Polishing alloy wheels

[2F45T4U]

Heres my sprint alloys... its a real pity I didnt take a picture of the condition they were in when Alun sold me them for £20 <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :D --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /happy.gif ALT=":D"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
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Anyways here they are...<br>
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Heres one after we'd stripped it, painted it by brush then decided we didnt like it and stripped it again! notice the steely with the wrong profile ratio tyre, 70 instead of 80...<br>
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As we decided to do them with black gloss rattle can we had to mask off the areas that were to stay bare. Masked them over and then cut off with a sharp knife the parts that were to be painted black.<br>
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Then we sprayed them with about 6 coats! let them dry for weeks as they werent to be used yet <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :b --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... tongue.gif ALT=":b"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
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Now all painted and with the centre caps on from Justyn im really pleased <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :D --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /happy.gif ALT=":D"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> Need to laquer them first... and get some nuts for them......<br>
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Good huh <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :b --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... tongue.gif ALT=":b"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> , Adam

<p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p206.ezboard.com/bthetriumphdolo ... omiteuk</A> at: 13/3/06 1:27 pm<br></i>

[2F45T4U]

Oh and as im pratting aroudn with pics Ill show the one of how it looks now.<br>
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With, bumper, head light surrounds, and badge.... <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :D --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /happy.gif ALT=":D"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
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Yer Alan C thanks for the double sided pads. Working very well but to be honest I think theyll be off soon <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :( --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /frown.gif ALT=":("><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> They havent sealed at the top because of the contour ofthe badge and panel so they let water in.... dont seem to be a problem at the monent but if the wter froze it would prize the badge off! Well find out soon, where did you buy them from btw?<br>
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Cheers, Adam

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[1300dolly]

Looking good.<br>
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Justyn

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[dollysteve]

Did you strip the paint off the wheels back to bare metal???<br>
If so did you use an etch primer, if not that nice new paint will soon start to flake off. Sorry to be a bit of a grim reaper but I just thought you should know.

<p>1976 Dolomite was a 1500<br>
1976 Dolomite 1850 HL Auto<br>
1979 Dolomite 1850 HL Man o/d<br>
1989 Noisy Mini 1340 <br>
1998 Fiat Bravo TD 100 again (For sale soon)<br>
1968 1300 FWD</p><i></i>

[dollyboy]

adam. yes, matey, lookin good. etching primer a must on aluminium wheels. in my experience, using hammerite on the segments is OK! COME ON!!! HAMMERITE! YAY!!<br>
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[alun n]

I should have given you two sets instead of charging you £20 for them; a set for you and a set to be returned once done<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :| --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... ferent.gif ALT=":|"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START ;) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/wink.gif ALT=";)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END-->

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[2F45T4U]

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bugger.....

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[redrichie]

Had a slow puncture last week, so popped my spare on while i got it sorted (just needed resealing actually <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :D --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /happy.gif ALT=":D"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> ).<br>
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The difference from my spare to the ones fitted was boggling <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START 8o --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/nerd.gif ALT="8o"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> , so i've decided to do this job next.<br>
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I've decided to strip them the normal way (ie paint stripper), then polish them up with Micro-Mesh (used for removing scratches from aircraft perspex, but i have been assured this will work fantastic on alloy wheels), then etch prime the black areas, paint the black bits, and give a blow over with Protective Lacquer.<br>
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Looks like i will have to do a stage by stage photo story, so you can see how good (or bad) this Micro-Mesh thing is.<br>
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ps) anyone got a spare if this completely ruins my wheel????<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :rollin --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/roll.gif ALT=":rollin"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END-->

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[dollyboy]

if you get the tyres off the wheels while you have the chance, i'd attack the inside of the rim with a wire brush on a drill. remove all the flakey black paint, white powder etc and re-paint. <br>
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I know its against the rules, but I used hammerite for this too! YAY! COME ON!!! HAMMERITE!!! WOOOO HOOOO!!!<br>
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the damp often creeps under the paint over years, dries, damp, dries, blah blah, the grotty white powder is aluminium oxide (equivalent of rust in aluminium terms) thats probably contributing to the re-seal problem. Dollyboys wheel surgery says - redo them while you have the chance, but i'd be wary of doing the lacquer thing over the whole wheel, unless you're planning on painting the ally bits with silver wheel paint too. <br>
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Dollyboys wheel surgery also suggests regular polishing rather than lacquer... labour intensive, boring, but much nicer result<br>
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(I tried to put a pic of one of my wheels on here, but failed miserably, because im crap. boooo. serves me right for trying to show off i suppose! <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :lol --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /laugh.gif ALT=":lol"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> )<br>
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<p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p206.ezboard.com/bthetriumphdolo ... ollyboy</A> at: 6/10/05 5:56 pm<br></i>

[redrichie]

well, if the micromesh works as good as i have been promised, (thirty minutes per wheel max) then i will not lacquer the bare metal, just the black.<br>
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Unfortunately, it will be one wheel at a time, its my daily driver, so i dont think (as much as i would like to) doing the inside is an option yet. if i get a spare set of wheels, then obviously, its easier to do.<br>
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If you mail me the picture i will host it richiethorpe(at)aol(dot)com.

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[2F45T4U]

Ahh well they look ten times better than the stnd steelies what ever condition <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :lol --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /laugh.gif ALT=":lol"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
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Adam

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[alun n]

The white stuff is magnesium oxide.<br>
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[blacksprint]

Richie, Did I mention when I talked to you about the micromesh to use it wet, with wd40 or something similar then a final rub over with some abrasive metal polish.<br>
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Neil

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[dollyboy]

I stand corrected then, magnesium oxide. <br>
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Alun I still love you<br>
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[redrichie]

Neil, yes you did, but i had forgotten...oops, thanks for the reminder, i'll do a final polish with Autosol.<br>
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And here is the picture from Kevin.<br>
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