8 replies to this topic

[TORZIEnJIM]

Hi, I got some deep dish 13"minilites which are not in bad condition apart from what seems to be scabby lacquer? Is it possible to just sand off the lacquer and re-lacquer from a can?

If so, how?

[Alex_B]

sure as long as the paints not damaged, just remove all the flaky paint or lacquer and key the rest up make sure its all smooth and then re-lacquer to your hearts content :)

[wile e coyote]

Perfectly possible - the design of the minilite makes the job a real pain though. A can of nitromors will strip off the old lacquer nicely, some fine wire wool will remove the remains (warning a pair of marigolds a must) then smooth out any damage / scratches with wet & dry of increasing grits. add some filler to deep scratches & touch up with matched wheel paint (not the motor factor cheapie tin that appears to be a derivation on silver that only matches itself)make sure all is clean & dry then half a dozen coats of lacquer over the space of a few days leaving for a few hours between coats and job jobbed...

Fair warning though will be a real fiddle to do - pro refurbs are not too expensive generally... paying cash and not wanting them done in 2½ seconds sometimes brings the costs down...

[Mini 360]

Remove laquer with paper as you say and once all gone get them polished up to a mirror sheen. You can do this by hand but it will take you weeks to get good results. Highly recommend the polishing kits you get on eBay for your drill. Comes with all you need to polish your rim ()

Once polished don't bother relaquering. It will just bubble and flake off again so just keep it well polished and get some good protection on it in the form of a heavy duty wax or sealant :)

[George929]

my alloys were like this.

.

remove the tyres if you can so you can get the valve out. as it is abit of an obstacle although its not necessary .

What you need :
Soapy water.
Wet and dry 2500 to 450
Some form of metal polish. auto sol/ nxt gen all metal wax
Cotton cloths.
Clear lacquer.



Step 1
Put the front of the car up on Axle stands and and the handbrake on!

Step 2
Now put the wheels you want to refurb on the front

Step 3
Start the car up. pull the choke out about half way put it into 4th and let it (drive)
now both your wheels are spinning.

Step 4
Start with your 450 wet and dry and using soapy water. hold it on the dish. watch your fingers on the spokes
this will take the lacquer of. but will leave marks in the alloy.

Step 5
So then you start using a finer paper to remove these marks.
continue with this until you have got a slight shine from the 2500/1200 wet and dry.

Step 6
Then use your polish to get a super shine.

Step 7
wash the wheels with clean water
now spray a clear lacquer over your wheels to form a barrier.


DONE!!!

[Midas Mk1]

^^^^ Pretty Dangerous Advice

I used various grades of cutting compound and a mop using a drill on the polished sections of my D1's, then buffed them up, came out well, and there was no risk of loosing any fingers....

[LazyD]

I've messed about with more sets of wheels than I've had hot dinners and I can honestly say refurbing them yourself isn't worth it. Get them done by a pro should cost £30-£40 a wheel and they will be perfect for 3-5 years assuming you don't kurb them or give them to a garage who can't fit tyres properly.

Refinishing them yourself is tempting but when you consider the material costs, the time and the fact that they will look good for a year at best, it really isn't worth it.

That's just my 2p's worth.

[Frisco]

^^ What he said

[mikko]

my alloys were like this.

.

remove the tyres if you can so you can get the valve out. as it is abit of an obstacle although its not necessary .

What you need :
Soapy water.
Wet and dry 2500 to 450
Some form of metal polish. auto sol/ nxt gen all metal wax
Cotton cloths.
Clear lacquer.



Step 1
Put the front of the car up on Axle stands and and the handbrake on!

Step 2
Now put the wheels you want to refurb on the front

Step 3
Start the car up. pull the choke out about half way put it into 4th and let it (drive)
now both your wheels are spinning.

Step 4
Start with your 450 wet and dry and using soapy water. hold it on the dish. watch your fingers on the spokes
this will take the lacquer of. but will leave marks in the alloy.

Step 5
So then you start using a finer paper to remove these marks.
continue with this until you have got a slight shine from the 2500/1200 wet and dry.

Step 6
Then use your polish to get a super shine.

Step 7
wash the wheels with clean water
now spray a clear lacquer over your wheels to form a barrier.


DONE!!!

x2 very easy done and great results.