ucw458 Posted March 8, 2011 Report Share Posted March 8, 2011 Well I'm lazy when it comes to polishing rims so I descided to do it a different way,...... with the car running. First off put the sandpaper down. There is clearcoat on the rim. The center of the spokes is powdercoat but over that is painted clear. An old ugly rim.http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq352/ucw458/Rim%20Repair/DSC03702.jpg This is what it will look like after using paint stripper. Already looks better.http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq352/ucw458/Rim%20Repair/DSC03703.jpg Uh oh this rim has some damage. Gonna have to fix that the easy way.http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq352/ucw458/Rim%20Repair/DSC03704.jpg I made a tool that fit the contour of the rim.http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq352/ucw458/Rim%20Repair/DSC03705.jpghttp://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq352/ucw458/Rim%20Repair/DSC03706.jpg Now you heat the affected area until the metal just starts to change color. If you heat it more than that the aluminum will melt and a big chunk of your rim will fall away. Be very careful. Once heated I used my tool and a hammer to pound out the dent. After heating and pounding.http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq352/ucw458/Rim%20Repair/DSC03707.jpghttp://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq352/ucw458/Rim%20Repair/DSC03708.jpg After the dents are pounded out it's time to start the car. Put it in 5th gear and let it idle for the next step. While the rim is turning use a grinder to take off curb rash then smooth out the bead. Stop the wheels every minute or so to check your progress. http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq352/ucw458/Rim%20Repair/DSC03710.jpghttp://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq352/ucw458/Rim%20Repair/DSC03709.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ucw458 Posted March 8, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2011 (edited) Once you got it smooth and there is nothing sharp that will catch your fingers dress it by hand with fine sandpaper. Use caution here and go slow. You can also sand the smooth inside of the rim this way. DO NOT TRY TO SAND THE SPOKES WITH THE WHEEL SPINNING OR YOU WILL GET HURT. DO NOT WEAR GLOVES WHILE SANDING. http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq352/ucw458/Rim%20Repair/DSC03711.jpghttp://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq352/ucw458/Rim%20Repair/DSC03712.jpghttp://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq352/ucw458/Rim%20Repair/DSC03713.jpg Now that the rim has been sanded it's time to polish. Use caution with this step. If working on the passenger side of the vehicle use your left hand. If working on the drivers side of the vehicle use your right hand. That way if the rag gets caught it will pull out of your hand instead of pulling your hand into the rim. DO NOT TRY TO POLISH THE SPOKES WITH THE WHEEL SPINNING OR YOU WILL GET HURT. DO NOT WEAR GLOVES WHILE POLISHING. http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq352/ucw458/Rim%20Repair/DSC03715.jpghttp://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq352/ucw458/Rim%20Repair/DSC03716.jpg Check it out. Most of the damage is gone and you wouldn't notice the minor imperfection unless you were looking for it. The rim still had some polish on it when I took this pic. http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq352/ucw458/Rim%20Repair/DSC03720.jpg This is a front rim that had curb rash and a quarter size dent. After 30 minutes of hammering, sanding then polishing it looks like this. http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq352/ucw458/Rim%20Repair/DSC03722.jpg Not bad for 30 minutes worth of work. The spokes will take longer but at least the edges look good. If you are even the slightest bit unsure of your skills don't use this method. Take your time, go slow and BE SAFE. Edited March 8, 2011 by ucw458 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Komeuppance Posted March 8, 2011 Report Share Posted March 8, 2011 L...O...L... Where's Patra to jump in and suggest this be a good time to test the top speed of the car?! Also, you should state this is specifically NOT for KTD... unless you want an accessory to manslaughter charge. -Robert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 8, 2011 Report Share Posted March 8, 2011 L...O...L... Where's Patra to jump in and suggest this be a good time to test the top speed of the car?! Also, you should state this is specifically NOT for KTD... unless you want an accessory to manslaughter charge. -Robert Yes, definately not for toadies, trolls or other nay sayers. That tool you fabricated did a great job of straightening things, I've taken a BFH to them and it sucks how it leaves a dent after. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Posted March 8, 2011 Report Share Posted March 8, 2011 (edited) Yes, definately not for toadies, trolls or other nay sayers. That tool you fabricated did a great job of straightening things, I've taken a BFH to them and it sucks how it leaves a dent after.Because the BFH requires finesse. Edited March 8, 2011 by 87Blue_Beast Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ucw458 Posted March 8, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2011 Also, you should state this is specifically NOT for KTD... unless you want an accessory to manslaughter charge. -Robert You gots a point. I left warnings but here's a disclaimer. USE THIS INFO AT YOUR OWN RISK. I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR YOU BEING STUPID AND HURTING YOURSELF. CAUTION RIM MUST BE FREE OF BURS BEFORE ANY HAND SANDING OR POLISHING CAN BE DONE. ABSOLUTLY NO GLOVES WHILE THE RIM IS SPINNING. IF YOU WEAR GLOVES AND GET THEM CAUGHT ON THE RIM IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO TWIST YOUR ARM OFF!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Posted March 8, 2011 Report Share Posted March 8, 2011 You gots a point. I left warnings but here's a disclaimer. USE THIS INFO AT YOUR OWN RISK. I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR YOU BEING STUPID AND HURTING YOURSELF. CAUTION RIM MUST BE FREE OF BURS BEFORE ANY HAND SANDING OR POLISHING CAN BE DONE. ABSOLUTLY NO GLOVES WHILE THE RIM IS SPINNING. IF YOU WEAR GLOVES AND GET THEM CAUGHT ON THE RIM IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO TWIST YOUR ARM OFF!!!Oh good, I was looking for a way to get rid of that extra arm... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ucw458 Posted March 8, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2011 Look at it like any other machine. A lathe will take an arm off if you're careless. People use lathes every day. They are fairly safe when treated with respect. This rim repair method is also safe as long as you take your time and don't goof around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 8, 2011 Report Share Posted March 8, 2011 Oh good, I was looking for a way to get rid of that extra arm... Those pesky limbs! I don't think you need a disclaimer, but I guess for the extra special people out there, it's best to cover your bases. I've got one full set of SHP's that got some dents here and there, and two full spare sets of 7's and 8's that could also use that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Posted March 8, 2011 Report Share Posted March 8, 2011 Those pesky limbs! I don't think you need a disclaimer, but I guess for the extra special people out there, it's best to cover your bases. I've got one full set of SHP's that got some dents here and there, and two full spare sets of 7's and 8's that could also use that.Speaking of SHP's I was looking at trading my stock set for some, then decided against it. The rears look thinner than the regular rears, due to the smaller lip, and I like lip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Metric-man Posted March 8, 2011 Report Share Posted March 8, 2011 (edited) Look at it like any other machine. A lathe will take an arm off if you're careless. People use lathes every day. They are fairly safe when treated with respect. This rim repair method is also safe as long as you take your time and don't goof around. I kinda like that tool you made, but is hammering a good idea on a two piece rim ?I kinda though our outer rims were billet and the inner rims vacuum cast, so hammering on the outer is OK ? I've seen this on youtube a guy was doing this... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxxG4A4OgHI You should mention running along side the vehicle, or do you use jack stand and tire chocks,or just the cherry-picker ? Edited March 8, 2011 by Metric-man Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ucw458 Posted March 8, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2011 I had the car up on 4 jackstands. I hadn't taken it down yet from doing the suspension work. As soon as I read cherry picker I knew what was posted. You don't want to start hammering on a cold rim. You run the risk of breaking a chunk off. Heating anneals/softens the area you want to work on. As you pound it back the metal hardens again from being "worked". Heat is the key but just the right amount. Too little and you haven't softened it enough to bend it easily. Too much and the rim melts. Also I wasn't using a BFG. I used a 2 lb sledge. It only took 3 hits to bend that dent out. The aluminum will just start to turn brown when it's the right temp. I used an oxy acetelene torch and worked it back and forth rapidly. Don't hold the torch in one spot or you will melt it. And try to concentrate on the damaged area only. Too much heat in the surrounding area and you just make the dent bigger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slydogg Posted March 8, 2011 Report Share Posted March 8, 2011 maybe you should re-vamp an old spinning wheel,that way you could back peddle if you happen to snag a body part. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fuze Posted March 8, 2011 Report Share Posted March 8, 2011 Why don't you wear a pair of Mechanix gloves for this? Are you worried about them snagging on something? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IntercooledFlatty Posted March 8, 2011 Report Share Posted March 8, 2011 old school, bucket of soapy water and sandpaper http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s263/aiche_photos/855%20Flatty/polishedflattyntrans006.jpgto each his own Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Posted March 8, 2011 Report Share Posted March 8, 2011 old school, bucket of soapy water and sandpaper http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s263/aiche_photos/855%20Flatty/polishedflattyntrans006.jpgto each his own I need to learn this one! I really need to get out there and start working on this stuff while I wait for a couple of goodies to show up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ucw458 Posted March 8, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2011 Why don't you wear a pair of Mechanix gloves for this? Are you worried about them snagging on something? Fabric and leather are stronger than your skin. When you use a lathe the general rule is no gloves or long sleeve shirts. If something grabs your skin it will give you a good cut. If something grabs your glove or shirt it will suck your arm into the machine. You are using the running car as a makeshift lathe to repair the rim. Same rules apply. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jody1 Posted March 8, 2011 Report Share Posted March 8, 2011 Thanks for the nice write-up, with photos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave-O Posted March 8, 2011 Report Share Posted March 8, 2011 May have to try this with my SHPs. Oh wait, it needs a running car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fuze Posted March 8, 2011 Report Share Posted March 8, 2011 Fabric and leather are stronger than your skin. When you use a lathe the general rule is no gloves or long sleeve shirts. If something grabs your skin it will give you a good cut. If something grabs your glove or shirt it will suck your arm into the machine. You are using the running car as a makeshift lathe to repair the rim. Same rules apply. Jesus, I'll just paint the mofo's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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