I have an 86 Trans am with the stock 16 inch wheels. The face of them is pretty much flat with about a 3/4 lip around the out side, my question is can I use a palm sander to get the clear coat of then polish them up or will I have to do it by hand. I don't want to put a stripper on them because the black inside the fins and everything is perfect and it would take me forever to tape them off and even then there's a chance of it bleeding through the tape.

 

A palm sander may work, just don't apply much pressure, u don't want to dig in cause when u polish them it would be real noticable. I would just do it by hand with wet/dry sandpaper u could control it better by hand, just use maybe 400, 600 then 1200 or so. Later.

 

Thanks, guess I'll just do it by hand.

 

Just tape them off as normal, chances are there will be some bleed thru. To take care of that just put some lacquer thinner on a rag and run along the edges after you peel the tape.

 

The best way to do this (and yes I've done this a dozen times) Is tape off the tires so you don't get any on the tires and get a can of air craft paint stripper from walmart. It's in a blue can. that stuff works great. it will make it easier by far.

 

X2 on the Aircraft Sripper. Just be sure to do it outside. A pressure sprayer helps a ton to get the loosened paint off as well.

 

well if i understand the question, he wants to keep the paint and sand the front face of the spokes...


mothers billet polish is your friend.

i used it, it worked.
i didnt worry about the clear coat either.
just follow the directions.

 

Also do the wheels have dimples or not? If they have the dimples then you'll be in good shape, the clear comes off VERY easily with the stripper. If you have the non-dimpled wheels then you're going to have one hell of a problem getting the clear off. For some reason it's damn near bulletproof

 

like i said.
i didnt worry about the clear coat.
maybe mine was so worn that it was nearly non existant, but mothers cleaned it up.
wax on wax off.
thats all i did

 

Valleyguy, how did the wheels turn out. Later.

 

I used a die grinder with surface refinishing pads, they come in many different grits and one can be very precise with them. Harbor freight carries them as do most body and paint supply stores. If you are going to polish the aluminum then you will need to remove the mill marks and get them as smooth as possible, these will help. Once you get them smooth you can use any sort of medium cut compound and a rag or a buffer. Finish up with a buffing compound and you will see them shine like chrome.