Stripping, refinishing aluminum wheels.
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 14,479
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From: Blunt, South Dakota
Year: 97
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.6 stroker
If someone out there is going for a super shiny appearance, after stripping any clear, use some wet/dry sandpaper (with water) starting with 1000 grit, use opposing strokes (left to right, up/down, both diaganol planes) this will give a uniform scuff, then increase to 1200 grit, then 1400 grit. Get a good drill with a new buff pad and some polishing compound (green) be careful to not hit your metal with the drill, and polish to a high sheen. Clear coat after you reach your desired sheen, yes it is a LOT of work, but I have seen the results of several polishings over the years, and this method makes your metal look like mirrors. I have done it before, it does look good, but for that amount of work, you might as well just chrome it! Just thought I'd put it out there.....
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Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 228
Likes: 1
Model: Cherokee
Got a few progress pics.
After I stripped them and scraped the crap off it was hard to get the paint off underneath the clear which came off easier so I applied some more stripper on the painted areas and scraped and used red scotch brite pads to get the tougher stuff off.
Steel wool also works well to get the small specs of clear off the wheel face but works better if the wheel is wiped dry.
Used some various sandpaper on the painted areas then used Mothers mag wheel polish with a the polishing cone mounted on my air die grinder to polish the wheels up.
You can see that only portions of the wheel is finished-still more work to do.
I am going to have the inner painted parts powder coated black with the face of the wheel polished, then clear over everything.
Like others have mentioned during the scraping/ sanding process you definitely ask yourself "What the hell am I doing?" but the end results will be sweet!
After I stripped them and scraped the crap off it was hard to get the paint off underneath the clear which came off easier so I applied some more stripper on the painted areas and scraped and used red scotch brite pads to get the tougher stuff off.
Steel wool also works well to get the small specs of clear off the wheel face but works better if the wheel is wiped dry.
Used some various sandpaper on the painted areas then used Mothers mag wheel polish with a the polishing cone mounted on my air die grinder to polish the wheels up.
You can see that only portions of the wheel is finished-still more work to do.
I am going to have the inner painted parts powder coated black with the face of the wheel polished, then clear over everything.
Like others have mentioned during the scraping/ sanding process you definitely ask yourself "What the hell am I doing?" but the end results will be sweet!
Last edited by jowint; Nov 1, 2011 at 02:47 PM.
CF Veteran
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,994
Likes: 8
From: San Jose
Year: 89
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 I6
Those came out nice, here's my idiot question of the day, howd you get your tires off the rims? Also how are you going to get em back on? I'd like to paint my rims when there off and seperated but I hear the on and off part sucks to do by hand
CF Veteran
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,648
Likes: 4
Model: Cherokee
Just tape them off if you don't want to pay someone to pull them off and put them back on. When you re-mount them they will have to be balanced again.
CF Veteran
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,048
Likes: 0
From: Georgia
Year: 2004
Model: Grand Cherokee (WJ)
Engine: 4.0 Inline 6
Got a few progress pics.
After I stripped them and scraped the crap off it was hard to get the paint off underneath the clear which came off easier so I applied some more stripper on the painted areas and scraped and used red scotch brite pads to get the tougher stuff off.
Steel wool also works well to get the small specs of clear off the wheel face but works better if the wheel is wiped dry.
Used some various sandpaper on the painted areas then used Mothers mag wheel polish with a the polishing cone mounted on my air die grinder to polish the wheels up.
You can see that only portions of the wheel is finished-still more work to do.
I am going to have the inner painted parts powder coated black with the face of the wheel polished, then clear over everything.
Like others have mentioned during the scraping/ sanding process you definitely ask yourself "What the hell am I doing?" but the end results will be sweet!
After I stripped them and scraped the crap off it was hard to get the paint off underneath the clear which came off easier so I applied some more stripper on the painted areas and scraped and used red scotch brite pads to get the tougher stuff off.
Steel wool also works well to get the small specs of clear off the wheel face but works better if the wheel is wiped dry.
Used some various sandpaper on the painted areas then used Mothers mag wheel polish with a the polishing cone mounted on my air die grinder to polish the wheels up.
You can see that only portions of the wheel is finished-still more work to do.
I am going to have the inner painted parts powder coated black with the face of the wheel polished, then clear over everything.
Like others have mentioned during the scraping/ sanding process you definitely ask yourself "What the hell am I doing?" but the end results will be sweet!
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 228
Likes: 1
Model: Cherokee
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 228
Likes: 1
Model: Cherokee
Got the Canyons finished, well two of them.
Two down two to go.
They are not perfect up close but should look pretty awesome on the Jeep.
I ended up using duplicolor etching primer, duplicolor semi gloss black and four coats of duplicolor clear,. Figured i would use the same brand for all stages so I think I will let them cure for a week or two before I put new tires on them and bolt them on the XJ.
Oh, I am doing the center caps in black too, they look better than in silver.
They are not perfect up close but should look pretty awesome on the Jeep.
I ended up using duplicolor etching primer, duplicolor semi gloss black and four coats of duplicolor clear,. Figured i would use the same brand for all stages so I think I will let them cure for a week or two before I put new tires on them and bolt them on the XJ.
Oh, I am doing the center caps in black too, they look better than in silver.
CF Veteran
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 6,880
Likes: 0
From: Frederick, Maryland
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 I-6 High output
Two down two to go.
They are not perfect up close but should look pretty awesome on the Jeep.
I ended up using duplicolor etching primer, duplicolor semi gloss black and four coats of duplicolor clear,. Figured i would use the same brand for all stages so I think I will let them cure for a week or two before I put new tires on them and bolt them on the XJ.
Oh, I am doing the center caps in black too, they look better than in silver.
They are not perfect up close but should look pretty awesome on the Jeep.
I ended up using duplicolor etching primer, duplicolor semi gloss black and four coats of duplicolor clear,. Figured i would use the same brand for all stages so I think I will let them cure for a week or two before I put new tires on them and bolt them on the XJ.
Oh, I am doing the center caps in black too, they look better than in silver.
