Did I make a good buy?? - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Brian Carlton · #31 11-18-2004, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cscmc1

As an afterthought... could you just media-blast the rims and have them powder-coated in silver? I had my Mustang rims blasted for $50 (all 4!) and my neighbor and I powder coated them in his garage. They look great and the finish is tough as heck!

The powder coated finish is certainly the way to go. I did not do it because of the cost by a third party. How did you do it in your garage and what special equipment is required?

Old300D · #32 11-18-2004, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cscmc1

As an afterthought... could you just media-blast the rims and have them powder-coated in silver? I had my Mustang rims blasted for $50 (all 4!) and my neighbor and I powder coated them in his garage. They look great and the finish is tough as heck!

Either way, good luck friend!

Chris

That's exactly what I intend to do with mine this spring. I'm thinking sandblast may be too abrasive, but a bead blast followed with a powdercoat may work ok.

boneheaddoctor · #33 11-18-2004, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old300D

That's exactly what I intend to do with mine this spring. I'm thinking sandblast may be too abrasive, but a bead blast followed with a powdercoat may work ok.

Crushed walnut shells should remove paind with minimal damage to nmetal underneith.

ayalar007 · #34 11-18-2004, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cscmc1

I hope you haven;t lost too much sleep over this ordeal. I just bought was what represented as an '88 190E with "no rust" from a kit who advertised the car right here on Mercedesshop. He acknowledged that he had done "rust repair" in the rockers. After a week of the car sitting in my driveway I noticed that his "repair" was sagging a bit. Half and hour later, I had ripped a HUGE chunk of fiberglass out of the rocker and wheel well to discover WET, UNTREATED rust still underneath. I asked him about it and sent photos of the rust, to which he said there was nothing he could do, and that is always the way he has done bodywork. Nice, huh? I'm still not sure how this car qualkifies as "no rust" as his ad states, but he's clearly not interested in making good on the deal.

You're not alone in getting screwed, my friend! I firmly believe, though, that karma comes around to these folks and that they'll get their due in the end. For every person they screw over, they'll be screwed over in turn. You are doing the right thing by representing the rims honestly on Ebay. I guarantee that good things will come your way in turn! Look, folks in your area are already lining up to help you find a nice set of rims, and if I had a set I'd offer them to you!

You have a serviceable set of rims on your car now, right? So you're not unable to drive your car. That's the good news. And while $3xx is a lot of money, it's only money. More can be earned. I know it's hard to convince yourself of this (my rust repair is going to KILL my Christmas fund!), but it's the truth of the matter.

Above all, I hope you find a nice set of rims for your car. I bet you will!

Chris

Now I can really say...I know how you feel. I am so sorry you had to go through that. But thank you for those inspiring words. That really put many things into perspective for me.

cscmc1 · #35 11-18-2004, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

The powder coated finish is certainly the way to go. I did not do it because of the cost by a third party. How did you do it in your garage and what special equipment is required?

Hi Brian! My neighbor has the Eastwood kit as well as the Harbor Freight powder coating kit. Both are available for at or under $100, I think. The latter he actally prefers, and it's the cheaper of the two. We just had my rims blasted down to bare metal ("white metal" as they call it when referring to aluminum), then put a couple coats of powder on them. You bake for 20 minutes or so at around 400 degrees; the neighbor has an old stove and 220V wiring in his garage so as not to stink up the house when baking. That's it! I think hepaid $50 for the stove at a used appliance store.

I am going to buy myself a PC kit one of these days... but I'll need to save up for that 220 line to the garage! Hmmmm.... maybe I can run a line off the laundry room down to teh basement instead...

Chris

ayalar007 · #36 11-18-2004, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

It is going to be almost impossible to purchase 20 year old Bundt cake wheels in the condition that you are looking for. You may wish to consider repainting them yourself. The process is not all that difficult. I recently did a set for the SDL. The first two look quite good, and, after I got the hang of the spray can, the second two look excellent.

There are several threads about refinishing your own wheels. You can e-mail me for more details if you wish.

Brian, I know that its almost impossible, but the fact is that my spare is brand new. Has never been used. I think that if I am able to find 3 more like these, then I am set. Then I'll just take one of the ones I have on the car now, and use that as the spare. Viola...4 brand new rims. But I am probably hoping for too strong of a miracle. I'm hoping to bump into three of those rims somewhere!

ayalar007 · #37 11-18-2004, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cscmc1

Hi Brian! My neighbor has the Eastwood kit as well as the Harbor Freight powder coating kit. Both are available for at or under $100, I think. The latter he actally prefers, and it's the cheaper of the two. We just had my rims blasted down to bare metal ("white metal" as they call it when referring to aluminum), then put a couple coats of powder on them. You bake for 20 minutes or so at around 400 degrees; the neighbor has an old stove and 220V wiring in his garage so as not to stink up the house when baking. That's it! I think hepaid $50 for the stove at a used appliance store.

I am going to buy myself a PC kit one of these days... but I'll need to save up for that 220 line to the garage! Hmmmm.... maybe I can run a line off the laundry room down to teh basement instead...

Chris

I wish you lived closer, I'd love to be able to do that. Yet, Im not really sure I know what poder coating is? Cna you expalin a little to this ignoramus what that is, and the difference between powder coating and painting.....are the results factory like???

Brian Carlton · #38 11-18-2004, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cscmc1

Hi Brian! My neighbor has the Eastwood kit as well as the Harbor Freight powder coating kit. Both are available for at or under $100, I think. The latter he actally prefers, and it's the cheaper of the two. We just had my rims blasted down to bare metal ("white metal" as they call it when referring to aluminum), then put a couple coats of powder on them. You bake for 20 minutes or so at around 400 degrees; the neighbor has an old stove and 220V wiring in his garage so as not to stink up the house when baking. That's it! I think hepaid $50 for the stove at a used appliance store.

Thanks for the info, Chris. I really am going to look into this for the second set of wheels I need to do. Does the finish appear "smooth" when you get done, or is is somewhat of a rough finish? I have seen powder coated items that have a fairly coarse finish, and, I would be concerned with the attraction to brake dust.

Brian Carlton · #39 11-18-2004, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ayalar007

Brian, I know that its almost impossible, but the fact is that my spare is brand new. Has never been used. I think that if I am able to find 3 more like these, then I am set. Then I'll just take one of the ones I have on the car now, and use that as the spare. Viola...4 brand new rims. But I am probably hoping for too strong of a miracle. I'm hoping to bump into three of those rims somewhere!

Robert, you might just get lucky and find some that are in good shape. However, to find a set with that gleam that is characteristic of new paint is the trick. Nothing like new paint, IMHO.

cscmc1 · #40 11-18-2004, 03:02 PM

Powder coating is a magical procedure that defies science! Honestly, I don't know the science of it, but it involves electrically charging the power to cling to the metal part you are coating long enough for the powder to then melt onto the surface when baked in the oven. Check out Eastwood Powder Coating's web site; it'll explain better than I can. You basically plug the PC gun into a 100V socket, ground the part you are coating using a little alligator clip, and spray a coat of powder onto the part. Bake, let cool, repeat until a uniform and suitable finish is acquired. The finish is a nice a paint! You can see all the available colors at the Eastwood site, and I think Harbor Freight sells their own powder too.

Definitely a worthwhile investment! Good luck wit those rims. I'd seriously consider the powder coat route if I were you. Also, check the phone book -- ten bucks says someone in your area will do rims!

Chris

cscmc1 · #41 11-18-2004, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

Thanks for the info, Chris. I really am going to look into this for the second set of wheels I need to do. Does the finish appear "smooth" when you get done, or is is somewhat of a rough finish? I have seen powder coated items that have a fairly coarse finish, and, I would be concerned with the attraction to brake dust.

Mine came out nice and smooth. I had a couple of little pin-sized bubbles develop because I didn't let the rims cool as long as I should have between coats, but they still look good from 5' away! I believe you can buy a "crinkle finish" powder, just like you can buy crinkle finish spray paint these days; maybe that's what you've seen. I did my 'Stang rims in semi-gloss black, and they clean very easily and have yet to chip or scratch (knock on wood!).

Chris

stayalert · #42 11-18-2004, 03:20 PM

......I firmly believe, though, that karma comes around to these folks and that they'll get their due in the end. For every person they screw over, they'll be screwed over in turn. You are doing the right thing by representing the rims honestly on Ebay. I guarantee that good things will come your way in turn!....

Spot on. I second that. Rob M

bill murrow · #43 11-18-2004, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stayalert

......I firmly believe, though, that karma comes around to these folks and that they'll get their due in the end. For every person they screw over, they'll be screwed over in turn. You are doing the right thing by representing the rims honestly on Ebay. I guarantee that good things will come your way in turn!....

Spot on. I second that. Rob M

And I third that.

You know, I can't believe none of you guys knew that was paint on those rims.

As soon as I read the original post and clicked on the link, I could tell right away the rims were painted silver. Too 'silvery" looking to be chrome. Really now, do you expect to find an all original set of rims in superb condition?

I've been searching local junkyards checking the spares for ones that have never been used. Found two, two to go.

Sorry that guy didn't accurately describe them, but there are honest sellers on ebay. You're one, right? And I'm sure there are more.

Did you email the seller and ask if the rims were re-paint or chrome?

Cheers,

Bill

ayalar007 · #44 11-18-2004, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bill murrow

And I third that.

You know, I can't believe none of you guys knew that was paint on those rims.

As soon as I read the original post and clicked on the link, I could tell right away the rims were painted silver. Too 'silvery" looking to be chrome. Really now, do you expect to find an all original set of rims in superb condition?

I've been searching local junkyards checking the spares for ones that have never been used. Found two, two to go.

Sorry that guy didn't accurately describe them, but there are honest sellers on ebay. You're one, right? And I'm sure there are more.

Did you email the seller and ask if the rims were re-paint or chrome?

Cheers,

Bill

Bill,
I know I am shooting for a long shot here, but I alwyas remember what my aunt used to tell me. The last thing you loose in live is HOPE. So, that is exactly what I am doing. Now, then, this powerd coat sounds nice...I just might seriously consider that rather than spend most of my life to find those rims.

As far as asking him if they were silver, yes I did e-mail him and there was no response. And since the aucion was coming to an end, I dint want them to get away from me. So after purchasing them, I went out to my car and took the spare (which has never been used) and put it in the sunlight, would you believe that they look exactly as the picture did. Yet, When I got to the hguys house, I knew it from the get go, that those rims were not what I was hoping for. I guess its like Brian says...Im dreaming if I thing Im going to find 20 year old rims in the condition I want.

Thanks for your input....And BTW, Yes I am an honest ebayer...Im studying to be a priest, so I guess that leaves me right out there!!!

ayalar007 · #45 11-18-2004, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stayalert

......I firmly believe, though, that karma comes around to these folks and that they'll get their due in the end. For every person they screw over, they'll be screwed over in turn. You are doing the right thing by representing the rims honestly on Ebay. I guarantee that good things will come your way in turn!....

Spot on. I second that. Rob M

Stayalert,

Thank you so very much for those encouraging words, I have a feeling that ist more than karma that is on my side. I actually wish that guy a better seller in the future than he was to me.