Unpainting my wheels
 

My car has OEM forged aluminum wheels that have a painted finish. The paint is worn/chipped/missing in places around the edges. I don't think it's curb rash so much as cumulative wear of tires being mounted over the years.

Anyway, I looked at my options. Mostly that consists of having them restored to the factory painted finish, having them powder coated, or having them chromed. The big problem with this is each requires me to give up my daily driver for a varying amount of time. Oh, and of course they all cost $$$.

Anyway today I bought a couple cans of paint remover and a couple bags of 000 steel wool, jacked my car up, and went to work. It took me about 6 hours to do the two wheels on the passenger side and I am pleased. I still have some details to do plus of course the other two wheels. When I'm done they will been to be clear coated or protected in some way. For now I'm just waxing them and weighing my options again.

What I started with:
http://sarasotadetail.com/gallery2/m...intedwheel.jpg
http://sarasotadetail.com/gallery2/m.../P4163200c.jpg

If this doesn't work, I'm in big trouble!
http://sarasotadetail.com/gallery2/m...2/P4163203.jpg

Success!
http://sarasotadetail.com/gallery2/m.../P4163205c.jpg
http://sarasotadetail.com/gallery2/m...ishedwheel.jpg

I'll be done by noon tomorrow! :D

Looks very nice. Good job!

that is one hell of a daily driver, lol, nice work.

I like them....the rims look more "billet" style.

As predicted, I was done before noon.

One wheel from start to finish.

that seems to have worked out really nice, although i like the old finish. If you could return it to that finish (but like in original nice unchipped condition) i would.

Nice work.

I much prefer the raw aluminum.

Sorry Getrdone

You could use a Mothers' polishing ball and a cordless drill to polish them up more, I've heard that the ball is a good way to go.

Confederate has an awesome idea. If you get them polished up right, they almost look chromed. I know some places will polish your rims for you, but then you still have to do without the car for a while. I don't know that aluminum rims need a clear coat, either, unless you're just doing it to try and protect from scratches.

I'll trade you my daily driver riced out 92 accord for your daily driver nsx. :)

I swear I searched the nsx board (nsxprime.com) last week but found little info on polishing the factory wheels. So this weekend I took it on myself to learn on the job with my own wheels and I'm pretty pleased with the result. Anyway, then today I search nsxprime again and find pictures of wheels like mine that were professionally polished and holy shit they look great.

I definitely am going to look for a buffing wheel to use and work mine some more. I have some room for improvement, especially in the inner areas between the spokes.

http://degroff.us/photos/2004/Polish...es/Profile.jpg
One of the wheels I found searching today.

those polished wheels look so nice, you gotta keep em clean tho.

Great work bodypainter! I think that deserves 2 thumbs up :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

That's bad bodypainter. I would leave like you got em. The polish might be too much bling.