Need help restoring ford aluminum wheels

[Nathan43]

I had this set laying around after I sold the tires off of them. When I bought the truck they had already "corroded" a little bit and the clear was in rough shape. The worst parts were around where the old wheel weights were.

I first mediablasted them with black diamond, then sprayed them with a cheap spray paint so I could see where I was blasting with a finer glass bead. But the cheap spray paint seemed to not like the area where the weights where.

Will they be fine with a good soap and water bath and then an acetone wipe? I'm worried about having problems with clearing them afterwards. I've finished blasting 1 so far I think it looks pretty good for a clear, after the bath of course.

Any advice? What do ya'll think?

 

[Toddpole]

What about clear powder coat after you've got them cleaned up to your satisfaction?

 

[Nathan43]

I was just going to use the clear coat from kbs, mainly because I have some on hand. But I do like that idea. How much do you think it would cost?

 

[doghows72]

Problem with aluminum wheels is when they start to get corrosion the metal is very porous and it's hard to get it all out to keep it from coming back.
When I powder aluminum wheels here I blast them clean and run them trough the oven at a higher temp than the powder cures at. That will usually burn off any of that offensive corrosion that cause problems. Let them cool and then powder away.
If customer brings me the wheels blasted I can usually do them for about 30-40$ each. I usually guaranteed my work as long as you own them if it's something that I did that fails. If you curb rash them or smash them on rocks your on your own.

 

[Nathan43]

Thanks doghows that is a very reasonable price. I will check in to it locally. I don't much like an aluminum wheel, but just doing with what I have for now.

 

[FRANKO289]

I know this is not helping now ....
but next time remove all the alu. rivets and have them for +/- $ 65.- per rim -0.2mm cnc'd and polished. .... they look good w.out all rivets but its no big deal to reinsert them !


the slots I sent to polishmywheels ... http://classicbroncos.com/forums/showthread.php?t=161460&highlight=polishmywheels

my jackman wheels

 

[doghows72]

You can always shoot them a color as well. Black, blue, red, there are over 6500 colors and textures to choose from, you'd be surprised what we can do with powder now days.

 

[willtel]

FRANKO289 those Jackman wheels are so cool. Do you have any pics of them on a Bronco?

 

[FRANKO289]

franko289 those jackman wheels are so cool. Do you have any pics of them on a bronco?

not my bronco

 

[fatboy]

the slots I sent to polishmywheels ... http://classicbroncos.com/forums/showthread.php?t=161460&highlight=polishmywheels

Wish he was still around!!!!

 

[carhauler]

I've done more than a few set of OEM Alcoas on my pickups over the years. I use aircraft stripper to remove all the clear coat first. Then I wet sand from about 400 grit to 1000grit. Then I cut with rouge bars to a mirror finish. I stop at that point because I have the materials to keep them polished and it's easy to touch them up by hand, but once they are polished out you could cleat them or powder them to lock the shine in. It's a fair amount of work but elbow grease is free if money is an issue. here a pic of some wheels I've done.

 

[Nathan43]

Well I went ahead and clear coated one of them with kbs. I wanted to try out the sandblasted surface to see how well it looked. I actually kind of liked it. If I change my mind or want something different, I'll have them blasted, polished, and powder coated clear on the next tire change, per you guy's recommendations.

They are by no means perfect, but good enough. I went ahead and had some new tires mounted. Looks great to me, what do you guys think?

 

[Tonka7777]

Those came out great. Would love to hear how the KBS clear holds up.

 

[Nathan43]

Those came out great. Would love to hear how the KBS clear holds up.

I think it'll hold up great, I'll let you know. It went on pretty thick and it just keeps flowing out for awhile after you put it on. I brushed it on so I do have a run or two where I had the wheel laying flat to paint it.