Rusty Chromed Wheels need a makeover but How?

[tjamesbo]

These Wheels are on my Boat Trailer obviously looked nice when new Typical american chromed styling however they are now very rusty and past their best I want to give them a makeover of some description but without spending a fortune as the trailer is parked up out of sight most of the time and it only does 2 freshwater dunks a year in in april and out in october so corrosion not now an issue my thoughts are ;

It will cost a fortune to rechrome and its not really necessary although not got a quote yet

all of the following are dependant on some kind of prep or possibly stripping of the chrome not sure what but dont think a simple rub down will do as chrome is so hard so cant really key it with emery ?

Take them to a powder coaters and get them powder coated

spray them with plastidip

spray paint at home any reccomendations on paint or preparation ??

 

[Trev1964]

If buy a tube of solvol aerosol and attack them with some elbow grease. See how they look when you've finished.

 

[rf065]

Rub them down with aluminium tin foil, they'll come up like new.

Russ

 

[Craiglxviii]

Classics and Chrome in Hinckley will probably charge you £100 to rechrome the pair.

 

[tjamesbo]

Classics and Chrome in Hinckley will probably charge you £100 to rechrome the pair.

Thats not too bad i suppose £50 a wheel I'll give them a call
They're past polishing they look better in the photo than in real life the've just had a polish with metal wool
someone suggested white stove enamel I'll look into that as well

 

[Craiglxviii]

Thats not too bad i suppose £50 a wheel I'll give them a call
They're past polishing they look better in the photo than in real life the've just had a polish with metal wool
someone suggested white stove enamel I'll look into that as well

Stove enamel will just chip off. You need the wheels to be acid etched back to bright metal and then a proper surface treatment put on them, rechroming or powder coating would be good. But either way the surface needs all corrosion dressing off it first.

Classics and Chrome are a hidden gem. I used to get superyacht fittings done there as they were the only place I could find that would reliably mirror polish stainless steel, repeatably like. Their stock in trade are Rolls Royce rad grilles, wire wheels being refurbed etc. Very reasonable pricing considering the quality and value of their work.

 

[L John]

How much are new ones? Worth checking new prices before spending on a refurb to see what the best option is.

 

[JBell]

Powder coat them, it will last and not be affected by the sea

 

[Naraic]

What about a nice set of hub caps?

 

[tjamesbo]

What about a nice set of hub caps?

Yes that seems the most cost effective solution anything else requires tyre removal ,chrome stripping , coating, tyre fitting , balancing etc and all for 2 50ml journeys a year ............. really a waste of money
funny never thought of that simple solution they always look a bit naff on cars but on a trailer

 

[Frontstep]

As above really allocate 25 minutes Spray wheels with anti-rust wax coat and then fit a Set of plastic wheel covers after running a hole cutter through middle to take hub and another for clamp.