stripping wheels

[admedlin]

I've been having a little problem. I have my set of stock base 5th gen prelude wheels that I'm cleaning up to resell. I was told the easiest way to do this was to buy some aircraft remover, spray them, then rub it all off. So I tried that but it only worked on two wheels. On the other two wheels, the remover took off the top layer but the second layer wouldn't come off. These wheels were painted black, then repainted silver.

Does anyone know of a chemical that could take off powdercoating? I think that might be what the previous owner did, but I don't know why he would only do 2....

Can anyone help me out?

[aaronfelipe]

Don't use the spray. There is a little can at AutoZone. Take a brush and scoop a think layer into the paint. Will do it.

[brads94accord]

did you buy those wheels from a kid named jimmy?

[admedlin]

oh, hmmmm i was told the spray would be easier. you're still talking about aircraft remover, right? I saw the spray can for $5 and the big can for like $12

[aaronfelipe]

Just get the regular can. It is $8. It has not failed me. If not, pull out the sander.

[brads94accord]

spray them again w/ it...

you could also try sanding it off...

then you can polish them by starting w/ like 400 grit, then to 600 > 800 > 1000 > 1500 > 2000.

[admedlin]

I've used 1 1/2 cans on them so far. I sprayed them, let them soak for like half an hour, tried wiping, nothing. Re-spray, tried sanding with 400, nothing. I tried spraying, then using some water, nothing.

No these wheels came with my car, unless the previous owner's name was Jimmy and he lives in Charlotte, NC....

[speedminded]

I've used 1 1/2 cans on them so far. I sprayed them, let them soak for like half an hour, tried wiping, nothing. Re-spray, tried sanding with 400, nothing. I tried spraying, then using some water, nothing.

No these wheels came with my car, unless the previous owner's name was Jimmy and he lives in Charlotte, NC....

Spray can sucks, the gallon can for $8-12 is a much thicker paste. Take an old toothbrush (or your own, see if i care ) and wipe it on leaving a thin layer....let it sit then wipe off the residue/gunk with the same brush.

I'm betting that 2 of the wheels were on the rear at one time...and the two that came clean were on the front and caked in brake dust so sometime during it's life someone (prolly a used car lot) used an acid to clean them.

Sand them smooth with 400 grit, wipe down with paint thinner, respray with duplicolor wheel paint (don't spray the edge closest to the tire, it will only be scraped off when tires are swapped)

[Bruce Leroy]

The can sucks. When i stripped my wheels, I used the big can, and a paint brush. When you put it on use ALOT, just put it on in globs. And if you wait long enough, the stripper will do all of the work for you.

[speedminded]

The can sucks. When i stripped my wheels, I used the big can, and a paint brush. When you put it on use ALOT, just put it on in globs. And if you wait long enough, the stripper will do all of the work for you.

exactly, i did my valve cover. Set it in an aluminum turkey roasting pan and globbed it on as Nick mentioned. Can't remember how long i waited, 10-15 minutes maybe and the paint bubbled up then simply wiped it all off with the old toothbrush i applied it leaving bare aluminum. Then used mineral spirits to clean it all off.

[4doortypels]

hope it works out

[admedlin]

Well I have a friend driving a '92 supra who needs a set of wheels and tires, he might just buy them how they are. I told him I needed $300 out of them, so he's gonna talk to his parents about it. So maybe i don't have to finish them....