How did you do yours, and how are they holding up? I was thinking of taking my semi rusted chrome wheels and hitting them with my sandblaster. Then putting POR 15 over that, then Rust oleum paint.

Any input would be helpful.

 

haven't done it to chromed, but to aluminum. came out nice for 'rattle can custom'. no pics, had'em for a year, good if ya stay of the curb and rocks. wheels are long gone now. have also heard of people powdercoating them, but ya gotta get real clean or crud bubbles out when heated.

 

to be sure you could take them to and get them dipped to take the crome off, then paint them

Matt

 

Ok , maybe I wasn't clear enough. Cheapness If I was going to spend money on dipping & powered coating, then I would just purchase aluminum rims. The wheels are already rusted so I figured on trying to make some black rockcrawler look, before spending on alum. wheels.

 

Sandblasting will pit the metal...bead blasting would be much better. Then use some etching primer and some rattle can.

 

So what exactly is the difference between sand and glass bead? I usually use Black beauty sand. Can you run bead through a gravity feed blaster?

 

that will work...you just get a better finish w/ bead type media...round edges, as opposed to sand which in reality is little quartz w/ sharp edges...

beads remove no metal and leave a satin finish...purty

sand removes some metal and leaves a dull finish and sometimes looks a bit pitted...not as purty

Use whatcha got!

 

I am in the process of wirewheeling a set of chrome wheels for por 15 and flat black paint. I am probably about half way into the chrome stripping process. It is kind of slow, but I imagine that sand would be too. I am really excited to see how it comes out. I'llkeep you posted.

 

I once worked for a shop as a "sandblaster/powder coater" for 2 years and sandblasted everything you could imagine. We only used bead blasting if the customer wanted it or the part was fiberglass.
For something as metal wheels, sand will work fine and look good long as you use low air pressure or keep a longer than normal distance when blasting. I've made old motorcycle frames to full body classic cars look like new after sand blasting them. I never left anything look pitted unless it was something that did'nt really mater. All it takes is little technique and common sense.
Try getting some already used/old sand from a shop...it works almost like glass.

 

Thanks for all the help.

Still wanting to hear from someone who has done this allready.

 

Any luck yet?

 

Still going with the sanding. ALLLLMOST done though. I have several things going on at the same time.

 

i had the same type of wheels chrome/rust i rattle canned then with 1.00 a can flat black used about 2 cans on the 4 wheels they looked pretty good from 10 ft away and as long as i didnt just sit on them with the power washer the paint stayed on pretty good and with the paint being 1.00 a can i dont mind touching them up every once in a while i didnt sand or blast i just washed then with a degreaser let them dry and painted