polishing wheels - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

TheDon · #1 09-01-2010, 10:55 AM

I want to strip the paint off of my clk wheels and polish them to a mirror finish.

I will need to strip them with the tires still on since I really don't want to dork around with the spare and pay to have the wheel removed and put back on.

so I will need to use some sort of stripping agent, reccomendations

that and polishing, what is the procedure. I have access to air and air tools to make it go faster/easier

TX76513 · #2 09-01-2010, 11:15 AM

I really suggest you look at Smart Strip as a stripping agent. This is some good stuff we use it to take paint off Sea Containers, amazing.

You change cars often Don - I don't know what car/wheels you have now. The buffing process is fairly simple with some rouge and a small pneumatic with buffing head. About a 3" head is about as big as you want on wheels. Figure about 2 hrs per wheel. Once buffed out you want to spray with a High UV protectant Clear Coat (rattle can is fine)- even with that yellowing probably start to come around in 2 years.

TheDon · #3 09-01-2010, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TX76513

I really suggest you look at Smart Strip as a stripping agent. This is some good stuff we use it to take paint off Sea Containers, amazing.

You change cars often Don - I don't know what car/wheels you have now. The buffing process is fairly simple with some rouge and a small pneumatic with buffing head. About a 3" head is about as big as you want on wheels. Figure about 2 hrs per wheel. Once buffed out you want to spray with a High UV protectant Clear Coat (rattle can is fine)- even with that yellowing probably start to come around in 2 years.

its the cabrio... I put clk wheels on it that are currently dark grey.

what kind of 3" head and where could I pickup this stuff?

A clear coat is neccessary, If I dont put one I'll have to polish them correct?

TX76513 · #4 09-01-2010, 11:34 AM

$20 Harbor Freight Special

You can get all the rouge and stuff real cheap also.

TheDon · #5 09-01-2010, 12:02 PM

HF has the rough? I'll have to see if we have one of those at the shop. If so I'll just get some new polishing wheels and rough.

TX76513 · #6 09-03-2010, 09:06 AM

Something else you might consider after polishing - instead of clear coating use a cheap womans hair spray (aqua net). It leaves a great wet shine, won't yellow because the first rain it's gone.

TheDon · #7 09-03-2010, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TX76513

Something else you might consider after polishing - instead of clear coating use a cheap womans hair spray (aqua net). It leaves a great wet shine, won't yellow because the first rain it's gone.

I've got a bottle of poor boys world wheel sealent.

when I do get to this, will the "smart strip" hurt the valve stem? I know if I use "aircraft paint remover" (not for use on actual aircraft) that it will gum up the rubber.

does lowes carry the smart strip?

TX76513 · #8 09-03-2010, 11:55 AM

Not at all Don, this is one of the new generation earth friendly strippers. You could do it in your driveway and wash it into city sewers. It doesn't even really have an odor but will strip lead paint and it's a paste. This link will direct you to a store here

TheDon · #9 09-03-2010, 11:56 AM

how long did you have to wait before application then removal. It says for best results leave overnight. I dont exactly feel like taking 4-5 days to do wheels lol.

TX76513 · #10 09-03-2010, 12:05 PM

On the containers they would roll on the paste in the afternoon and next morning hit it with a pressure washer. I can't imagine wheel paint would be tougher than that industrial salt resistant coating they put on sea containers., but I never used in on wheels either.

TheDon · #11 09-03-2010, 12:13 PM

hmmm I could apply the stuff once im done driving for the day then remove the stuff before I drive to the shop to use the air tools to polish.

Strife · #12 09-04-2010, 02:24 PM

You don't really know what is under there. IT might be smooth, it might not be. If the wheels are spun cast, they will probably contain more voids where polishing them out will yield - more voids. I did a set of forged Bundts and to get them to 98%, it took about 40 hours for five. I had an pretty vast array of power tools and die grinders, too.

Polishing Bundts - Not "Fun"

The manifold shown - now THAT is difficult:

TheDon · #13 09-05-2010, 04:00 PM

well CLK wheels aren't as complicated as bundts. Plus if I strip the paint off and find something ugly, it can all be sanded out(granted they didnt prep with 250 or lower grit).. start at 400 and work up to 1000/2000 grit and then start polishing.

TheDon · #14 09-06-2010, 10:45 PM

well I think I am going to start on this in the coming week or two

panZZer · #15 09-09-2010, 05:48 PM

Any aluminum of any kind to get it to polish you first have to cut the surface-Sand. Benz used varying surface quality parts like comparing a valve cover with a intake manifold on a 300d . Even though the valve cover is much smoother you still have to sand it first-Not just start hitting it with steel wool.