How to sand aluminum alloy wheels?

[jtodd71]

Could anyone give me some Guidance on how I should sand some wheels I have. The wheels were clear coated and had a Gray Powder coat I have stripped that all off and now I would like to sand the machine marks out of the spokes and polish them and then take it and get the cast part recoated in a black powder coat.

WHat should I use to sand them grit wise? Is there a sander I can buy to sand them with? I have some random orbital sanders but they are for woodworking.

Here are the wheels when they were new.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

Here they are now.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[DirtShark]

I can't be of much help, but I really like those wheels!!!!!!!:twothumbs

[JayR]

Those look really good and won't take much work but avoid the power sander or you'll risk leaving gouges in that nice uniform surface. I would use a soft pad like you would use wetsanding fresh paint so you maintain that contour in the spokes and start with 600 grit and go up incrementally to 1500-2000 and then break out the small polishing wheel or a Mother's Power Ball.

Personally, I like the cast finish and think they'll look great just polished up on the machined area and the cast area left raw for a cool contrast but if you're going to powdercoat them, I would do it before you polish and pollute the surface then you'll also be able to define the edge more easily while sanding and polishing.

[jtodd71]

Well I would like to do the PC first but I am also going to get them cleared and the PC place I use is about 1.5 hours away. That is a good idea I will call him tomorrow and ask him about that.

[Jim Nilsen]

I wouldn't sand anything since it will not take much to ruin the edges and make the surface show irregularities. I would mask them off where it's needed if it is needed since I am not clear as to what part of the wheel you are going to powdercoat. I would blast them with walnut shells or bead blast them to get the surface uniform.

I have couple of aluminum pieces I have made on my mill and it leaves the machining lines in them. I just put them in my blasting cabinet and in less than a couple of strokes the lines are all gone and the surface is uniform. I am using a very light sand that doesn't contain any silica. It is white and it was given to me so I don't know where it originally came from but it works really well.

[bbcc]

You may have already read this, but if not it has a little bit of good info.
Polishing ZQ8's (http://www.s10forum.com/forum/f14/polishing-zq8-rims-project-366831/).

[jtodd71]

Well I got one done. Started with 400 on a DA sander and the went ( All wet ) 320 - 400 600 800 1000 1500 2000 and then polishing compound

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[greygoose006]

now thats a nice finish
looks good.

how long did this take.
i am considering doing something similar

[thumper777]

Well I got one done. Started with 400 on a DA sander and the went ( All wet ) 320 - 400 600 800 1000 1500 2000 and then polishing compound

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif
Sounds like you had fun. It did turn out nice though!

[jtodd71]

now thats a nice finish
looks good.

how long did this take.
i am considering doing something similar

It really isnt that bad now that i have it figured out. Sand them down to get the Machine marks out and then I am using The polishing bars to shine them up. 1 wheel takes about 3 hours.

[jtodd71]

All 4 wheeks are now done. For anyone interested. I got it down where one wheel takes about 2 hours. I used the bar polishes and a Dewalt electric drill and the no wet sanding at all.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[chaz75]

nice, so whats next?. those look really good. chaz

[jtodd71]

I am getting the cast part powder coated a dark flat charcoal grey

[woody80z28]

Are these S10 wheels? What size?

[1971CHEVELLE]

Sounds like you had fun. It did turn out nice though!
like those wheels:)

[jtodd71]

They are S-10 wheels and they are 16x8

[jtodd71]

Got the wheels finished

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[bbcc]

They turned out great. Good job!

[65BBODY]

looks awesome great work, original idea.

[jtodd71]

Well here are the wheels installed. I also put larger Anti-sway bars on front and rear and a frame brace.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif