15 replies to this topic

[mini_mad69]

I've recently got a set of 13x7 superlite wheels. I'm unsure whether to use them or sell them on to make a bit of money.
Either way, I thought I'd add a project thread so people can have a look, but also as a bit of a guide for anyone wanting to do the same.



These are the wheels, as you can see, not in good condition.

Horrendous kerb marks, and loads of corrosion under the lacquer, as well as some awful stickers that needed removing.



Here is a quite boring link of the lacquer bubbling off.

First thing I did was coat it in nitro-moors paint remover and scraped off the paint and lacquer, unfortunately there is work being done on the house and all the scrapers are being used or lost in the mess, so I improvised and used a metal ruler I had lying around.

Make sure you start removing the paint/lacquer not long after it bubbles and is still soft, as it can harden again quite quickly and become harder to remove.



Filed down the edges of the rim to remove the kerb marks.



Maybe a better picture.



Also started rubbing out the corrosion marks with emery cloth, really rough stuff first and then down to some finer stuff.
I had to use the file again in some of the worst parts. That's how bad the corrosion had gotten in places.

I'll keep this updated with how they come out, but it's half 11 and time for bed.


Ben

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

Looking good mate, can't wait to se progress I sprayed the Tro's wheels in its boot after a long drive to get some heat flowing You'd never know

[mini_mad69]

Not too bothered on the paint, it's only the centres. It's going to take hours polishing the rims back up, I want them better (shinier) than new.

[conlad]

How about something like this to polish?

http://www.ebay.co.u...#ht_1052wt_1037

I bought this a bit ago and will be polishing my minilites up soon with it, its good quality stuff by the looks of it too!

[mini_mad69]

Yeah I've got something like that, bought it years ago and never used it.

[se_juggles]

just about the only thing nitromors is good for is peeling off laquar i swear its weaker then when my mum stripped her beetle that s£$t started to eat through the metal if you left it on long enough lol

Edited by se_juggles, 24 February 2012 - 11:31 AM.

[JustSteve]

Another thing about the nitromorse, the tyres aren't going to like it! I assume you're removing them?

Looking good though, looking forward to the final product

[mini_mad69]

Im keeping the nitromoors off the tyres, but will probably change them anyway. These wheels came off a VW scene polo, and they're running stretched tyres.


Ewwwwwwwwwwww

Will probably get some sticky yokos on them.

[danie garry]

These wheels came off a VW scene polo

are they going back on a vw?? they'l not fit a mini anyway!

nice work so far, handy video i found a while back, might help

Edited by danie garry, 25 February 2012 - 11:03 AM.

[mini_mad69]

Yea they will, the are mini PCD,

[Ryang556]

Yea they will, the are mini PCD,

Hows it going mate? Thinking about doing this to mine because they weren't that good when I had them now the salt has had their way so they look poor

Is it easy enough to keep the tyres on too?

[danie garry]

Yea they will, the are mini PCD,

arnt vw 4x100 and mini 4x4" not much difference but enough to leave the wheel looking like a cam!

[mini_mad69]

Yeah, they fitted onto his VW but was a bit of a pain to line up with the bolts.

Either way, they're going to fit onto my mini no problems.

[mini_mad69]

Cleaned them up a bit more with a scouring pad.



Running block, all i know was that this was rougher than my 400 grit paper, im guessing around 280.



400 grit paper



Small section using rough polishing wheel and compound.



Medium hardness wheel and medium compound.



Softest wheel.

The instructions said use the soft compound (blue), but mine wasn't in the box, it either fell out or was never there.
I've had my polishing kit for around a year now and this is the first time i've used it. So I substituted some G3 paint cutting compound, which seemed to work fairly well.



Not a bad finish, but I reckon I can do better with more time spent rubbing down.



This is one of my 12x6 wheels in the same style, these are in ok condition and are pretty much as they come from the supplier.

You can see that my 13x7 wheel which I have polished has a more mirror finish with better reflection, and looks a lot deeper.



And here is one untouched 13x7 with my newly polished one.

I have a tube of autoglym metal polish which I found to be fantastic, and I think will finish the rim off perfectly. However this is sitting in the boot of the mini, which is in a garage a little drive away as I said earlier, so I'll grab that next time i'm up there.

Using the autoglym stuff and rubbing down with wet'n'dry paper I turned this :




Into this:



And that was by hand, so with my polishing wheels, I should get a decent finish I hope. Although i'm quite happy with what I've achieved so far.

[mini_mad69]

Forgot to mention, I used some 1200 grit paper between the 400 and the first polishing wheel.