Refinishing Alloy Wheels

[TWFAUST at aol.com]

In a message dated 2/22/2007 2:20:51 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
quattro-request at audifans.com writes:

Some  years ago I had some Porsche wheels stripped by a company that   
specialized in stripping and surface prep. They used walnut shell media  and 
the  
results were great, and yielded no metal removal or  degradation.



I have stripped a number of Porsche wheels. Unless cost is no concern, or  
time is tight, I would just use paint remover and a pressure washer.
 
At least on the Fuchs (Fox), the paint is very thin and they don't  even use 
a primer. You are down to metal in no time at all. The black center  caps are, 
I believe, anodized. Blasting those takes them down in seconds. For  repaint, 
I believe that it is Krylon that makes a "semi-flat black". That is  
identical in every respect to the Fuchs  paint in every respect. If they  being 
blasted, definitely use walnut or baking soda, glass bead will remove  the anodizing.
 
I have dealt with some silver painted wheels from a 914, I believe they  were 
Mahle's . They are primed and the paint is "real" tough. Blasting  is the way 
to go with those. The same is true of the paint on most VW and  Audi wheels.
 
Tom Faust
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