need wheel polishing guidance bad!!!

7061 Views 12 Replies 8 Participants Last post by BigMikeISF, Apr 16, 2009

Instant Spankin Firepower

Discussion Starter · Mar 27, 2009

Does anyone know if our forged stock wheels can be polished? I've seriously done some damage by removing the paint. I've polished 2 sets of aluminum wheels before and once you get the paint and clear coat off, the wheel shows it's true colors are are extremely shiny, then you would polish them. I've done that on 2 sets of wheels. Now I tried it last night on one wheel and when I put the aircraft stripper on and waited. After all the paint came off, it does not show the bare metal. It shows a very light grey looking primer coat. The air craft stripper will not remove this no matter what and I'm stuck with an ugly wheel. Here are some pics to show you. I don't want to pay someone $500 and wait 4 days when I can do this myself for free.

went from this.

to this.

Here are the two set of aluminum wheels I've done before.

from this

TO THIS

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1 - 13 of 13 Posts

drdoug75

· #2 · Mar 27, 2009

Holy sh**! I am sorry, I have no idea how to fix it up. Clearly, worked with your other project...but you have definitely fed up that wheel....I did not even know you can do that. Thanks for the pics though....and I imagine there will be alot of conversation about that lovely wheel you just made....fun with chemicals.
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FChampOH

· #3 · Mar 27, 2009

If that is indeed a primer under the factory finish, that is some tough sheot. Have you tried polishing the wheel anyhow? The dull finish you have on there might be a haze created by the stripper on a "forging". I can't tell from your picture. The factory IS-F wheels are forged. Keep in mind the forging process is different from the casting process. Forging produces a much tighter grain flow of metal and is not as porous as a cast wheel and the metal treatment is different as well. Maybe what you have there is a reaction of the stripper and the forging, try polishing a spot if you haven't already. Let us know what happens.
Doug

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Instant Spankin Firepower

Discussion Starter · #4 · Mar 27, 2009

I have tried polishing the wheel champ. It makes the wheel slighty more silver. It may need to be soda blasted or high pressure washed.

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FChampOH

· #5 · Mar 27, 2009

Oh Boy! This is gonna be fun. They might have some sort of baked on epoxy primer or something, I don't know. I would try sanding an inconspicuous area to see if you can "break through" at least. Then maybe you'll be able to determine if it can be removed by blasting. Use a high number grit sandpaper of course and maybe wet sand. I'm gonna go out on a limb and say this doesn't look like it's gonna be "free" for you.

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Instant Spankin Firepower

Discussion Starter · #6 · Mar 27, 2009

I did try that actually this morning using p240 grit paper on a small area. Yes it turned silver =). I suppose I'll need to sand down the area then polish I just hope I can get all the scratches because of the fine sand paper.

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doublexl

· #7 · Mar 27, 2009

if your gonna sand it you should try using 320 grit emery cloth.

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lowrider

· #8 · Mar 28, 2009

With this kind of hard to remove undercover on our wheels, I find it hard to believe that a few folks have reported IS-F wheels that have started to corrode, and were replaced by Lexus. Tiss a puzzlement to me

Lou

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Instant Spankin Firepower

Discussion Starter · #9 · Mar 28, 2009

oh well, everything has been taken care of. I payed a local polishing shop to finish what I started and I will have my wheels back in a week. New photo shoot coming soon guys!!

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