Help getting OEM paint off wheels

[Mike1992]

I'm in the process of repainting my rims. I went out and bought all the supplies, but the automotive paint stripper isnt getting all the paint off, Ive tried 3 times. Ive read over a few articles and noticed everyone says use aircraft stripper, is this stuff better?

 

[dsmmyth]

I'm in the process of repainting my rims. I went out and bought all the supplies, but the automotive paint stripper isnt getting all the paint off, Ive tried 3 times. Ive read over a few articles and noticed everyone says use aircraft stripper, is this stuff better?

I never used aircraft stripper because I could never find it. I got some metal stripper from wal-mart which is near the paint section and costs about 6 bucks for a 6 inch? (give or take) container of it. It's very acidic and gets the job done right away.

 

[trapspeed]

I didn't even use stripper. Just some fine grit sandpaper and elbow grease.

 

[Mike1992]

I didn't even use stripper. Just some fine grit sandpaper and elbow grease.

I wanna strip it all off, the chromeish colored lip is hiding under there. I already mistakenly sanded that cromey lip and now its not chromey anymore Anways I got some really good nicks in the OEM paint thats why i'm wanting to get it all off, then sand and the painted.

 

[blcknspo0ln]

air craft stripper.. let sit for 1 hour..

1200 + psi high pressure water blaster... and go f-in nuts

 

[Redmachine]

I used 500 grit and 2 hours a tire.
But pepboys and walmart both have aircraft stripper, its a sky blue bottle with a plane on the front. 8 bucks a can.

 

[Mike1992]

So the Aircraft Stripper is alot better? Wal-Mart had that stuff right next to the auto stripper $3.67 a can

 

[Mike1992]

Oh I forgot to ask, after i get the wheel painted and the polished lip do i clear coat all of it? I mean the lip to?

 

[blcknspo0ln]

i would

 

[jaxon23]

if you clear over the polished aluminum it will look cloudy....best thing to do is use a caranuba wax on the polished lips

 

[Mike1992]

if you clear over the polished aluminum it will look cloudy....best thing to do is use a caranuba wax on the polished lips

Little to late, I already found that out Its not so polished looking anymore, now it looks metallic. Oh well, they still look hella nice. I got 2 rims done so far, took me all day. i'll finish the other 2 up tomorrow and post some pics.

 

[IceDragon]

aircraft remover... let it sit for about 30min, power wash realllllly hard, whats left... just redo it again, make sure not to put on too thick a coat of aircraft remover, i found that if it gets too thick it doesn't work right.

 

[Toshiro]

I wish I had a power washer. I've gone through a can and a half or so of aircraft remover and most of the wheels are only about halfway done. Wirebrushing kinda works, so do brillo pads. Any other suggestions besides a crapload of sanding? That's going to be my next step, since I've already spent a few hours on them, easily.

 

[Mike1992]

I know how ya feel man. What ended up working best with me was 1 can of aircraft stripper per wheel and a 18 pack of SOS cleaning pads. God bless them SOS brillo pads those things made everything smooth and got the excess sticking paint off with a little stripper. Mine are all finished up, and Im overall satisfied with the new look. Ill post pics tomorrow.

PS: This 1 day project ended up being a 2 and a half day affair

 

[Mike1992]

Kinda dark outside but heres a few, that and i have a very crappy camera oh well, looks much better in person, red calipers to

 

[blcknspo0ln]

well done pig well done... i mean.. good job

 

[Mike1992]

well done pig well done... i mean.. good job

Does it look like a cop car?

 

[blcknspo0ln]

i was alluding to the movie "babe" :laugh:

anywho. looks good, did you mothers mag the lip?

 

[DevilSperm]

its not that much to get them bead blasted is it? id use aircraft stripper to but my neighbor has a blaster...i know its a little late now but for anyone who gets this thread by search, use the aircraft stripper

 

[Mike1992]

its not that much to get them bead blasted is it? id use aircraft stripper to but my neighbor has a blaster...i know its a little late now but for anyone who gets this thread by search, use the aircraft stripper

But that would require removing the tires, and that costs more money

About the lip, its didnt come out how I had hoped, it was all nice and shiny and i clear coated it like You (blcknspo0ln) said to go ahead and do and now it has this metallic look to it, kinda like a shiny silver/grey. I wanna get better picks tomorrow for my gallery.

 

[Toshiro]

Actually, I had called a couple sandblasting places around here, and they both quoted me about $25 per wheel! I think I'll take my chances with the aircraft remover for that price, jeez...

 

[Omega]

I don't know why you are having problems with the clear coat going dull. I think you are not properly cleaning the lip after you polish it.

Once you use the stripper, use soap and water to get all the pain and stripper out. Also, if you have the type of rim where the bead area has a gap, make sure you get all the crap out of there.

 

[Mike1992]

I did clean it with SOS pads which is some tough cleaning stuff. The rims were spotlessly clean and very shiny, near chrome. However after a coat of clear they turned to what you see in the pic. Oh well, still looks good to me

 

[Perch - Tsi]

get a dremel tool with a polishing wheel and some polish to do the edge,
not fast but you dont even have to pull the wheel