wpnsman2000

iTrader: (1)

I have the 18'' alluminum Z06 wheels for my z28 and they won't polish. Its like they have some sort of a clear coat over them that I can't get through. Does anyone know how to get this coat off? Any help would be appreciated!

SUTTERERMAN85

iTrader: (42)

yes most alum wheels are clear coated so that they do not oxidize(sp) you will have to sand or strip the clear off and then repolish them. lots of work. i am working on a set of 17x11 zr1s now that i media blasted and now polishing

wpnsman2000

iTrader: (1)

what grit of sand paper should i use?

NBMgreg

iTrader: (7)

they clearcoated aftermarket polished zo6 wheels? i was told that only high dollar wheels come clearcoated, like Fikse, or HRE... i know that tt2's dont come clearcoated, are you sure its a clearcoat?

what are you using to polish?

NBMgreg

iTrader: (7)

also, if it IS clearcoated, you should be able to use that aircraft paint stripper or whatever they use... rolltidet/a stripped the clear off his stock ws6 wheels, and it wasnt that hard, i believe he did a write up on it as well.

JGKadell

iTrader: (4)

just use a chemical stripper. If you sand them down you will have a lot more work ahead of you.

MannyZ28

iTrader: (1)

How can you tell for sure that they are clear coated...wasn't there a little test for this? My friend just ordered some 18" Z06 wheels off Ebay, they are AFS wheels, and they were very cheap... 995 with the tires. So my guess is that they are not clear coated since AFS charges like 125 more to clear coat them.

So how do you test for that. The description of the auction she won didn't specify if they were clear coated or not.

NBMgreg

iTrader: (7)

i can almost gaurantee those afs wheels your friend bought are not clearcoated, like i said... either your paying alot more for the "usual" replicas to be clearcoated, or they save it for the high end wheels, like fikse, etc.

im not sure how to test it, but do NOT try and take sand paper to it, like mentioned above, that will only lead to more work needed.

to the original poster, what are you using? try the mothers power ball and see if that works, maybe your just not creating enough heat

wpnsman2000

iTrader: (1)

The mothers and powerball didn't work at all I tried it several times....I would rather use a liquid to strip than sandpaper honestly...but don't want to ruin my rims.

MannyZ28

iTrader: (1)

Hmm...I think if you use metal polish and rub it on a clear coated wheel, it won't turn black like it would on a wheel that's not clear coated. Not sure what the metal polish would do to the clear coat though ?

RollTideTA

Here is write-up about removing the clear coat and polishing the wheels

https://ls1tech.com/forums/showthrea...ight=stripping

presto_z

iTrader: (12)

hey manny whats up...are these for that hooters girl w/ the white camaro... nothins better then a hot chick in a f-body.... i assume you are gonna be up there suday

Viper

iTrader: (6)

"Hmm...I think if you use metal polish and rub it on a clear coated wheel, it won't turn black like it would on a wheel that's not clear coated. Not sure what the metal polish would do to the clear coat though "

Correct, nothing happens. And I think it would depend on the type of clearcoating. In other words, Fikse uses liquid clearcoating that's heated on; it can't be stripped. Others use a powder finish that can be stripped.

UsaTraveler

I have stripped clearcoat off of a WS6 rim. I took it off the car and sprayed that aircraft stripper on the wheel. The clearcoat peeled off like sunburnt skin within seconds. Just don't get it on the car or you'll

MannyZ28

iTrader: (1)

Most likely yes...and yeah...those are for her.

RollTideTA

But dont rub it too hard or long in one spot.... you will cut right through the clear coat. Thats what I did to a set of my wheels one time. I was using simichrome metal polish and it is a light abrasive.

Also, some paint is harder to remove than others, but anything can be stripped off if you have the right tools and work at it.

MannyZ28

iTrader: (1)

I am still betting they're not clear coated....we'll see when they come in.

NBMgreg

iTrader: (7)

i am betting on them not being clearcoated either... ive never seen replica wheels clearcoated unless you payed for it, and you would know if you payed for it.

TroubledWine3

iTrader: (3)

My AFS 18x9.5 Z06s are not clear-coated.

At first, I had some Eagle One Nanopolish and tried to polish them and while it cleaned them, they just looked gunmetal. I thought they were clearcoated so I tried Aircraft Stripper and all it did was bubble up and burn the **** out of my hand. So then I decided to try Mother's...worked like a charm. The Mother's Powermetal polish works even better than the stuff in a tub, to me, anyways.

wpnsman2000

iTrader: (1)

Well i went ahead and just started polishing like there was no tomorrow and I think im making great progress. I took your guy's advise and just polished and polished and polished. I guess I was just being lazy with the polishing earlier. Thanks for the help guys. Looks like I won't be driving for a while because my arms are about to fall off from holding that drill LOL.