What does a 'refurb' involve?

[ahoythere]

Hi there -

Does anybody have experience of getting their alloy wheels refurbished? What does it involve exactly? Who does this type of work (I live in north Lancs)? What sort of result do you get and how much does it cost?

Advice much appreciated.

 

[television]

First the wheels are blasted to remove the old paint, any rim damage is repaired by filling or turning dependent on the type of wheel.

With painted wheels they are powder coated and lacquered to the colour asked for or ordered.

Wheels with the polished lip are finished in a clear lacquer. this finish is not very durable and one is better off these days in going for one of the chrome effect paint finishes.

Do a Google search and read it all

 

[stats007]

Not all refurbs are like this - though decent ones should be. Wheels can either be acid dipped or bead blasted - some cheaper refurbs just rub down the existing paint / damaged area and repaint over the top.

 

[ahoythere]

Thanks for the replies!

 

[gworilla]

Belmont Metal Finishing - Old Dalby

If you want the complete low-down on alloy wheels, these guys know their stuff. I appreciate it's way away from where you are, but they can give you some sound advice on the best method for your wheels, particularly if you are on a budget http://www.touchleicester.com/business/list/bid/2086005

 

[ahoythere]

Thanks for that Gworilla.

 

[wireman]

Sorry to be pessimistic but older alloys are much more vunerable due to corrosion getting deep into the metal. I have never seen a steel wheel fail due to corrosion but have seen several alloys which have catatrophicaly failed resulting in some sort of tragedy or other occuring, have a look at the wrecks in a breakers yard and see the number of broken alloys around.
If you refurbish all you are doing is hiding the truth from yourself as well as inocent others.
I must say that they look nice though, maybe thats why they nick alloys and leave steels behind.

 

[Silver Arrow]

Who does this type of work (I live in north Lancs)?

I believe that West End Tyres at Morecambe clean them up and, more importantly, will tell you if you are wasting your time and money.
(I bought a nice looking spare for my Lotus, and they told me to bin it!)

 

[Chris Murray]

This is what we have done:
http://www.alloywheelsdirect.net/information/wheel_refurbishment

 

[jibcl500]

In my yuff I used to polish alloy wheels with another chap, we would use paint stripper to remove any lacquer or paint, power wash the wheel to get it clean and then mechanically refinish the alloy to a high shine, repaint anything in need of painting.

Some companies refurb alloy wheels in another way, acid soak the wheel until its 100% clean of paint and brake dust, diamond cut the bright bits, paint and lacquer.

Diamond cutting the rim isnt in my view the best way to finish an alloy, ok it looks good, but imagine the an old LP record, it has grooves as does a diamond cut rim, the clear coat cannot fill those grooves so within a year the moisture starts to get below the clear coat and the process starts all over again.

The only way to maintain high shine rims is to do what I did, by hand I used different grades of paper until all kerb damaged was removed, then working the alloy until it was smooth but dull, then polish the rim using different grades of polish until the rim is like a mirror, the smoother it is the harder it is for anything to start a corrsion process.
In the winter I put vaseline on the shiney bits to stop salt.

Alternatively live with it until the tyres are shot, buy a wheel tyre package and sell the old ones on ebay.

jib