How best does one refurbish alloys?

[Oldromola]

Thought I had posted this topic earlier this afternoon but it hasn't appeared so here we go again.

I have been attempting to refurbish my alloys both with a polishing kit and simply with a very fine wet and dry paper. I can remove the surface corrosion but I am left with gray marks as , I presume, I have not been able to completely remove all the corrosion.

How can I do this without going to a specialist machine shop?

[Sheepdip]

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Good luck. I tried this a few years ago and gave up as too time consuming. I even mounted the wheel on a old front hub and turned it with a motor. I've also been told the wheels should be blasted otherwise corrosion will return.

Apparently you can get them recut (what they do I know not) for around £50/wheel or new ones around a ton - I'd have gone this route if I hadn't bought some wheels with excellent tyres from a friend.

Getting on a bit and faced with all these repair jobs (my other Stag is still awaiting paint after 6 yrs in primer), I'm running out of time so I always price my time at £10/hr (cheap compared to garages!), and work out whether its cheaper to DIY or buy unless I desperately want to DIM - like the paint job!

Paul

[Oldromola]

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Paul - I can buy refurbished wheels from Paddocks for £58.75 so I shan't be having my old ones re-cut. I think I may need to use an abrasive tool attached to my drill next!

[Sheepdip]

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Hi Robert, thats a good price and as long as they hold air and look shiny you can keep them that way. I reckon it would take more than a day per wheel if I did it myself, and then what about kerb marks? My driver was needinga new set of tyres and wanted to refurb wheels at same time, sonow these ok wheels have come along I've time to refurb the others later (which of course will never happen....).

How come these wheels scratch at the slightest kerb but resist all efforts to sandpaper - I was using 80 grit on the inside without affect!

Good luck.

[european voyager]

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Ive just had mine polished , £130 for five , very pleased with the results.

[al-stag]

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"I presume, I have not been able to completely remove all the corrosion"

Sounds like you still have corrosion trapped beneath the laquer.

I recently did mine with Nitromores and steel wok cleaning pads obtained from the nearby Chinese cash and carry, which removed the laquer. Several applications were needed to remove all the layers.

Then 240 grit wet and dry which produced a nice satin finish.Finally black hammerite on the black bits, and no laquer on the silver bits.

Hard wok - one wheel per evening, but I am velly happy with the result

Al

[Oldromola]

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Al - thank you for all that. I am sure I have removed all the lacquer as I too used Nitromores, and I did have to repeat the application several times. However my mistake has probably to use too fine a grade of wet and dry (1000) so tomorrow I shall buy some 240 and try again.

[V Mad]

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You can save some time by using a power drillwith a flap wheelof the appropriate grade, butthey are usually too wide toget into some of the areas. Its useful forremoving the badly corroded areas that got under the laquer.Careful to keep it moving smoothly though otherwise you may get uneven surfaces.

When finished, you will then need to decidewhether to apply laquer or just keep them plain.

[mad cyclist]

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Robert 2 Stags wrote:

Thought I had posted this topic earlier this afternoon but it hasn't appeared so here we go again.

I have been attempting to refurbish my alloys both with a polishing kit and simply with a very fine wet and dry paper. I can remove the surface corrosion but I am left with gray marks as , I presume, I have not been able to completely remove all the corrosion.

How can I do this without going to a specialist machine shop?

spit and polish ,tonbridge £55 ish a corner or go for 15"minilites

rgds nick

[John]

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I seem to recall a youtube film of a guy polishing wheels by raising the driven wheels off the ground, running the engine and holding a piece of emery cloth against the rotating wheel. Can't find it at the moment.

[stustag]

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What happens when his fingers hit the valve then? Or get caught in the gaps around the five spokes design of the wheel?:?

Stuart

[Kevin Garrod]

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stustag wrote:

What happens when his fingers hit the valve then? Or get caught in the gaps around the five spokes design of the wheel?:?

Stuart

I think the idea is to use a bare wheel! no valve fitted

[Oldromola]

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Nick, thank you for your pic, but Ithink I will stick to the Stag alloys.

John - very interesting idea but I shall not be risking it!

[Kevin Garrod]

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Here you go..:P

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rl5c7Ih2GW4

[Oldromola]

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err........quite so!