Author Topic: I want to strip/paint my wheels... (Read 3110 times)

GooseMan · « **on:** June 27, 2007, 04:56:23 PM »

Hey all!

Does anyone have any good tips on stripping and painting my wheels? I have a 1991 Bandit 400, and I really dont like the white wheels...I'd prefer black.

I guess I can bring it to a place to get media-blasted and then powder coated, but I'd prefer to do it all myself....and, I'm cheap! hehee...

Any ideas?

Red01 · « **Reply #1 on:** June 28, 2007, 03:04:47 PM »

The smooth part of the wheels will strip real easy with paint stripper. The rough cast part is more difficult due to the nature of the surface, but with a little effort and a soft bristle brush that won't fall apart in stripper, it can be done.

tuscolabandit · « **Reply #2 on:** July 01, 2007, 04:27:11 PM »

If the paint on your wheeels is in good shape there is no need to strip them. Sand them with some scotch brite pads, clean them and spray your paint.

orionburn · « **Reply #3 on:** July 17, 2007, 10:13:20 AM »

One tip for doing the stripping...wear protection! When I was repainting my FZR I got a little tiny drop on my arm and that crap burns like hell. I've seen guys paint their rims with rattle-can spray paint and they turned out good. At least black did anyway.

GooseMan · « **Reply #4 on:** July 18, 2007, 02:21:49 PM »

Well, I finally got everything done.

Took the wheels off, and used some paint stripper from the local hardware store. It was like this clear jelly, and after waiting a few hours, then overnight, nothing really happened. I managed to get most of the paint off on the rims of the wheels, but it wasnt really a good job...basically, a huge mess!

While I was working, my neighboor (office neighboor, I do all the work on my bike in my office/warehouse) came by and mentioned he had a sandblaster.

SWEEEEEET!

So I sandblasted them up nice and good! I bought this dark anthracite spray paint from Duplicolor, which is made for wheels, and gave each wheel 3 coats. Came out REAL nice!

Much better than white! The bike looks much more "serious", for lack of a better term.

I'll post pics soon!

orionburn · « **Reply #5 on:** July 19, 2007, 12:59:30 PM »

Quote

Took the wheels off, and used some paint stripper from the local hardware store. It was like this clear jelly, and after waiting a few hours, then overnight, nothing really happened.

Stuff I used was called something like Aircraft Paint Stripper. That stuff you only had to leave sit for about 5 minutes and the paint came right off. It's a jelly as well, but it didn't work as good if it sat for a long period of time. Glad you managed to get the job done

Red01 · « **Reply #6 on:** July 19, 2007, 02:50:06 PM »

Sandblasting wouldn't work so well if you wanted the polished edge look.

I should've mentioned Aircraft paint stripper... it works better than the cheap grade stuff.