Refurbishment of wheels
Discussion
AquaRegia said:
Has anyone had a full wheel refurb and if so were the results good? I would like to keep the diamond cut look on my Oz 8 spokes. Any photos tips about cost etc really appreciated.
The advice I had from the people who refurbed mine was that their experience of diamond cutting these was that the results weren't great and that customers who'd had it done had always been slightly disappointed. I had mine powder coated as a result and they look great but I realised at SCH that there really is nothing like like the diamond cut finish.The powder coating for 4 wheels supplied with tyres on plus rebalancing etc was £156 (about). They quoted for diamond cutting the same wheels for a bit more- can't remember exactly how much but less than £200. Cheap when you think how much new wheels would have been.
HTH
HB
There used to be a company on the darenth valley industial estate, dartford. Cant remember what they were called but they did a superb job on my old RS 4 spokes dipped, powder coated black, machined and clear powdwercoat to finish at about £30 a wheel, Mind you that was 1999.
There is a company in bury that do dipping and buffing at about £40 per rim if thats any help I will get the number.
There is a company in bury that do dipping and buffing at about £40 per rim if thats any help I will get the number.
it's a good question. I had agreed to go with the diamond cut etc etc and it was only after I had dropped them off that they called me back to discuss and let me know that they're previous results hadn't been up to their standard. Reassuring that they didn't just blindly carry on....
Definately worth giving them a ring
Definately worth giving them a ring
AquaRegia said:
Hi thanks for that your wheels look good, I wonder in what way people have been dissapointed with diamond cut wheels? I will call the company and see what they say.
Cheers
my experience is that the diamond cut itself is fine - the problem is getting lacquer to stick properly. The slightest chip or pinhole lets water under the lacquer which discolours the metal and it looks terrible.Cheers
the alternative is diamond cut and no lacquer - but then you have to protect them and keep polishing.
The diamond cut finish does look good, and I prefer the polished look, but I was impressed with Harvey's wheels on Sunday - they looked nice.
These guys in Kent are supposed to be one of the best http://www.lepsons.com/
might be worth a shout if they are near you.
might be worth a shout if they are near you.
AquaRegia said:
Now unsure as to what to do! Has anyone from here had their wheels restored to the original diamond cut finish? If so how are they holding up!
Got mine done and lacquered. Lacquer started to lift after 3 months.
They did them again.
Lacquer started to lift after 3 months.
Stripped lacquer and polished bare wheels. Have to keep polishing but they look good.
TVR S4C said:
tvrgit said:
Stripped lacquer and polished bare wheels. Have to keep polishing but they look good.
What do you use for polishing them ? . Had my wheels refurbished last year and didn't get them lacquered. They now need some attention as they are now looking pretty grotty again
routinely, I polish them with Meguiars metal polish.
If they are corroded slightly, then a very fine wet and dry followed by Alu-magic then the Meguiars.
Once a year I give them a clean with metal polishing mops and light grades of polishing paste, between the wet and dry stage and the final polishing stage.
Ragtop said:
Never mind the polishing - how do you strip off the lacquer from the shiny bits without damaging the black-painted bits???
I need to do this - my S3 of eight days ownership has got three plain alloy wheels (nice) and one lacquered wheel (yukky).
You do it very carefully with a little brush and nitromors and fine steel wool, and do a little bit at a time... then polish the wheel as I described above. I need to do this - my S3 of eight days ownership has got three plain alloy wheels (nice) and one lacquered wheel (yukky).
That process got me from this:
to this:
Or you can sand it off with medium then fine wet and dry...
Or you get the wheel diamond cut and sent back unlacquered (easiest option!)
Thanks for that. I may try the Nitromors route. I remember doing a similar exercise on TR7 alloys 15 years ago, and the Nitromors wouldn't touch the base coat beneath the lacquer, but the TVR wheel looks like there isn't anything except lacquer on it. Otherwise it will have to be re-cut because I don't want to polish out the fine machining pattern on all four wheels.
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