Quick DIY refurb of my new willy wheels

[mossyv6]

Picked up some second hand wheels last night, overall good condtion but the polished rim had been painted and 1 of the wheels badly kerbed.

Thought i'd have a go at refurbing the outer edge myself and these are the results of the worst offender:

From this:
http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb195/mossyv6/Valver/willywheelrefurb1.jpg
http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb195/mossyv6/Valver/willywheelrefurb2.jpg
http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb195/mossyv6/Valver/willywheelrefurb3.jpg

Work in progress:
http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb195/mossyv6/Valver/willywheelrefurb4.jpg
http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb195/mossyv6/Valver/willywheelrefurb5.jpg

To this:
http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb195/mossyv6/Valver/willywheelrefurb6.jpg
http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb195/mossyv6/Valver/willywheelrefurb7.jpg
http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb195/mossyv6/Valver/willywheelrefurb8.jpg

Must say i am really happy with the results.

[Daz.]

so you should be 8)

So tell all how you did it then - details man details!

[LEIGH-ANNE]

Very impressive......im sad u live so far away :cry:

[mossyv6]

^^^^^ Thanks.

Relatively easy to do to be honest.

This is a quick guide:

1. Lay the wheel on the ground and fully examine all damage. Deep chunks out of the metal may be to deep as you will have to remove to much metal, this will have to be welded. But saying that nearly all can be removed without to much hassle.
Probably best to mask of the face of the wheel at this stage to prevent any damage, but as you can see i didn't bother.

2. Using a drill with sanding disc attached. Start with a course grade disc and work over the entire flat face of the edge. This will remove all paint and then start cutting/sanding the face back. How far you go back depends on how deep the marks are. Some marks will be deeper than other's, if you have deeper marks dont sit in one place with the sander, try to glide around the edge thus not creating any major low spots.

3. Using course sand paper i now tackled the vertical edge nearest the tyre. Sand the edge using a gliding motion and remove the majority of deep marks. If deep marks still remain use a flat metal file and again using the gliding motion carefully remove the deeper marks. Again using course sand paper give the entire edge a couple of goes all the way around trying to creating a mark free level edge.

4. Now you should have a reltively kerb free edge. It will still be roughish due to the grade of sand paper you have used. Using a finer sand paper / wetndry paper start hand sanding the entire edge, gradually reducing the grade of w'n'd until you finish of with a 1500 w'n'd paper.

5. Once you are happy with the smoothness of the sanding stage, you need to get a shine. Use a good quality metal polish (autosol) polish the metal edge up. This should create the mirror image your after.

6. To prevent corrosion of the wheel edge you now have to seal it. Mask the tyre and face of the wheel so only the polished edge is showing. Now apply 2 coats of clear lacquer, with approximately an hour between coats.
Try to let the paint dry for a couple of days as it will be soft. You can spped up this process with a heatgun.

7. Give the wheels a good clean and polish. Refit to the car and admire your handy work.

[katbloke]

for future reference let the air out of the tyres, gives you more room to work, good job though

[Jamie.]

Look good mate.

[MatrixGuy]

Sweet!!

Can you do mine mate? lol