Cleaning up weathered alloy wheels

[StinkyFatPig]

I want to keep the original rims on my 82' but the rims have got really corroded over time. I know that the metal is a softer metal and I don’t want to eat right through them with a big wire brush… What is the answer? Would a wire brush do ok? As well, if I was to take off the first layer is there a product I should use to add a finish to the?

thanx

[2ManyZs]

I believe like most aluminum wheels yours probably had a clear coat paint applied to them, is it the paint that is going bad or is it gone altogether and the aluminum itself is corroding? I would advise against using a wire brush on them, it will only leave scratches on the surface. A much better alternative would be to have them blasted clean with glass bead or plastic blast media. It should clean the surface without pitting the aluminum. You could then use a clear coat paint to restore them or have them polished first, then put a clear coat on them. If you can find a shop that will bead blast them I believe you will save yourself a lot of work, doing them by hand would be a tedious job. You could try it by hand with an aluminum polish but this will only work if there is no clear coat on them at all.

If you have access to a blasting cabinet it would be short work to clean up your wheels, I have one and it works quite well, but I think the glass bead is actually a bit too coarse for the job. Plastic media would probably be your best bet as it will not etch the surface like glass will if you aren't careful. If you can find a shop that will do it I doubt it would be too expensive and you could save a little money by doing the finish work yourself. Eastwoods has paints for wheels in different colors and they also sell the clear coat.

[StinkyFatPig]

thanks alot... I figured that something like a wire brush would damage it the metal.. My father has a friend that does body work and i think he might have the tools for blasting.. I didnt even think of that as an option..

as for the clear coat you are right, in spots its just the clear coat, but in others its right down to the metal..

thanx again man.

[EScanlon]

If there is a clear coat on the wheels, save yourself a chunk of time and remove it using paint stripper. I would recommend the Aircraft Stripper available at your automotive paint store.

Within minutes of application it will bubble and wrinkle the old finish and allow you to scrape it off. Although the container says to use metal scrapers, for what you are doing a plastic scraper will work, just rinse it off here and there. By the way, lacquer thinner works faster to "cut" the stripper, although water will also, it takes more water and longer to do so.

After you've removed the stripper, wash the wheels down real well and then polish as you wish to.

Finally, protect your wheels with some sort of final finish product. Whether you use Clear Coat paint, Metal Polish / Protectant, or Clear Powder Coating to do so is your choice. Heck, if you're a glutton for punishment, polish them once a week!

By the way, it IS possible to remove any scratches or pits you may have acquired due to the age / exposure of the metal, it may involve some very careful sanding with various grades of sand paper, but if you are careful and attentive to detail you should be ok.