K-dawg

I have read a lot of threads about polishing wheels and I'm going to try that same method on a set of c4 vette wheels that I plan on trying this on, the only thing I am wondering is it worth buying a clear coat or industial strengthe paint remover or do you guys just sand off the clear, I've heard both ways on here.

jstoltz

iTrader: (16)

it's a little easier to strip them first make sure you rinse them really good and let them dry completely before you start.

K-dawg

so would you suggest the aircraft/industrial stripper or just acetone?

jstoltz

iTrader: (16)

aircraft stripper. just get the cheapest because to do a whole set it will take a couple cans anyway. acetone just isn't strong enough to do anything really. are you doing it by hand or with air tools? I worked at a place here in Ohio for a day (really didn't like the setting, in some guys basement while his shop was getting finished up) and we did motorcycle engine blocks and we used 2" scotchbrite pads on roloc disc mounted in an angle grinder to take off the cast. this would probably work great to get the machine lines out also. I have never gotten to try it as I don't have an air compresser here. but we used those and sanding drum rolls to get into tight spots and then he buffed them with a bench top buffer and it came out looking as good as factory polish jobs. If you are doing it all by hand be prepared for it to take a long time. start with 120 grit and work your way up. just make sure before you move up you get as much as you can otherwise it will be alot harder to get with finer grit sandpaper. stick with 3m sandpaper all the rest I have tried has not worked as good. make sure it is really smooth by the time you get to 400 or any scratches that are left will be amplified. Some on here say they have polished after 400 grit and it turned out good other said they went all the way to 2000 grit. just depends on how good you want it. Hope this helps.

K-dawg

I'm having to do it all by hand, the little bit I did do with a tool turned out really badly...so, I should get all of the scratches out with something like 320?

K-dawg

ok...I used 320 to pull the last of the clear off, and it still looks better than it did with it on, but how do I get rid of the scratches caused by the paper.

Mikz86TA

iTrader: (4)

gradually get finer in the paper until 1500 or 2000. Then use tripoli to shine and alum polish to finish

K-dawg

ok, I'll give that a try, but I'm seeing alot of people around here claiming good quality results with 400 grit?

jstoltz

iTrader: (16)

if you go all the way to 2000 grit you can just buff it with mothers and it will be good too. I usually stop after 1000 though.
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if you stop at 400 you will need to buff with a white tripoli compound.

K-dawg

ok guys thanks for the tips, I'll post some pics when I finish one of these or I'll come back here if I have any more questions