I was wanting to polish my rims, here:

and wanted to have the bare metal parts polished and the painted parts painted black and clear coat the whole thing. I have access to a sandblaster but I need to know what is the best way to cover up the polished parts? I've done this sort of thing on my brothers camaro and know how nice it comes out, so I really want to do it.
[This message has been edited by 92RSB4C (edited October 07, 2001).]

[This message has been edited by 92RSB4C (edited October 08, 2001).]

 

I thought a sandblaster will pit alum. Not sure how to cover up parts however. If you want to paint the insides, use some type of tape to cover the part your going to polish. Over spray isn't a big deal since you'll sand all that off.

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91 Z28
Best Time Slip:
60' - 2.098
1/8 - 9.137 , MPH - 76.21
1/4 - 14.213, MPH - 97.55
Performace Mods: B&B Exhaust, few free mods.
Appearance Mods: SS wheels, 2.5" Cowl Hood... New 100% Black paint job, Clear Side Marker Lights
Stereo: Alpine 855, Infinity Kappas all around, Infinity 150x2 amp (POS), Infinity Perfect 10 in hatch.
Pictures are Here
ICQ: 1437212
AOL: normalmatt9

 

They make special blasting material that's safe for aluminum. The best way I know how to do it is tape off the parts I don't want to sandblast and use a razor blade to trim the tape, but I want to know if there is a better way to do it.

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BOMB BIN LADEN I see dead Afghans in dead Fords on the side of the desert path.

 

thats what my polished wheel looks like. you have to strip them first, which is a HUGE pain in the butt if you use spray stripper like i did. if you are going to blast them, as far as i know you have to use an glass beads or walnut shells. i knwo it sounds funny, but seriously...they use shells from a nut (i thought it was walnut..i dont remmeber). sand will ruin them FAST.

then you have to polish the hell out of them. i used blue magic metal polish and i LOVE it.

i didnt paint mine, so i cant offer you any tips on that.

-Brian

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1991 Camaro RS - ultra blue metallic, t-tops
GMPP 350 HO crate engine - 454 TBI, MSD ignition, SLP exhaust, everything is new
700R4 - 2,400 stall converter, vette servo, shift kit
z28boy.cz28.com
Central New York F-Body Association
z28boy@twcny.rr.com AIM - "Z28 Boy"
Daily driver - <A HREF="http://members.fbody.com/z28boy/grandprix" TARGET=_blank>
1998 Pontiac Grand Prix GT</A> - 2 door, black

 

Well, here's the way I'm approaching it. Strip off all the clear coat, which is a pain when you don't have paint stripper, and then use a 1500 grit sand paper to smooth out the maching lines. There was a little part of the rim where the clear coat had come off and tried this, and it came out nice, so I'm proceeding. I'm planning on taping off the polished parts and sanding til the gloss is gone. After that I'll spray on some primer and some black. A question though, should I clear coat the whole thing(including polished parts) or just the black paint?

 

Summed up my car in this 1 picture.

Pretty cool, huh?

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Hooray!, We Bombed Bin Laden! I see dead Afghans in dead Fords on the side of the desert path, and now the rest of the world does too. My site: 92rsb4c.mychevyworld.net

[This message has been edited by 92RSB4C (edited October 07, 2001).]

 

Here's a good link for polishing-

http://autopia-carcare.com/polishingmetal.html

Hope that helps any!

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Colin Finkle
87 Sport Coupe Camaro, 5.0 L V8

My Car Craft in/out list:

In: Buying my project Camaro and being the first F-body in High School.
Out: While it is being upgraded 6 V6 F-bodies bodies show up!
Out: Looking like a pazie a** follower.
In: Being the only panzie a** with an 8 under the hood!!!

 

Sorry. You had said sand blasting not bead blasting I had assumed you were talking sand which would have caused the pitting. As for polishing, you'll need more than 1500 grit. The very least, you'll need to get in the 400s. I'd recommend some 180 to get the machine lines off and move up slowly making sure you miss nothing. Once at 400 or 600 start wetsanding. Following by either a good compound with a buffer or some type of hand polisher if that is the way you want to go.

Z28 Boy, as for polishing goes. That's not really considered polishing. They can almost look like a mirror. If you do it right.

Goto the very bottom of this page. http://www.gmtips.com/3rd-degree/dox...m/pol-plen.htm

And look at the plenum that has been polished. That's a summit catalog. Even below he says it can be made even better. That's what is considered polished. However, usually when you clear coat it, it'll take some of the shine out unless done perfect.

------------------
91 Z28
Best Time Slip:
60' - 2.098
1/8 - 9.137 , MPH - 76.21
1/4 - 14.213, MPH - 97.55
Performace Mods: B&B Exhaust, few free mods.
Appearance Mods: SS wheels, 2.5" Cowl Hood... New 100% Black paint job, Clear Side Marker Lights
Stereo: Alpine 855, Infinity Kappas all around, Infinity 150x2 amp (POS), Infinity Perfect 10 in hatch.
Pictures are Here
ICQ: 1437212
AOL: normalmatt9

 

actually it is considered polishing, i just didnt go as far as making them look chrome. if thats what you consider "doing it right" then sorry, i did it wrong. i think they look extremely cheap when they look that shiny. i have seen a few and they look too "plasticy".

-Brian

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1991 Camaro RS - ultra blue metallic, t-tops
GMPP 350 HO crate engine - 454 TBI, MSD ignition, SLP exhaust, everything is new
700R4 - 2,400 stall converter, vette servo, shift kit
z28boy.cz28.com
Central New York F-Body Association
z28boy@twcny.rr.com AIM - "Z28 Boy"
Daily driver - <A HREF="http://members.fbody.com/z28boy/grandprix" TARGET=_blank>
1998 Pontiac Grand Prix GT</A> - 2 door, black

[This message has been edited by Z28 Boy (edited October 08, 2001).]

 

I always liked the look of "miror" polished metals. Looks awesome, although people will have different opinions. Still, my question is unanswered. Should or should I not clear coat the polished parts? Thanx

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Hooray!, We Bombed Bin Laden! I see dead Afghans in dead Fords on the side of the desert path, and now the rest of the world does too. My site: 92rsb4c.mychevyworld.net

 

Just wondering Z28 Boy, what's up with the "454 TBI" in your sig? Ya, it would be considered polishing but not getting rid of the machining lines, makes it look unpolished.

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Hooray!, We Bombed Bin Laden! I see dead Afghans in dead Fords on the side of the desert path, and now the rest of the world does too. My site: 92rsb4c.mychevyworld.net

 

Easy Z28 Boy. No reason to take offense by it. Lets put it like this, if you take it to a shop to have them "polished" and they do that. You can get your money back. In MOST cases when you polish something you remove cast and machine lines. I'm sorry that you consider that plastic looking. Many people strive for that look. I assumed you were with the rest of us. Once again, easy mistake made by me.

92RSB4C, If you choose to clear coat them. With paint or powerder coating, there is a 90% chance you'll lose some shine. I've heard of people not losing any, but I'll put money on it that you will. Since it's a wheel, you can look at it like this. The wheel be punished by many things. Especially brake dust, grime, and anything that is in rain. From what I've heard you can use a carnuba(sp?) wax once they've been polished and it works like a clear coat. Whenever time comes to clean them use your normal polish. If you don't use a wax or clear coat them, be prepare to clean them once or twice a week very well. Meaning with polish, not a soapy mitt. Otherwise it'll build up and shine like you want. This is just what I've heard remember, I'm using chrome wheels, and I can use a dry towel to clean mine in most cases. It made be that easy. Either way, I wouldn't clear coat them unless you just hate cleaning something once it's done.

Hope this helps.

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91 Z28
Best Time Slip:
60' - 2.098
1/8 - 9.137 , MPH - 76.21
1/4 - 14.213, MPH - 97.55
Performace Mods: B&B Exhaust, few free mods.
Appearance Mods: SS wheels, 2.5" Cowl Hood... New 100% Black paint job, Clear Side Marker Lights
Stereo: Alpine 855, Infinity Kappas all around, Infinity 150x2 amp (POS), Infinity Perfect 10 in hatch.
Pictures are Here
ICQ: 1437212
AOL: normalmatt9

 

Mother's Mag Wheel + Aluminum Polish has a protectant in it that works to bead up water and other things. It works, I tried it. I guess I'll leave the clear off the polished parts and only on the black painted part. Thanx

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Hooray!, We Bombed Bin Laden! I see dead Afghans in dead Fords on the side of the desert path, and now the rest of the world does too. My site: 92rsb4c.mychevyworld.net

 

I looked into having my wheels clear powdercoated, but the place that powdercoated strongly advised me against it. They said clear had a tendency to turn yellow pretty quick. And that sounded really fugly. So I used wax instead. It seems to work pretty good so far, but I haven't had the wheels on the car very long. I used a can of cheapo spray paint to paint the window parts, and I really regret it. The brake dust seems to become embedded in the paint and it won't come clean. For the amount of time I spent polishing the wheels, I sould have masked them and taken them somewhere to be properly painted.

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91 Z28
Come see The Vicious...

 

If the powder is good powder, it shouldn't become yellow. But it seems weird that a company would shoot themselves down from money. To pull that dust out, try claybar the painted part.

------------------
91 Z28
Best Time Slip:
60' - 2.098
1/8 - 9.137 , MPH - 76.21
1/4 - 14.213, MPH - 97.55
Performace Mods: B&B Exhaust, few free mods.
Appearance Mods: SS wheels, 2.5" Cowl Hood... New 100% Black paint job, Clear Side Marker Lights
Stereo: Alpine 855, Infinity Kappas all around, Infinity 150x2 amp (POS), Infinity Perfect 10 in hatch.
Pictures are Here
ICQ: 1437212
AOL: normalmatt9

 

Why is it that the clear coat on our car's doesn't turn yellow very easy but the clear coat on our rim's will? It's the same stuff.

------------------
Hooray!, We Bombed Bin Laden! I see dead Afghans in dead Fords on the side of the desert path, and now the rest of the world does too. My site: 92rsb4c.mychevyworld.net

 

When he said it'd turn yellow, he was talking about the powder I believe. But it could have something to do with a bare metal instead of using a primer under it.

------------------
91 Z28
Best Time Slip:
60' - 2.098
1/8 - 9.137 , MPH - 76.21
1/4 - 14.213, MPH - 97.55
Performace Mods: B&B Exhaust, few free mods.
Appearance Mods: SS wheels, 2.5" Cowl Hood... New 100% Black paint job, Clear Side Marker Lights
Stereo: Alpine 855, Infinity Kappas all around, Infinity 150x2 amp (POS), Infinity Perfect 10 in hatch.
Pictures are Here
ICQ: 1437212
AOL: normalmatt9

 

Here are my polished rims. Not CHROME just polished. I then painted the inserts black. All I did was taped the rim off to spray the black.

No clear, Just wash em 2 -3 times a week.


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Chris
1992 25th Anniv Z28 W/383 Stroker

[This message has been edited by TPl383 (edited October 12, 2001).]

 

SWEEEEET Nice rims!

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Hooray!, We Bombed Bin Laden! I see dead Afghans in dead Fords on the side of the desert path, and now the rest of the world does too. My site: 92rsb4c.mychevyworld.net

 

TEST...It worked...but I don't want to get kicked off thirdgen.org so I edited it!!! BTW... it said the f word in case u were wondering. And it said it with no funny characters, all letters of the keyboard, not like G0D with a 0(zero), but *** with a o. I figured it out, if you want to say a word that they'll *, email me and I'll tell you how to do it.

[This message has been edited by 92RSB4C (edited October 13, 2001).]

 

Nice rims TPI383...

I see what I'll be doing when I finish this intake

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91 Z28
Best Time Slip:
60' - 2.098
1/8 - 9.137 , MPH - 76.21
1/4 - 14.213, MPH - 97.55
Performace Mods: B&B Exhaust, few free mods.
Appearance Mods: SS wheels, 2.5" Cowl Hood... New 100% Black paint job, Clear Side Marker Lights
Stereo: Alpine 855, Infinity Kappas all around, Infinity 150x2 amp (POS), Infinity Perfect 10 in hatch.
Pictures are Here
ICQ: 1437212
AOL: normalmatt9

 

BTW, I finished polishing my first rim and I'll have some pics soon.

------------------
Hooray!, We Bombed Bin Laden! I see dead Afghans in dead Fords on the side of the desert path, and now the rest of the world does too. My site: 92rsb4c.mychevyworld.net

 

Did you do it all by hand? or any tools?

 

tpi 383 what all did you do to those rims? soooo shiny:hail:

 

He didn't polish them himself, I emailed him concerning it, the place I believe charged like $65 per wheel, don't quote me though. He emailed me the directions though. Just email him, you'll get a faster response.

 

Mark, you ever consider polishing your maro's rims?


i think thatd be pretty sexe on your car.

 

if you are pollishing painted RS style wheels... DONT THINK ITS GONNA BE EASY....
it took me soo damn long to sand the casting, and paint off my rs rims...

 

Yep, I asked for directions not too long ago. It's just I'm at college right now and the car is at home. Maybe over the summer.

 

How do ya like mine Oh yeah, I did mine in 2 1/2 hours. I use polishing wheels and compounds,da sander, die grinder, and a brideport mill.

 

Thanks, I paid $300 to have em polished. I didnt fell like doing another set myself. I did my last set of IROC rims by hand and they looked the same. After These 92 RIms were polished I taped em off and sprayed em black like you see.

Hope this helps.

Chris
If ya need any info e-mail me at tpi383@svol.net i get so much junk mail at hotmail Its hard to filter through it and find real mail anymore..

 

What did you use the bridgeport for? I did mine... took approx 6 hours / wheel. Die grinder helps out alot!

 

The pic that I posted is an old one before I started using the brideport mill to flaten the angles and used a ball nose end mill. After that I used my diegrinder to merge the flat angle to the sides. Then used it to get every tight spot, then went over every square inch with 180 grit sand paper with a da sander followed by 320 grit. Then I used my polishing wheels to finish the rest.Eventually I will get around to painting the rim and putting a good layer of clear coat.

 

Ok I found a pic of what I do with the brideport. There is less wav's in the angle part of the rim

 

as "plasticy" as they get!!

:lala: