Polishing Ten Spokes
03-08-2013, 11:01 PM
#1
Polishing Ten Spokes So I decided to replace my c5 wheels with 10 spoke wheels. I decided to polish them instead of leaving them silver or making LE clones.
Step 1 : I cleaned the wheels with soap and water , then brushed on some aircraft paint stripper. Let it sit for an hour , used a plastic spoon and tongue stick to start stripping of the silver paint. Wasn't happy with how much paint was coming off so reapplied the stripper and let it sit for another hour. Started stripping the paint off again. Got the wheel to a point that I felt like I could work with. The washed the wheel again to make sure all the stripper was off. No all the silver paint or primer that is applied to the wheels did not come off , knowing I would be doing a **** ton of sanding that was ok with me.
Step 2 : Began dry sanding with 240 , and a red scotch brite pad, then moved onto 320. This was done to mostly remove any factory finish that was left and to start the smoothing of the cast windows.
Then I started to wet sand with 500 , 600 , 1200 , 2000. Since the spokes and lip are machined and pretty much 90% of the finish come off them. I used 1200 and 2000 on them. (Really wished we had some 800 , 1000 , and 1500 in the shop.)
Step 3 : Started polishing using an extra cut rubbing compound , then a meduim cut compound , then finally Mother mag polish.
Done 2 windows and spokes just to see how it would look. Must say I pretty happy with the way it's starting to look. All the work has been by hand.
Step 1 : I cleaned the wheels with soap and water , then brushed on some aircraft paint stripper. Let it sit for an hour , used a plastic spoon and tongue stick to start stripping of the silver paint. Wasn't happy with how much paint was coming off so reapplied the stripper and let it sit for another hour. Started stripping the paint off again. Got the wheel to a point that I felt like I could work with. The washed the wheel again to make sure all the stripper was off. No all the silver paint or primer that is applied to the wheels did not come off , knowing I would be doing a **** ton of sanding that was ok with me.
Step 2 : Began dry sanding with 240 , and a red scotch brite pad, then moved onto 320. This was done to mostly remove any factory finish that was left and to start the smoothing of the cast windows.
Then I started to wet sand with 500 , 600 , 1200 , 2000. Since the spokes and lip are machined and pretty much 90% of the finish come off them. I used 1200 and 2000 on them. (Really wished we had some 800 , 1000 , and 1500 in the shop.)
Step 3 : Started polishing using an extra cut rubbing compound , then a meduim cut compound , then finally Mother mag polish.
Done 2 windows and spokes just to see how it would look. Must say I pretty happy with the way it's starting to look. All the work has been by hand.
Last edited by totalchaos; 03-10-2013 at 01:34 AM.
Trending Topics
03-10-2013, 04:51 PM
#11
Wow that looks really good! How much of a polish are you going for? I don't think they'd look too good with a mirror polish. I've seen these wheels in chrome and its a bit much IMO. I switch from chrome C5's to the 10 spoke SS wheels too. I really didnt like how they looked, the silver just looks dull and cheap. I ended up platidipping mine but now you've got me thinking about polishing them.
03-11-2013, 12:26 AM
#12
Wow that looks really good! How much of a polish are you going for? I don't think they'd look too good with a mirror polish. I've seen these wheels in chrome and its a bit much IMO. I switch from chrome C5's to the 10 spoke SS wheels too. I really didnt like how they looked, the silver just looks dull and cheap. I ended up platidipping mine but now you've got me thinking about polishing them.
03-11-2013, 12:32 AM
#13
Thanks guys. They do look a 100% better than the silver. But never onn a show car...lol. Perfect for a driver though. Really need to figure out what to do about center caps. Thinking chrome might be to bright but that silver looks like *** on there.
03-13-2013, 08:41 PM
#16
[QUOTE=totalchaos: Really need to figure out what to do about center caps. Thinking chrome might be to bright but that silver looks like *** on there.[/QUOTE]
Well I bought a can of spray bomb chrome. Did the center cap and it blends better to the rim than the silver does. And for anyone that says GM for the center caps.....wrong.....I called our local dealership and they are discountied.
Well I bought a can of spray bomb chrome. Did the center cap and it blends better to the rim than the silver does. And for anyone that says GM for the center caps.....wrong.....I called our local dealership and they are discountied.
03-23-2013, 12:48 PM
#18
TECH Resident
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Anaheim Ca.
Posts: 801
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hey totalchaos,
There seems to be a debate here in the (4 gen SS wheels) Thread. Its to, are they 9" wide or 9.5" wide? Could you mesaure them for us? I thought that mine clearly had 17 X 9.5 on the back of the spokes?
There seems to be a debate here in the (4 gen SS wheels) Thread. Its to, are they 9" wide or 9.5" wide? Could you mesaure them for us? I thought that mine clearly had 17 X 9.5 on the back of the spokes?
