First class wheel refinishing - Page 5 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Travis · #61 08-22-2006, 04:06 PM

jrgslg, what size of tire did you go with on your 350SDL -> 300SD swap? I have a set of 15's from a newer W126 that I want to put on my 85 300SD and am curious what size to go with. Also, did the ride change at all? I don't want to sacrifice too much ride quality for looks.

Thanks,

Travis

1985 300SD "Schultz" 250K, WVO Conversion almost done

al76slc · #62 08-24-2006, 07:42 AM

Hi.

All of the stuff above is very interesting. I bought 4 spare 14" bundts on Ebay, and refinished them "OK" with Wurth and Duplicolor (when I ran out of Wurth) products. Then put new tires on them. More time consuming than I'd like, and I'm not sure I'd do it again. And that's without having to deal with the tires on the wheels, and I didn't get obsessive with filiing in every nick. That's just me. Also not sure how they'll hold up.

Now I have my original bundts available for refinishing.

I'm interested in the beginning of this thread:

Just had the bundt-cake wheels on my 82 300D refinished....

I highly recommend www.olympicpowdercoating.com who came in at $46.80 per wheel, including stripping plus basecoat, MB silver, & clear; a far cry from some body shops that wanted $175+ per wheel to shoot them with standard coatings

A later post said that Olympic now wants $75/wheel. Anybody else have experience with Olympic or any other reasonable refinisher?

I'm more interested at $50/wheel than $75/wheel plus shipping. Also prefer closer to home to reduce shipping. Anyone know anyone in the Northeast?

I also have a very nice condition 14" 6" wide bundt if anyone wants to buy it. I bought it by mistake. My SLC needs 6.5". I'd be happy to email a picture.

Al

Samuel M. Ross · #63 08-24-2006, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

My painted wheels are 3 years old now, and the paint looks great! Perfectly smooth, and the gloss is as deep as my front fender. Painted wheels that are done right look great, and the finish is as durable as the paint on your hood.

It was Hatterasguy's POST that helped me decide to go ahead with my project that now involves three vintage MBZ [ the W123 300D, and two W126 300SD(s) ] all with the same aluminum alloy wheels. I am currently working on 5 wheels, 2 are wheels only and the other 3 have tires still mounted. By next week I will have a photo or two showing these wheels with new center caps and if they come in new chrome lug-bolts.

First, let me say that the results I have obtained thus far would NOT cause me to NOT take on these projects if I had to do it over again. I think I would, however, serious look at using a paint product that was a known color match for the Dupli-Color "T178 Silver" is noticeably, slightly, different from the original... but only slightly and not noticeable unless you have them side-by-side. Only time will tell as to how durable my DIYer paint job will prove to be and thus if it does not hold us as I would hope, then hopefully an epoxy-based paint system is/might become available.

One final thing for this POST... I want to make it clear that I find not reason NOT to sand-blast these wheels using a fine grade of sand [ "0/30" in my case] for the two coats of hi-solids primer, three coats of paint, and topping off with a single coat of clear-coat... this system of coatings gives a nice, smooth finish. See my earlier POST of one of the finished wheels.

Sam

Hirnbeiss · #64 08-24-2006, 01:34 PM

We always want to blame some"thing" and call it an "accident". There were four contributing human errors:

1. Elimination of the need to clear oil passages with hp air prior to reassembly
2. Unnecessarily overloading the helo with 44 jumpers
3. Not lightening the helo by having the jumpers go
4. Interrupting a rapid descent requiring the use of a known damaged engine to pull a heavily (if not over-)loaded aircraft.

Es lebe Walnusse!

al76slc · #65 08-24-2006, 05:58 PM

Wasn't this thread about wheel refinishing?

Hirnbeiss · #66 08-24-2006, 07:23 PM

:d

dpetryk · #67 08-25-2006, 07:58 AM

I have use baking soda to blast my wheels. There is no effect to the bare metal at all and it strips the paint and dirt fast.

al76slc · #68 08-25-2006, 08:58 AM

Baking soda to blast wheels??? Procedure Please???

SD Blue · #69 08-25-2006, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dpetryk

I have use baking soda to blast my wheels. There is no effect to the bare metal at all and it strips the paint and dirt fast.

Are you talking about using baking soda as a blasting medium? Where did you find baking soda in large enough quantity?

Samuel M. Ross · #70 08-25-2006, 10:38 AM

wouldn't that give me "soda-water" !?
Sam

dpetryk · #71 08-25-2006, 11:41 AM

Sam's or Costco. Proceedure is simple. Just load into blaster and fire away. It can be used outside without need for an enclosure. No need to worry about getting any in the lungs since it is non-hazardous, enviromentally friendly, and washes away when it rains. It stings if you are sweating and you get it on your skin. No damage to you however. Protection still recommended. It is very fine and does not pit the metal in any way. I use it on chrome parts and it scrubs off the dirt but no effect on the finish. It really does a good job on the brake dust crap that likes to stick to the wheels. For more abrasion I then use Soduim that I get at the feed store. It comes in 40 lb. bags. These granules are larger and are closer to very fine sand. It will pit aluminum ever so slightly and makes it looks dull but nowhere near as bad as sand.

Obviously this is done with air and not the water blaster.

SD Blue · #72 08-28-2006, 12:26 PM

Great info on alternatives for dry blasting, Dave. It sounds like you have done quite a bit of this type of thing.

veegroove · #73 08-30-2006, 12:37 PM

Samuel H. Ross, Would you be kind to share your source for those new lug nuts. Btw very good article I will be doing mine soon, Thanks

Samuel M. Ross · #74 08-30-2006, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by veegroove

Samuel H. Ross, Would you be kind to share your source for those new lug nuts. Btw very good article I will be doing mine soon, Thanks

I'm on the road for 2 weeks visiting relations and will NOT be able to check with my local source until I return. So help me to NOT forget later! I still have 8 of the 15 wheels to blast and paint so my project is not over by any means. I will have more to say about sandblasting the wheels with tires still installed. I also hope to have the new center caps [ 75mm size] and will include a final photo of a freshly repainted wheel with new center cap and lugs.

Sam

dpetryk · #75 08-30-2006, 06:05 PM

I have done a lot of restoration on cars. Check out this corvette frame off restoration that my son and I did. There was a huge amount of sandblasting involved.

www.davidpetryk.net