Noob Question: Best way to remove paint from wheels

[sixstringsteve]

I've always been a black wheel guy, still am. But my new rig is black and I don't like the black on black on black on black look. So I'm thinking of removing the paint on my wheels (if I hate it, I can always re-paint them). They are aluminum wheels that I spray painted black. I don't want to remove the tires if I don't have to. I'm thinking of using a sandblaster pot. Anyone have any better ideas? I assume a wire wheel will not only take forever, but it'll scratch my already scratched wheels.


Before I painted them:

After:

Are there any good chemicals out there that remove paint quickly and won't mess up my tires? Ideally i'd get new wheels or pull my tires and have my wheels sandblasted, but it's not worth spending that much money just for looks. Ideas?

 

[richpblaze]

Sand blasting will pit the aluminum try a good paint remover. Question why would you ruin a pefectly good wheel in the first place ???

 

[sixstringsteve]

Good to know, I hadn't thought about it pitting the aluminum.

And the wheels were improved when I painted them black. I ruined them when I ran hanging tree. i scratched 'em up pretty good.


Do I have to worry about getting the paint remover on the tire? Will a wire wheel/brush hurt the aluminum?

 

[TJDukit]

I'm not all educated on media blasting but I know there has got to be a good media to use in place of sand that will work and not pit the aluminum. Yes sandblasting will pit the aluminum but there are plenty of softer alternatives that could get the job done.

 

[mbryson]

I'd try some laquer thinner or brake clean before going to crazy. Depends on what kind of paint you used when you painted them.

 

[Kevin B.]

Walnut?

 

[sixstringsteve]

it was rustoleum spray paint. Now that I think of it, the wheels may have originally been painted silver on top of the aluminum. I can't imagine them being that shiny with just raw aluminum.

 

[I Lean]

Oven cleaner. BUT, it might discolor or etch the aluminum maybe? I've only used it on steel.

 

[mbryson]

I'd try some laquer thinner or brake clean before going to crazy. Depends on what kind of paint you used when you painted them.

Oven cleaner. BUT, it might discolor or etch the aluminum maybe? I've only used it on steel.

I'd start with the laquer thinner and a pressure washer. Lay the laquer thinner on pretty thick with a rag, wait maybe 4-5 min and hit it with a pressure washer. You may need to do it a few times? Repeat the process for the brake clean and then move to the oven cleaner if those don't work.

 

[mesha]

Aircraft paint stripper. ABC paint in orem will have the good stuff. Dont get in eyes:-/

Rocks on the trail have always removed a good amount of paint on my wheels.

 

[DOSS]

Aircraft remover? ... never used it on AL though... nice to just brush on then power wash off all the paint though


Guess MESHA was a little faster on the typing than I...

 

[frieed]

I'd try the citrus based removers first. Much slower, but less caustic, less fumes, less chance of pitting the Wheels. However, if you media blast with a fine grit, it will leave a fine matt (sp?) finish that will hold paint well and be ready for a primer and a couple of coats of good paint.

 

[Deleted member 12904]

Why not just repaint them? The paint you can buy from Jegs or any of those type of speed shops in the grey or silver for the old rally style wheels looks awesome and it's fairly durable.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

 

[Zombie]

If you use Aircraft stripper, mask the tires... it will damage rubber. I've done a few sets of wheels with the tires on, just use duct tape to mask between the outer lip of the wheel and the tire, and watch it carefully. Wear eye protection and gloves, probably long sleeved chemists gloves if you are like me... that crap HURTS.

It has never damaged or discolored the metal of any wheels I've done, but it will leave them bare, and in need of either re-paint, or constant polishing.

 

[sixstringsteve]

I think aircraft stripper is more extreme than I want. Maybe I'll throw them on as is and see how it looks. Maybe I'll hit them with some silver paint. Maybe I'll find another set for cheap? If they're going to need paint anyway, I may just paint over the black.

 

[gertsch]

Walnut, bead, soda. There all alternatives to sand.

 

[Kevin B.]

I'd try the citrus based removers first. Much slower, but less caustic, less fumes, less chance of pitting the Wheels. However, if you media blast with a fine grit, it will leave a fine matt (sp?) finish that will hold paint well and be ready for a primer and a couple of coats of good paint.

If you don't just repaint them, I'd do this. I used a citrus stripper to clean paint off some wheels, it worked great. Slap it on there, let it cook, wipe it off. You might have to go after the little corners with a plastic bristle brush, but if you have to strip them, do this.

But why not repaint?

 

[sixstringsteve]

I think I have a bag of soda in my garage. I'll have to check.

I'll probably repaint. I'm not so good at painting gloss colors. And masking the tire off is really tricky. With flat black, it doesn't matter if I get any paint on the tire.

 

[Kevin B.]

And masking the tire off is really tricky.

Have you tried sticking index cards between the tire and the rim, then taping your drop cloth to the cards? I haven't, but I've always assumed that's how I'd do it.

 

[sixstringsteve]

I've tried shoving index cards in there before. It's pretty tough. Maybe I could plasti-dip the wheels. Then I could peel it right off the tires. Or maybe I could plasti-dip the tires to mask them. Hm...