my wheel strip/polish experience today w/pics

[mambodave]

My wheel refinish...Step one...
This took me 8 hours to do all four. Alot of folks have been asking how to do this lately. So i thought Id give it a shot and take some pics. If I can do this...anyone can.

Thanks to mitsumark I got a set of BBS wheels. The wheels are in great shape..but the lips wer clearcoated and yellowing and beginning to pit. I decided this morning to strip the clear and see what was under...

I used " Jassco Speedomatic Semi-past Stripper Gel" You can get it at Lowes. I highly recommend it. Its safe for metal/aluminum. Has NO fumes and brushes on with out a mess. Be carefull with this stuff...it will burn your skin immediatly as i found out when splashed it on my arm. This crap hurts like hell...anyhow...

First I washed the wheels with dish soap and water.

This is what it looked like before I started



Then after drying them. I used painters masking tape to tape off the center of the wheel, Since the centers are fine. After taping it off, I used a box cutter to lightly score the tape around the outer edge of the lip. Be carfull NOT to cut to deep, or youll score the rim.




After taping it off and cutting the edges. I used an old tooth brush to apply the stripper liberally Dont be shy with it. WEAR eye protection and long sleeves and rubber gloves.
Let that sit for about 15 to 20 minutes. Then come back with a plastic putty knife and scrape the lifted clearcoat off (youll see it bubble). Then apply more stripper with the tooth brush and repeat.




Next wash the wheel with dish soap and the rest will come off. Remove the tape and Youll see what you missed, so you can go back and touch up with a cuetip to make sure you get all the clear. After that...wash the wheel again. Let dry. Your all done. Now do the other 3 wheels.

Finished wheel Much better...


Next step (which Im doing next weekend) is to wet sand with 600 grit up to 2000 grit paper and then apply mothers polish 4 times per wheel.

[mitsumark]

They already look alot better than when I had them..Great job!!I wish I would of had the time and patience to clean em up.Just think,,you now have nice phone dials and a nice set of BBS's ..All you need now to complete the collection is a set of fully polished Fuchs!!I happen to know someone that is selling a beautiful set(HINT)..Thanks again for the nice parts Dave...

[mambodave]

My pleasure Mark. Thanks Again! ...and ive been seriously debating those fuchs...