[78w72]

Originally Posted by allenga

I should have listened. The wheel repair company insisted I powder clear after paint. I let them and it looks like !**@. They gassed the wheels twice and they have a porosity problem which bubbles. So, they will re-machine the rims. And they want to do an automotive paint clear. I think you guys are saying don't do clear. Also, they painted the entire back of the rim gold when I asked them not to. :-(

sorry to hear they didnt come out as you hoped. i tried my best to explain the reasons why powder clear is not a good idea for these wheels & posted pics showing what it looks like. yours have that same super thick artificial look & they probably have orange peel & debris too. i dont know why these companies use this powder clear or why people think it looks good.

i would try what you mentioned about re-machining the faces & leaving the gold as is. i would not suggest trying to use a auto clear over the powder clear, unless they can scuff it up properly, otherwise it will not stick to the powder clear or last very long. live with the gloss & after awhile it will dull up a little, or maybe try some tripple ot (000) steel wool to dull it a little.

bug & tar remover will not harm the bare aluminum, & if you put some wax on it as i suggested it will stay looking like new for many years & whatever gets on there will clean off pretty easy if you get to it soon.

i have been dealing with these snowflake wheels since the 1980's & have polished the factory ones to look almost like chrome by hand as a teenager. then after the horrible experience with restoring some for my current car i knew to stick with no clear, or at least not that ultra thick powder clear crap.

best of luck on the 2nd go around with your wheels.

[allenga]

Originally Posted by 78w72

sorry to hear they didnt come out as you hoped. i tried my best to explain the reasons why powder clear is not a good idea for these wheels & posted pics showing what it looks like. yours have that same super thick artificial look & they probably have orange peel & debris too. i dont know why these companies use this powder clear or why people think it looks good.

i would try what you mentioned about re-machining the faces & leaving the gold as is. i would not suggest trying to use a auto clear over the powder clear, unless they can scuff it up properly, otherwise it will not stick to the powder clear or last very long. live with the gloss & after awhile it will dull up a little, or maybe try some tripple ot (000) steel wool to dull it a little.

bug & tar remover will not harm the bare aluminum, & if you put some wax on it as i suggested it will stay looking like new for many years & whatever gets on there will clean off pretty easy if you get to it soon.

i have been dealing with these snowflake wheels since the 1980's & have polished the factory ones to look almost like chrome by hand as a teenager. then after the horrible experience with restoring some for my current car i knew to stick with no clear, or at least not that ultra thick powder clear crap.

best of luck on the 2nd go around with your wheels.

Thanks. I think I will machine and leave the fins bare. I will have them back Tues and will post the results.

[78w72]

Originally Posted by allenga

Thanks. I think I will machine and leave the fins bare. I will have them back Tues and will post the results.

also if they havent done them yet, i would call first thing monday & tell them to only machine off the bare minimum to remove the clear, not a full depth pass as if they were doing them the 1st time. otherwise, you may run into another major issue i had with the 1st set i had done, they machined them too deep & it caused the outside edge of the wheels to be so thin it was almost razor sharp & my tire guy said he wouldnt run them like that for safety issues with the metal being too thin in the area where the tire beads up. it also made the lug nut circles protrude into the center cap hole area & looked like crap! these wheels really only have 1 full pass of material before other issues can show up like pitting & what i mention above. heres pics of that to show what im describing... hopefully that doesnt happen to yours.

[allenga]

Originally Posted by 78w72

also if they havent done them yet, i would call first thing monday & tell them to only machine off the bare minimum to remove the clear, not a full depth pass as if they were doing them the 1st time. otherwise, you may run into another major issue i had with the 1st set i had done, they machined them too deep & it caused the outside edge of the wheels to be so thin it was almost razor sharp & my tire guy said he wouldnt run them like that for safety issues with the metal being too thin in the area where the tire beads up. it also made the lug nut circles protrude into the center cap hole area & looked like crap! these wheels really only have 1 full pass of material before other issues can show up like pitting & what i mention above. heres pics of that to show what im describing... hopefully that doesnt happen to yours.

Thanks for the info. I will do that.

[Bentwheelbob]

Do that, but buy used ones and start over. You’ll never be happy with those. Maybe you aren’t OCD, but you like things right and sweat the details just like an OCD person.

Where are you located? It always makes me wonder when someone doesn’t include at least some reference to their geographic location.

[allenga]

Originally Posted by Bentwheelbob

Do that, but buy used ones and start over. You’ll never be happy with those. Maybe you aren’t OCD, but you like things right and sweat the details just like an OCD person.

Where are you located? It always makes me wonder when someone doesn’t include at least some reference to their geographic location.

They are coming off Monday for re-maching. These rims will stay with the car. On to the grill restoration next...