DIY Wheel refurb

[I-S]

After spending a long time looking at different wheel refurb places, prices, quality of work, etc, I've ended up deciding to refurb the wheels myself, mainly for cost reasons (materials for DIY refurb = ~£60).

The alloys on my accord are the (notorious in honda circles) Honda Epsilon (made by Enkei). Notorious because every single one ends up corroding. Here's an example of a typical one:

http://www.askisaac.com/images/epsilons/c.jpg

The wheel I'm starting my refurb on is nothing like as bad:

http://www.askisaac.com/images/epsilons/1.jpg

First stage was to sand it down. I totally sanded the lacquer off the face, and sanded down flat. I also keyed the lacquer on the painted parts of the wheel.

http://www.askisaac.com/images/epsilons/2.jpg

Next up... Acid etch primer.

http://www.askisaac.com/images/epsilons/3.jpg

At one point I sprayed too close and got a bad drip, but it sands down easily with a bit of 1200 grit. So, no problems... Then high-build primer.

http://www.askisaac.com/images/epsilons/4.jpg

After two coats of high-build, rubbed down with 1200 grit and some kitchen paper (yes, it's surprisingly effective...)

http://www.askisaac.com/images/epsilons/5.jpg

And finally... a few coats of paint...

http://www.askisaac.com/images/epsilons/6.jpg

I gave this most of 24 hours to cure before lacquering:

http://www.askisaac.com/images/epsilons/7.jpg

Shininess:

http://www.askisaac.com/images/epsilons/8.jpg

So, I'm quite happy with the result, and have the second one underway now. Eventually, I will do 5 (two batches of two and then a spare, requiring some tyre juggling).

[sanct]

Nice job.
:)

[Johnny_Cashed]

A very interesting thread as I need to refurb mine, I just about have the time to do it myself but not the cash to get it done professionally. How well do you think DIY refurbs will hold up to brake dust, road salt and the like?

[I-S]

Tbd really... If you do a good job of priming, painting and lacquering it then there's no reason they should hold up any worse than a painted alloy. I expect they will be better than standard honda epsilons anyway!

I've now got the second one painted and got a much nicer paint finish on it, so going to sand the first one back and repaint it:

http://www.askisaac.com/images/epsilons/10.jpg

First one on the right, second on the left:

http://www.askisaac.com/images/epsilons/9.jpg

[aboo]

Looking good. Top job.

You'd better not get better at this on each wheel or you'll be sanding forever.

[I-S]

Now I've redone the first one and lacquered the second:

http://www.askisaac.com/images/epsilons/13.jpg (repainted first one on left, lacquered second on right)

Next to the car:

http://www.askisaac.com/images/epsilons/14.jpg

[HMG1K]

Top job! And an interesting thread!

I reckon a couple of polishing coats of this stuff, Poorboys Wheel Sealant, will seal them well from the brake dust, etc

I use it on mine and it adds an extra shiny coat which, when it comes to washing the alloys, the dust just wipes off really easily.

http://www.poorboysworld.com/wheel-sealant.htm

The website is for the US, but it can be bought from many UK places online.

[I-S]

I got this: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/products/products/220809/turtle_wax_extreme_nanotech_wax_for_wheels.html

[I-S]

With Kieran's help (and his porter cable!), two more now have paint:

http://www.askisaac.com/images/epsilons/15.jpg

Need some tyres on them, then I can get rid of some of the rest, and refurb the last one (to be my spare).

[Turbo_Steve]

Looking really nice: Should give the car a fresher look too!

[HJM]

Looks like a good job - well done.

I'm in the midst of doing a quick/rough refurb' on my front track wheels (Racing Sparcos), but can't start top coating them until the blasted wind dies down or it stops raining as have to do them outside. Only managed to prime them thus far.

I thought prep would be easy - simple half hour rub down per wheel ???

More like 1.5 hours per wheel - had to initially use a screwdriver to remove years of brake crud between the spokes, then a wire brush and then break out the sand paper. Some of the crud is that welded to the wheels its gotta stay unfortunately.

Still they won't look any where as good as yours, but as they are only track wheels don't really care. I'm gonna use Simoniz 5 Star Silver Wheels with their lacquer so should be fairly tough finish. Like you I didn't want to spent £60 per wheel.

I reckon the wheels work out at more like £7 each doing them yourself :)

H

[orionn2o]

Excellent job there

Another thing I should add to the list!

[I-S]

H- you could use the same paint I'm using (Hycote Aluminium). It's only £3-£4 a can, and I reckon you can do a decent job using half a can per wheel (on my 17"s... a simpler 5 spoke or whatever would use less). For a track wheel it's worth lacquering (£5 can of clear lacquer from anywhere) otherwise the brake dust will eat into it incredibly fast.

[HJM]

H- you could use the same paint I'm using (Hycote Aluminium). It's only £3-£4 a can, and I reckon you can do a decent job using half a can per wheel (on my 17"s... a simpler 5 spoke or whatever would use less). For a track wheel it's worth lacquering (£5 can of clear lacquer from anywhere) otherwise the brake dust will eat into it incredibly fast.

Thanks for the info - I already had the Simoniz stuff (£6 for a large can) and a can of their cellulose lacquer to go with it.

I like the Simoniz stuff cos I sprayed my Supra dash with the Steel coloured equivalent (and lacquer) a few years ago and it looks just the same today :)

I agree the lacquer is needed to keep the brake dust at bay. The only thing I'm not sure on is applying wheel protector soon after I finish, cos I thought putting silicone based products onto cellulose paint was a no no until it cured (normally 90 days) - albeit I will be tracking at Zandvoort in less than 4 weeks anyway :d

H

[I-S]

4999 posts! Make the 5kth special!

[scc]

Does one need to take into account of the distribution of paint/lacquer layers to ensure all wheels weigh the same and evenly balanced?

Paint + lacquer seems to weigh quite a bit!

cheers,
scc

[Davezj]

i would not have thought so. as slight differences in the wheel and tyre manufacture will have differences in weight distribution about the individual wheels anyway. so i think the differences in one coat of paint or laquor will not have any adverse effect. the wheel balancing will counter act any difference in the paint/laquor ditribution over the wheel so i wouldn't worry about that.

but that is just my opinion

[I-S]

No.

Even if you do get twice as much paint on one side than the other, this is still small compared to the variations in the wheel and the tyres. When tyres are fitted, the balancing will take account of anything introduced by the paint.