Paint Removal from Rims

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tj98cobra

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Does anyone have experience with something like this? A friend had a really bad bodyshop spray their wheels black. Botched it really badly.

Now we're trying to strip it off. Tried Gas, Kerosine, Paint Thinner. It works, but takes forever.

I've read people trying Aircraft Paint Remover. And also some products from Klean Strip.

Here's what we're dealing with : http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm256/tj98cobra/VW Overspray project/IMG_4814.jpg

Thanks in advace for the advice
 
That's an ugly mess...

IMG_4814.jpg


How to insert an image from your photo gallery into your message


:xyxthumbs:
 
tj98cobra said:
A friend had a really bad bodyshop spray their wheels black. Botched it really badly.

Now we're trying to strip it off. Tried Gas, Kerosine, Paint Thinner. It works, but takes forever.

I've read people trying Aircraft Paint Remover. And also some products from Klean Strip.
Click to expand...


I've used a lot of Aircraft Paint Remover and similar products in my life and on most paints they work really well to dissolve the paint so you can brush, scrape, wipe and/or blast with water, the paint and the paint remover off the wheel.

Chances are good the paint remover will also remove the factory paint you're probably hoping to preserver?

This is a great example of what I've pointed out for years on forums and that is finding a body shop that will even mess with painting a set of wheels is hard because they can so easily just do simple collision work like fixing a dented Honda fender and painting it.

Finding a shop that will mess with your wheels AND do a stellar job is going to be even more difficult and when you don't get quality work you get a bigger mess than when you started.

This is why I like bare Aluminum wheels, "yes" they will oxidize, but "you" and "i" can easily remove the oxidation and restore a shiny surface.

As for all the rest of the wheels on the market,

Chrome - You and I cannot re-chrome wheels if the chrome goes bad. $$$

Clear coated - You and I cannot "easily" re-paint wheels but it can be done, more work than polishing aluminum in my opinion $$

Anodized - You and I cannot fix ruined anodized wheels. Must be taken to a shop $$$

Magnesium - These can be polished like aluminum, but they are somewhat rare if they're old but some cars do have them, they were an option on some Corvette Models.

Painted - Like clear coated wheels only a solid color, sometimes with a clear layer over the color coat. You and I cannot "easily" re-paint wheels but it can be done, more work than polishing aluminum in my opinion $$

Powder Coated - Powder Coating Technology is always changing, I've come across some powder coatings that can be polished and some that cannot be polished.
​

Is the goal to preserve the underlying factory silver paint?

:)
 
Hi Mike - appreciate the response.

The goal is just to remove the black. Is there a sweet spot (5 mins sit time) where the solvent won't remove the factory clear coat?

I did a few test spots, with paint thinner, gas, kerosene. I even tried to wet-sand with 3000 grit to see if that would work.

After removal I plan to polish and seal them.
 
No sweet spot with Aircraft Quality Paint Remover, it's some pretty stout stuff and it cannot distinguish between the paint a human wants to keep and doesn't want to keep, it just does it's thing and that's to dissolve paint.

Factory wheel paint is different than factory pant used on the body panels, it's usually a lot tougher and even harder, this means it may be difficult to polish sanding marks or scrubbing and scrapping marks out of them.

At some point, you may reach the tipping point, where it will be more time and cost effective to replace them then mess with them...

See Craigslist or eBay for a good deal on custom wheels and spend your money in that direction versus removing paint and then restoring a nice looking finish to the factory painted wheels.

Might check with this company...

MOTSENBOCKER'S LIFT OFF 4


The make a variety of paint removers...


:)
 
If the paint is falling off now, I'd try a coin-operated car wash and blast water straight on the rims.

Or, if you have access to a power washer........
 
I've had to strip a couple sets of wheels in the past and what I found to work the best is a Gel type paint remover. Available at Home Depot or Lowes. Never had any problem getting the paint/clearcoat off.
 
Midnight1700 said:
I've had to strip a couple sets of wheels in the past and what I found to work the best is a Gel type paint remover. Available at Home Depot or Lowes. Never had any problem getting the paint/clearcoat off.
Click to expand...

I think the OP said he wants to preserve and protect the factory paint, not remove it.

Usually, a paint stripper will dissolve any paint to where it's applied. That creates a problem if you don't want to remove the factory paint.

A person could try though...

Also, blasting with a high pressure spray of water should peel most of it off and what it leaves behind the OP could remove by hand with a compound and some passion behind the pad.


:D
 
forrest@mothers said:
If the paint is falling off now, I'd try a coin-operated car wash and blast water straight on the rims.

Or, if you have access to a power washer........
Click to expand...


Hi Forrest - it's still on pretty good. the blotchy is the result of a crap paint job, and then them trying to strip it off with a solvent.

I think I'll try a power washer first, thanks for the suggestion.
 
Mike.Phillips@Autogeek said:
I think the OP said he wants to preserve and protect the factory paint, not remove it.

Usually, a paint stripper will dissolve any paint to where it's applied. That creates a problem if you don't want to remove the factory paint.

A person could try though...

Also, blasting with a high pressure spray of water should peel most of it off and what it leaves behind the OP could remove by hand with a compound and some passion behind the pad.


:D
Click to expand...

I messed the part where he said he wanted to preserve the OEM Paint. In that case... Forget what I said, because it will remove it all...
 
I think your best bet is to remove paint than wet sand the wheels, prime the wheels and re-paint the wheels any color you want and than clear coat the wheels.
 
One of the guys that works here recently sanded, prepped and painted his wheels and they came out looking great!

:)
 
Remember me? So after countless tests and I finally settled with the product Mr. Phillips suggested. Which was :

22oz4pp.jpg



Total process took 9 hours for all wheels and also cleaning the brake calipers.

Removed all the rims, and gave them a healthy spraying. Let it dwell for about 45 mins, then used a bunch of plastic scrapers to remove all the paint. I polished them with M205 and sealed them with WG Paint Sealant 3.0

First Rim before :

IMG_4809.jpg


Same Rim after :


IMG_4892.jpg



Another Rim before :

IMG_4809.jpg


Same Rim after :

IMG_4897.jpg
 
Will the body shop not stand behind their work? Why are you worrying about it? Seems to me it should be their problem because its their shotty work, not your problem in the sense of fixing it.

I know I have posted this a few times already but maybe try an air eraser. You can adjust the grit volume and pressure and the spray is pretty precise. Instead of hitting it straight on maybe go at an angle try and save the paint underneath. I would use low pressure if you can and not stay in one spot too long also use a fanning motion as if you were spraying. You will definately need to sand and buff after but will probably work rather well.

IDK-it's an option and may be a last resort for you. Please let us know how it turns out and what method you used. Good luck.
 
Whoops didn't see that you got it already-sometimes I miss stuff using this phone to post. Anyway, good job man.
 
tj98cobra said:
Remember me? So after countless tests and I finally settled with the product Mr. Phillips suggested. Which was :

22oz4pp.jpg



Total process took 9 hours for all wheels and also cleaning the brake calipers.

Removed all the rims, and gave them a healthy spraying. Let it dwell for about 45 mins, then used a bunch of plastic scrapers to remove all the paint. I polished them with M205 and sealed them with WG Paint Sealant 3.0

First Rim before :

IMG_4809.jpg


Same Rim after :


IMG_4892.jpg



Another Rim before :

IMG_4809.jpg


Same Rim after :

IMG_4897.jpg
Click to expand...

They didn't even sand the clearcoat so that the paint would stick.....:applause: Great body shops these days.
 
at least you were able to save them...that's exactly why I don't mess with painting wheels. If I want a different look, I buy aftermarket wheels, it's easier IMO.
 
IOMCAMARO said:
They didn't even sand the clearcoat so that the paint would stick.....:applause: Great body shops these days.
Click to expand...

Sometimes I'll take a job like this just as a challenge. The damage is already done, but with every question I asked about this 'body shop' the answers puzzled me more and more.

Apparently it was the son of a body shop owner, doing a 'side job'. He didn't prep anything. Didn't tape anything. Didn't even take the rims off when he painted them.

Needless to say the 20yr old young lady learned her lesson. She's just lucky her grand mother bailed her out of this mess.

They are going after the kid for reimbursement, but I doubt they'll be successful
 
Wow great job. I'm glad the product Mike recommended worked out for you. I would have thought that the original finish was sanded down before the body shop painted them Black. I guess thats why the black paint didn't hold up well.
 
The wheels look like they were never messed with in the first place! Great turn around!!
 
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