate a mandrel to spin it with sand paper adhered.

Not going to be easy...

[Uwon]

Heavy duty paint stripper (new container, nothing old) applied with a q-tip several times will do the trick. Patience, patience. Apply and walk way for a bit.
Good luck.
Johan

[Racerbvd]

Make sure the area that makes contact with the hub is also not powdered, as when it heats up under spirited driving, the powder will bond to the hub and that isn't fun to try and get the wheels off.

[Fleming]

Carb Cleaner is a good PowderCoat remover.

Sanding with a home made circular Scotch Brite disk (sandwiched between two dremel grinding disks to give the scotchbrite some structure) should allow for a clean circular edge at the remaining PowderCoating.

Carb Cleaner May need to soak a bit but it can be scraped off to the desired gap made with the scotch brite.

Remember the wheel hole is dished - not straight sides.

[porschedude996]

Regular paint stripper will not touch power coated items. Miles Chemical Solutions has a powder coat remover that works well.

9002 De-Laminator

https://www.removepowdercoatpaint.com/product-page/1-gallon-remove-9002-delaminator

[walt]

If you can find some plain steel lug nuts then find a way to drive it with a drill and use some valve grinding compound or similar. Don't know if it would work but just throwing it out there.

Maybe an open style lug nut and Loctite a stud in place for use as a mandrel.

[Dpmulvan]

Originally Posted by porschedude996

Regular paint stripper will not touch power coated items. Miles Chemical Solutions has a powder coat remover that works well.

9002 De-Laminator

https://www.removepowdercoatpaint.com/product-page/1-gallon-remove-9002-delaminator

This, plus most paint remover won’t even touch paint anymore.

[smadsen]

Be careful with a grinder/sandpaper etc. not to change the contour of the lug nut contact area. The reamer would probably work best, but do not remove any material from the wheel except the paint. If you do touch the lug nut seat on the wheel, be prepared to re-torque the lug nuts at five-mile intervals until they settle down and hold your 96 ft/lbs or whatever.

[Jameel]

Thanks everyone. I'll give these a try and report back.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Jameel, I think physical removal is your best shot. A machine shop with the right ball burr may be the best option.

This is what I do for wheels here, cut-off aluminum lugs and silicone plugs.

[LJ851]

I would turn a standard steel lug nut into a cutter. A few slots cut radially on the mating surface with relief ground into the trailing edges should make quick work of the powder coat.

[Solamar]

Originally Posted by LJ851

I would turn a standard steel lug nut into a cutter. A few slots cut radially on the mating surface with relief ground into the trailing edges should make quick work of the powder coat.

That's a great idea👍

[r_towle]

Thought about bringing them back to get them fixed?

[bahman]

A Dremel tool with wire wheel attachment may do the trick. Small enough to get into the opening, tame enough to not remove any metal. You may need a number of the wire wheels since they will have a short life against powder-coated surfaces.

[ChrisHamilton]

An 80 grit to 180 grit sanding drum on a die grinder is how it's normally done if mechanically stripping it. Never seen anyone use a reamer or other form of cutting tool.

[stownsen914]

If you do it using mechanical means, please follow the suggestion to use a lug nut or properly contoured tool to do it. No way you’ll get it right using a generic dremel tool, you’ll ruin the contour on the wheel. Lugs not seating correctly can lead to pressure points and stress the wheel at those points.

I’d Start with the least aggressive abrasive like scotch brite and work your way more aggressive if needed.

[dg567]

Its more work to strip out 20 lug holes by hand and make sure they are done perfectly, than it is to just strip the wheels and re-do them.

[stownsen914]

The above might be good advice