Sandblast wheels?

[Joe_Black]

Soda blasting would be preferential to sand blasting as it's much less harsh on the wheel and leaves a better finish to prep for painting. Same equipment, just different media, so the shop you checked should be able to do it for about the same price.

[rowhard]

Joe, can't say I have really had anything professionally sand (soda) blasting. Do you think it would be possible to just do the inside of the rim and just refinish it to solve the peeling problem?

[2K1 1K2]

i wanna...

hi. sounds like a deal. keep us posted on results/satisfaction level, if you go with 'em.

thanks.

-jose

[Joe_Black]

Do you think it would be possible to just do the inside of the rim and just refinish it to solve the peeling problem?

To refinish chrome you wouldn't typically media-blast as you would then have a much harder task re-polishing the surface and blending it to the remaining finish. Usually (I'm certainly no expert here!) the affected area is cleaned and polished then replated. You can deposit chrome in layers, which is where triple-chromed finishes come from, and where it meets and overlays the affected area can almost be invisible if blended well during the polishing process. With chrome, the more highly polished the base the more mirror-like the finish.

Now that I've got a powder-coating set up my plan was to soda-blast and powder coat my 16's white for the 5-spoke rally look. I've never been a big fan of chrome.

[WyrreJ]

I was thinking about sand-blasting (now soda-blasting, do I hear diet-coke-blasting?) and then powder-coating them black or maybe something metallic looking like black-nickel.

[CoastieCosta567]

Now that I've got a powder-coating set up my plan was to soda-blast and powder coat my 16's white for the 5-spoke rally look. I've never been a big fan of chrome.

I have been thinking of doing the same thing with mine, but are the stock rims strong enough? and aslo like i'm leaving to boot camp this may 29 i will have to leave my VX in the hands of my wife to be in a few days and have her take care of a few things in my Ironman, like the rim re-painting and getting 31-32 inch tires on them. But also how wide can i get the tires with the stock width? cuz i want them to be wider then stock, maybe come out a little bit.

[WormGod]

I would go with a silver finish, considering where I live with the lovely salty winters here. A nice silver with a clearcoated finish will last a good while in any conditions. Chrome is of the past. *ducks thrown pies*

[thedutchguy]

Forget it!
Sandblasting will not remove your chrome!
It will only remove the peeling bits.
Only de-chroming is an option!
But due to the hazards(toxic) it is illegal over here in the Netherlands.
In short:Chrome wheels are OK as long as they don't peel, but if they do, better search for other alloys.(I did)

[Joe_Black]

Sandblasting will not remove your chrome!

LOL, you need to play in the shop more! Chrome is simply a thin layer of hard metal deposited (electrostatically or chemically) on the base base metal, and like any metal it can be abraded away. If the chrome is properly adhered to the base metal then you wouldn't strip it away completely, although it would appear so as it wouldn't look like what most consider chrome. Of course, as you mentioned, flaking and other problem areas would come right off leaving a relatively uniform surface to prep for whatever coating you choose next.

As for rim "strength", the vast majority of OEM wheels are very over-built and quite stout. Think of the liability a manufacturer would open themselves up to if they produced wheels like the aftermarket. If you root through paper work that's shipped with aftermarket wheels there's fine print in there absolving the manufacturers of any liability for you using their wheels since they can't consult and advise on your particular application, among other legalese.

When powder coating you have to be careful of heat, especially with aluminum. But there are some fantastic finishes out there for powder applications, plus you can layer and even clear powder. The alloy "Bundt cake" wheels on one of my Mercedes diesels I'm thinking about glass beading then clear powder for smooth satin finish. Of course the big hold up for me right now is simply finding a large enough oven!

[Ldub]

and getting 31-32 inch tires on them. But also how wide can i get the tires with the stock width? cuz i want them to be wider then stock, maybe come out a little bit.

...............Size...........Width......Diameter


Stock...245/70x16".......9.64".......29.50"

...........265/70x16".....10.43".......30.60"

...........265/75x16".....10.43".......31.64"

...........275/75x16".....10.82".......32.24"

...........285/75x16".....11.22".......32.83"

These sizes will all fit stock wheels & require varying amounts of trimming & probably a couple inches of lift for the largest sizes.

Find a great tire calculator at www.1010tire.com

[AREA 51]

Most major mfrs. (gm ford m-b) are putting out advisories to NOT replate chromed aluminum wheels.

Something to do with deterioration and structural properties.

Isuzu did offer our 18's in a silver painted edition. I believe it was on the rodeo.