**Pics no worky**

After seeing niccuhles' "DIY Polishing wheels" thread, I decided I'd do it to my rather boring wheels.

History of my wheels:
-bought them powdercoated white because they were cheaper than the gunmetal and "high gloss" finishes [barely had enough]
-painted them "cast grey" the same day I bought them
-using Aircraft Coating Stripper I removed the finish from the wheels [cast grey color, powdercoat, and base/primer]
-used aluminum brush to clean them up

My steps to polishing:
-using Aircraft Coating Stripper and steel wool, I cleaned up the lip [barely made a difference]
-I got 220 grit sand paper and wet-sanded the lip
-applied Mother's polish and got a nice finish
*NOTE: my wheels, down to the bare metal, had a rough finish. Simply polishing them after 220grit left an 'acne face, crater-like' texture. Sanding this down was the only way to achieve a smooth surface that'll look well after polishing.*
-the lip didn't appeal to me so I chose to sand it down further.
-wetsanded 320 then 600 grit sandpaper, the lip was now a lot smoother.
-applied Mother's polish to the lip and it was now shinier than the prior.

Painting the wheels:
-using blue 3m Painter's Tape [1"], I carefully maneuvered the tape into where I wanted it.
-I put some tape on the end of a flat-head screwdriver, this was used to flatten the tape in hard-to-reach spots.
-I had some masking paper lying around, so I used the 3m Painter's Tape [2"] to hold it onto the wheel [covered lip and tire].
-I also taped the valve stem.

I have no painting tips because I suck at painting with glossy paints. I used Krylon 'Rust Tough' Cherry Red spray paint. These nozzles spray thin and long, as to sweep the can back and forth to cover the area that is being painted [looks like this really | hard to explain].

*I forgot [dumbass] to primer the wheel before. Remember to do this if you're going to attempt this yourself. I'm wondering how long it's gonna last before it starts chipping.

*I have yet to apply the clear coat over the red paint and the lip to protect it from 'the elements.' This is only the first wheel I have completed...
enough talk, here are the pics.

After the 320, 600 sanding and polish


The ugly texture of my wheels [even after sanding and all]


Can't really tell the 'polishness'


After masking and applying a couple coats of Cherry Red


The finish product


Closeup of the red and the polished [not the greatest I know]


On the car [flashlight as my source of lighting]


Another on the car [again, flashlight]


Still got 3 wheels to do. I got plenty of time, got laid off on Friday. Yippee.

[sorry it's so lengthy]


Modified by nerdsports at 4:11 PM 4/25/2005

 

nice job, i like it and its pretty cool that you did a write up on them too. cant wait to see all 4 wheels done and on the car!

 

the lip will prolly turn out better if you keep working your way up wet sanding to 1500 grit until it feels smooth and then apply the mothers polish after.

Worked for my header, i can see myself in it

Rim looks good regardless though

 

What kind of rims are those? I like them. They'd look mean in Bronze

 

looks good

 

id sport them

 

https://honda-tech.com/zero...04963

try that to the lip.

 

don't really like red wheels, but props

 

cool lil write up.

 

good work. sucks about the job though, good luck with that

 

nice nice, yea on the other 3 get just work at it with the 400,600grit tell you get those pin holes out, finish that off with some 1000grit. It can be done hehe just takes time

 

lookin sharp

 

looks nice, cant wait to see the overall car sporting the wheels.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ill45 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">cool lil write up.</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by intoxication &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">What kind of rims are those? I like them. They'd look mean in Bronze</TD></TR></TABLE>

15" Flik Apex [www.edgeracing.com; they're discontinued however]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dr_jdm &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">https://honda-tech.com/zeropost?cmd=tshow&id=804963
try that to the lip.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

First line in this thread says I was inspired by his thread. It just wouldn't work with my wheels because they have a rough texture... it requires some sanding to get it smoothened out.


Thanks for all the comments/compliments. I'll post pics when its all done... Good Luck to those of you who plan to try this out BTW.

 

w00t! looks sexy babe!... i love it! finish the rest doofus.

 

I don't get it what's with people and red wheels.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by TerryBogart &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I don't get it what's with people and red wheels. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I don't get it either.

 

looks pretty good..whyd u pick red..bronze or gold would have look good

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by hasback_00 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">looks pretty good..whyd u pick red..bronze or gold would have look good</TD></TR></TABLE>

I don't like bronze too much, and gold is a good idea and all but red caught my attention.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by hasback_00 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">looks pretty good..whyd u pick red..bronze or gold would have look good</TD></TR></TABLE>

bronze...gold... wheres the originality in that?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by vt3cvix3n &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

bronze...gold... wheres the originality in that?</TD></TR></TABLE>

ummm. ok... babe, red is s00per d00per ultra JDM [so original]...
a lot of people have red wheels, I just like it. I don't care who has it.

 

whats with people and red wheels... everyone is always trying to be diff lets all be the same

 

looking pretty good, remember to post pics when you done!

 

sorry for the newb question, but, what is wet-sanding? i've heard a thousand times before but never really thought about it too closely...