alloy rims sanding

[problemva]

i got these alloy rims yesterday for my lx 90 accord all four of them with caps for 125 but they kinda have a few scratchs on them. how should i sand them down and paint them!! HELPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP ps. these are not the rims in the pic just found it on google cam broke!

[Dobermann]

Emery cloth. Lots.

If you just plan on painting them then you can just scuff them after you get out the imperfections. Then get an etching primer, your paint color, and clear coat. Then paint them how you would normally paint them.

[Fleetw00d]

If you want to keep the bare aluminum, I redid a set of curb rashed/corroded/peeling wheels by using an 80 grit Scotchbrite disc on my drill to smooth out the curb rash, then used the car as a lathe to sand them evenly and in a circular pattern similar to the original machining. I jacked the car up, put the bare wheel on the driver side, used a wood block to keep the passenger tire from spinning, started the car, put it gear (just let it idle), then with wet/dry sandpaper and a flexible sanding block and a garden hose trickling water on the sandpaper, held the block/sandpaper against the wheel and let the car do the work. Used a rougher grit until all the scratches and corrosion were gone, then worked up to about a 600 grit that left a finish that looked similar to the original from a few feet away. You can keep going with finer grits and even polishes if you want a glossier finish (and have the patience). Cleaned, dried, then painted with Eastwood Diamond Clear. They held up fairly well for a few years.



Before & after (before clear coating). I don't think this was the worst one. Not quite as shiny as factory, but certainly better than rash, corrosion, and scratches or $100+ per wheel it costs to have them professionally refinished.

[problemva]

thanks fleetw00d i sanded inside the rim just to make sure 80 grit was ok after i fine it down with 300 grit and so on now i take your word now my wheel project starts ill put pics up after im done

[charles.scarlet]

Make sure you post an update when finished.