thunderstruck507

iTrader: (18)

Hey guys,

Picked up a set of the badass 6 spoke GMC 20"s and began decladding them. Got the chrome and foam off. I then used some Zip Strip paint remover to take off the glue and clearcoat.

So now I'm left with mostly a beautiful machined/ polished wheel...but around the lug nuts and on the lip there is the black epoxy and the stripper won't take it off. I can't scrape it off. A cheap sandblaster won't blast it off.

Before I resort to sanding it off and having to spend a lot of time polishing has anyone found something that will take this **** off without hurting the wheel so bad?

Pic shows what stage I'm at:





I'm thinking a scotchbrite wheel might get it done...or maybe just wet sand with 2000 grit? I really am not sure...I prefer to keep the machined look rather than a full mirror polish.

someotherguy

Man those sure look like a knockoff version of Centerline Stingray 3's. Not dissing, just sayin!

Richard

thunderstruck507

iTrader: (18)

They are these ugly stock bastards with the chrome plastic bullshit knocked off them:



End result is this:

colekill

aircraft remover did it for me. let it sit then scrub with a toothbrush.

I ended up sanding mine down, to get rid of the tiny ridges.... took a solid 30 hours of actual work.

colekill

I ended up sanding from 90 grit up to 2000 grit. then i just waxed them.

let me know if you find a centercap that fits

thunderstruck507

iTrader: (18)

You're saying even the black stuff came off with the aircraft remover?

Maybe it's just stronger than the stuff I used....it took the other glue and the clearcoat right off but left the black stuff behind.

I want to keep the machining ridges on mine instead of sanding the wheels smooth.

colekill

i wanted to keep the ridges but they were fucked up in a few places.
the bulk of the foam i beat off with a rubber mallet and a plastic scraper

what was left, that aircraft remover ate up like it was nothing. clear coat, glue, left over foam, all of if curled up and basically fell off.

first time i used that stripper was on my grand fathers old Schwinn bicycle from the 40ies, about 20 coats of lead paint just fell off, i was amazed

thunderstruck507

iTrader: (18)

Well I got some of that and it didn't work either. Guess since the wheels are so old the epoxy etched into the aluminum as well, even after sanding it off the metal is discolored under it.

They still need a lot of work and it's just too hot right now. Went ahead and just put them on the truck:

jakenm

Try going to some local body shops or powdercoating shops. They might have a better recommendation on how to remove those black epoxy on your wheels.

1bad2k

iTrader: (11)

I don't know what it's called, but most power coating shops have drums of this stuff that straps anything! All I know is that it smells extremely bad lol.