Alloy refurb project

Mike_M · Post by **Mike_M** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 8:14 pm

I got hold of some 16"x7.5" MOMO Arrow wheels........was looking for ages for a set this size

I decided to refurb them and go down the polish route. I have completed two wheels so far, and here are some pics:

All the wheels were kerbed and looked like this:

I then used a metal file to round off the rims so they looked normal again and chemical, paint stripped all the wheels to look like this:

After a lot of sanding using grades 120, 180, 360, 400, 600, 800, 1200, fine wire wool and lack of finger tips

the wheel looked like this:

Some metal polish on a mop that was mounted to a power drill starts to look like this:

The final product and only finished two wheels so far

Need to spray the spoke gaps satin black still!

dino · Post by **dino** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 8:18 pm

They look really good - you did really well.

When i get new alloys im looking to refurb mine myself too.

Mike_M · Post by **Mike_M** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 10:15 pm

Cheers mate..........a lot of hard graft.

Other half forgot what I look like, as I have spent so much time in the garage

DanDiesel · Post by **DanDiesel** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 10:22 pm

nice work mate, they've come up really well!!! will look very good on the car!!!

Robbo · Post by **Robbo** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 10:29 pm

Great job.

I was looking at re-furbing the standard wheels on my GTI. I was quoted STG 125 + VAT per wheel from a crowd up the North (and then there's the cost of getting them there), so I'm looking at doing them myself because that's mad money.

I've read the Bstardchild guide here and reckon I could do it except for I have some kerbing on one of the wheels (about the same level as the photo posted here) and was worried about it. Any particular technique you used to file down edge?

Also, I've been warned about local companies here that use industrial shot blasting on alloys and apparently they leave a horrible finish. Is there any particular type of shotblasting to ask for?

mysteryboy · Post by **mysteryboy** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 11:38 pm

Fantastic job there

Mike_M · Post by **Mike_M** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 7:56 am

Thanks everyone............can't wait to finish them all and get on the car for summer!

Robbo wrote:Great job.

I was looking at re-furbing the standard wheels on my GTI. I was quoted STG 125 + VAT per wheel from a crowd up the North (and then there's the cost of getting them there), so I'm looking at doing them myself because that's mad money.

I've read the Bstardchild guide here and reckon I could do it except for I have some kerbing on one of the wheels (about the same level as the photo posted here) and was worried about it. Any particular technique you used to file down edge?

Also, I've been warned about local companies here that use industrial shot blasting on alloys and apparently they leave a horrible finish. Is there any particular type of shotblasting to ask for?

I used a fine, flat metal file to smooth the lip in a cirular motion (follow the surface of alloy)

I would not shot blat as the aloys is soft and the shot will dimple the wheel surface............this is why I chemial stripped the paint off.