Removing clear coat

[ShadetreeRet]

I have a set of aluminum wheels off a F-250 that were clear coated at the factory. The clear coat cracked in places and let water seep under, causing discoloration and slight etching in spots. I think that I can buff and polish the spots, but I need to remove the clear coat first. Any suggestions without messing up the aluminum? I was just reading the post about removing reflectors and decals and someone suggested a heat gun, I may try that, but am open to suggestions. Thanks in advance.

 

[Stephen Newell]

If it were me I would use a paint and varnish remover. It won't hurt aluminum and would be less likely to scratch the metal than using a heat gun and a putty knife.

 

[David G]

A putty knife will gouge aluminum, I would do it chemically.

 

[Michael Soldan]

I have done a lot of wheels that you describe. There are some tricks. You can buy a product from CARQUEST that will strip the plastic but its about $80. I sand the wheels and use a wire wheel. Start with coarse paper and work to fine. Get as much off as possible. Aluminum wheels will have marks and blemishes which I sand out as much as possible. I then mask off the tire and spray paint the rim with aluminum paint. Once dry I spray the wheel with "Plasticoat" . When done the wheel looks like new. There are wheel paints on the market but they tend to be more grey in colour. I have done my '97 Ford truck rims and a '95 Mustang and a Firebird. It takes time to prep the rims , so I do them one at a time. I have an old tire machine and I break the bead and then cover the tire with old towels to do the painting. When I have one done and dry I take the next one off,I rotate my spare tire so I can use the vehicle. These wheels have turned out very nice and I wouldn't hesitate to sand one out and paint and clearcoat it.The final sanding needs to be with finer grits so there is no sanding marks in your final product..you can do it !

 

[Jim in New Mexico]

I wonder is "Air Craft" stripper would work! pretty aggressive stuff. Jim in N.M.

 

[MSS3020]

Ive done this!! with success too.. I also have F250 wheels looked like crud.. I bought used but I liked the wheels despite the crud.. So theres a spray in a goldish orangish can called aircraft stripper.. WORKS GREAT??

spay wheels and the clear coat basically starts to flake off.. I sprayed couple times esp in the bad areas.. you may have to use a rag to help the process.. then rinse off and dry..(may need multiple applications

then I used emery cloth to wipe out the corrosion more abrassive then down to less abrassive paper... then I used a drill or dremal with a polish wheel to shine the area up.. and respray with clearcoat to finish..

it does take some elbow greese and about 2 hours per wheel.. The one I did was the worst and now I am going to do the other three.. waiting to get new tires firs..

good luck..trying to remember where I got the stuff...

 

[ShadetreeRet]

Gentlemen, I appreciate your replies. Now I need to "Git 'er done."

 

[ShadetreeRet]

I will have to check around, I'm sure some place around here will have it. Couple years ago I bought a small buffing and polishing kit from the Eastwood Co. It's made to use with a drill, but it contains all the usual materials for buffing and polishing aluminum, stainless, and chrome. I have never used it, but I figure this will be a good time to try it out.

 

[Stephen Newell]

It should work good for that application. Some try it on wood but it has a component that can stain wood.

 

[Ron in NS]

Whatever happened to being able to buy Polystrippa in the hardware stores?

 

[504]

Air craft stripper is the thing,cuts the clear coat and won t hurt the aluminum wheels. I also know a guy who buys a lot of ugly wheels and soaks them in paint thinner, face down in a hog pan,he says they come out great.