Refinishing wheels

[Mike B.]

I am a bit torn on what to do with these throwing star replica's that I picked up.



They need to be refinished and I can't decide between keeping them silver or polishing the lips and painting the centers black like these -



The will be going on a white car if that helps.

Tell me what you think...

[Van Westervelt]

black on a white car. anything else and I would go factory silver

[e304me]

doing that polished black look is going to be very hard on the replicas

[Hatchman]

don't paint them black.

[Low Level E30]

I think standard silver is gorgeous.

[formula driver]

PAINT THEM BLACK.....seriously they'll look so badass man.

[Mike B.]

I've already stripped the wheels down, and it was no big deal. So, maybe I'll paint one black and one silver and post pics side by side to see what you guy's think.

[Jordan325iC]

How did you strip them? My wheels don't seem to want to strip. All the way to the metal or to the primer?

[Mike B.]

I went down to ACE and picked up some spray-on stripper in an aerosol can. Get the good stuff with methylene chloride, but make sure you spray it outdoors! The paint will bubble down to the metal. It may take a couple applications. Use a plastic scrapper or some other non-marring tool to remove the loose paint, then clean up the residue with a scotch-brite pad and some mineral spirits.

[StereoInstaller1]

I have a set of '91 IROC wheels that might be going on my Duaghters' El Camino. I tried that same stripper...didn't do much of anything.

I understand some wheels (especially GM, go figure) are powder coated clear?

Maybe some kind of clear paint, but damn, it is tough!

BTW, the black/polished would ROCK on your white car. Major PITA to make it so, but very hot when done.

Luke

[Mike B.]

I understand some wheels (especially GM, go figure) are powder coated clear?

Maybe some kind of clear paint, but damn, it is tough!

I hear ya! I have a cheap Harbor Freight blasting cabinet that I can use on the hard stuff.

[e304me]

the stripper only works on shitty paints

[IS]

You DO NOT want to strip it to bare metal. The original primer/base is adhered to the metal better than you will be able to redo it. The main idea is to get rid of any/all clearcoat thats on the wheels and roughen up the paint surface.

[dmoney(AB)]

where can you get these wheels now?

[IS]

The 4 lug replicas - only used. They are discontinued.