Diy Alloy Refurb *In Progress* Help Needed

[Leo182]

Decided to refurb my 182 alloys myself but now wishing i hadnt lol!

Got a few questions. Firstly, it has took me about 30mins just to wetsand this using 280 grit, do you have to 100% get every last bit of the old paint off?? taking me ages!!!

Here's a pic:




I've looked a the refurb guides etc but didnt realise it would take so long just to do that!

 

[Hazza]

WEll tbh, dont worry if wen u sanded it down, there was scratches, all these scratches will be covered by primer.

 

[ClioRT88]

Im in the process of re-furbing some alloys aswell, i used nitro-mors paint stripper from halfords which works a treat. Im probably wrong using this but its very helpful, especially with multi-spokes, it takes a lifetime to wetsand them. It takes your wheel back to bare metal but the finish i have on my first complete wheel looks great, my wheels are also a lot cheaper than yours so might not be worth the risk for you.

 

[Leo182]

There are no scratches, it's very very smooth at the mo just taking absolutely ages to do.

Nitro-mors is tempting but think i'll give that a miss! I've got an orbital sander but water and electric dont mix.

 

[ben_p]

if you have removed the marks then you dont need to remove all the paint.


also 280 is too course. drop to a 600 then a 800 before painting.otherwise it will look scratched

 

[MRBILLYUK]

Why are you taking the paint off ? Here's one i refurbed .

I cleaned the wheel with AG engine and machine cleaner then dried it . Filled all the deep scratches with Upol D Metallic Filler , left overnight to harden sanded it down with 320 grit wet and dry . This also gives the primer a good key as the 320 grit isn't too fine .

Next i primed the wheel , a couple of coats and used 320 grit wet and dry again .

Wash down the wheel to remove any dust or use a tac cloth .

Next i applied a couple of coats of colour then sanded down with 1500 grit wet and dry . Clean the wheel again to remove the dust . I used Rover storm grey . It's not a 100% match so the guy who mixed my paint added a touch of red to make the match better .

Final couple of colour coats then leave over night .

Then 3 coats of lacquer ( until your happy with the finish ) and leave over night again .

Final wet and dry with 1500 grit to smooth out any imperfections . Then washed , dried and polished with Meguiars scratch X .

http://www.paints4u.com/ProductDetails.aspx?productID=320

 

[Leo182]

MRBILLYUK, confession time... i am using that as my main guide, saved and printed out next to me!

Ok so i would only need to sand down the kerbed/scratched areas? no need to take all the paint off even though i will be completely priming and painting the whole wheel.

I am a bit thick sometimes if thats the case!

 

[MRBILLYUK]

No need to take off any of the paint . If it's been filled you'll obviously need to sand that down , just sand the whole wheel lightly as well with some 320 grit to give the primer something to key to . No wonder its taking you ages

 

[Leo182]

No need to take off any of the paint . If it's been filled you'll obviously need to sand that down , just sand the whole wheel lightly as well with some 320 grit to give the primer something to key to . No wonder its taking you ages

Ok cheers, thought i must have been doing something wrong!

 

[MRBILLYUK]

No problem . Get some pics up when you've done it

 

[-KarL-]

what did you use to cover the centre bit?

 

[MRBILLYUK]

Cardboard . I drew round the centre cap and cut it out .

 

[Final Maxim]

get yourself a grey scotchbrite and scuff them with some soapy water.

take 1/2 the time than wet flatting, then just dry sand your filler/scratches

 

[Leo182]

Defo put pics up when done. Just put the 1st coat of primer on looks good already!

I did cover the centre up with cardboard aswell but i dont remember why, is it something to do with the wheel nuts possibly coming loose? i read something somewhere!!

 

[MRBILLYUK]

The centre of the wheel was in perfect condition so i didn't see the need to spray that , thats the only reason really .

 

[Leo182]

The centre of the wheel was in perfect condition so i didn't see the need to spray that , thats the only reason really .

Oh right! so are mine, so no harm done anyway.

 

[Monkey_beast_182]

Anyone think you can do it without taking the tyres off first (if you masked around the rim, etc.)? I'm loathed to have to take my tyres off cause I'd be without a car for a week while redoing it.

MB_182

 

[Leo182]

No need to take off any of the paint

I'd just like to make sure about this point as i've just read this on another forum.

Here's the quote.

"Rub over the entire front face of the wheel... including every single nook and cranny with the 240 grit wet and dry paper. You will notice when and area is 'ready' as the surface will have lost it's clearcoat and will look either like primer grey, or like bare metal"

Right i have done that for the kerbed/scratched areas and just lightly sanded the rest of the wheel, just think it's not right.

Reading that above quote makes me think i have to sand the whole alloy as i have done in the pic above.

I don't want to waste any more primer/paint then having to go back and start all over again so thought i'd get your opinions.

Cheers.

Oh, Monkey_beast_182 it is possible i've seen a guide somewhere where they mask the tyre and do the same job, i had to take mine off to put 2 new tyres on.

 

[Final Maxim]

if the surface is good, you can just prep it so it looses its shine and then its fine for a new layer of paint.

just feather out all the chips and scratches.

theres no need to strip the wheel back to bare metal unless the surface is poor.

 

[Leo182]

if the surface is good, you can just prep it so it looses its shine and then its fine for a new layer of paint.

just feather out all the chips and scratches.

theres no need to strip the wheel back to bare metal unless the surface is poor.

Righty ho, ta.

Surface is perfect apart from the kerbage areas, just got me thinking when i read that.

 

[Ben.]

can you please post pics up when you have done, and also how much it cost you...ta

 

[Hazza]

u seen my refurbed wheels bland?

 

[Ben.]

u seen my refurbed wheels bland?

haven't actually seen them haz

although i think i remember pm'ing you about them a while ago

im just not confident enough to try:dapprove:

 

[Fred@BTM]

just had these done for a customer, £45 per wheel inc tyres off and on

 

[Renault_Boy01]

where did you get that done fred..is it labtech

 

[Fred@BTM]

laptab, yep, my mate owns the place

 

[Hazza]

fred.. u have pm

 

[Renault_Boy01]

can you pm me there details please fred..sounds a good price...might be needing them soon

 

[len_beach]

I'm in the process of doing my 172 wheels at the mo' and will move onto my Turinis when done.

The 172 wheels are more of a 'smart' repair as in i'm masking off the rims and the veins on one wheel and painting those sections only.

No need to remove all paint. Hit the bad areas with a sander and some coarse grit paper, a skim of smooth filler, flat, spray with high-build primer, flat again, 4-5 thin colour coats, 4-5 thin coats of laquer, flat then polish.

Job done.

 

[Fred@BTM]

pm me for details!

 

[MRBILLYUK]

just had these done for a customer, £45 per wheel inc tyres off and on

Gotta say Fred . Eithers it's my tired eyes , the polish lager or just a bad pic . But the centre cap looks a totally different shade to the refurbed wheel :ee:

 

[Fred@BTM]

its the pic, very hard to photograph

 

[Leo182]

can you please post pics up when you have done, and also how much it cost you...ta

Will do, just been out to get some Wet & Dry and some more Primer hopefully should have some results over the weekend.