Refinishing LC80 rims... help.

[SleekRunner]

Hey guys I picked up some LC80 rims off craigs for $100 about a month ago and need some tips for cleaning them up. Unfortunately they are the chrome ones, so i need some help on how to remove the chrome.

I see most of you just have the regular aluminum finish. Ive worked on one rim so far which was a pita. i pretty much have it all off besides the lip which is really thick and hard to peel off. Also around the raised TOYOTA lettering along with some numbers which I'm assuming to be a serial number or something.

The only thing i can find that has worked so far is elbow grease and razors to peel the chrome off piece by piece. A wire wheel just scuffs it up and makes it shine... Im thinking about taking them to a guy my dad knows who said will give me a cheap price to do all the work and wet sand and paint them professionally but on a college budget here.

So what would you guys recommend? Just fork up the extra dough and get them done professionally the price would roughly be $150-200. Or any advice on how to get the chrome off?

Thanks for any input, its always appreciated.

Oh and heres what im working with...


All is gone except the lip.



Sprayed a coat of primer on it to cover all of the bare metal until i can finish them... Would love to get these out of my shed and onto my runner!

 

[t4r4life]

take a angle grinder with wire brush wheels, its not hard man its a 2 beer job max

 

[SleekRunner]

Yeah i already tried that and it really didnt do it for me. Just kept polishing it. Or it would peel it back in one spot then just sand it down into the aluminum more. Plus its a pain to get that wire wheel to grind with the contours of this rim. kept catching on a different angle that i couldnt reach.

 

[cj80cruiser]

I don't believe I've seen chromed LC wheels before or if I did I guess I tried to forget it. AFAIK those did not come that way stock...atleast not in my experience.

On my budget which is probably worse than a college budget there is no way I'd get that professionally done. Painted LC rims, in my eyes, whether professionally done or rattle canned hold no value greater than a used set with the clear coat coming off. It's too easy to just repaint an old set and make them look new. My advice is to save money here and definitely do it yourself.

BTW those are aluminum alloy and won't rust if you primed them to prevent it....just an FYI if you didn't already know that.

See how much the guy would charge just to remove the chrome and if it's not too much then that part may be worth it. Otherwise, I'd just deal with the PITA job of removing it myself.

 

[t4r4life]

if you got friends with sandblaster that be real easy if not you can just make sure the surface is smooth and paint over it

 

[SleekRunner]

I don't believe I've seen chromed LC wheels before or if I did I guess I tried to forget it. AFAIK those did not come that way stock...atleast not in my experience.

On my budget which is probably worse than a college budget there is no way I'd get that professionally done. Painted LC rims, in my eyes, whether professionally done or rattle canned hold no value greater than a used set with the clear coat coming off. It's too easy to just repaint an old set and make them look new. My advice is to save money here and definitely do it yourself.

BTW those are aluminum alloy and won't rust if you primed them to prevent it....just an FYI if you didn't already know that.

See how much the guy would charge just to remove the chrome and if it's not too much then that part may be worth it. Otherwise, I'd just deal with the PITA job of removing it myself.

yeah i think it may be one of those dealer options like on our tri-split spokes. yeah that sounds look a good idea too. I just dont wanna eff something up is my main thing. I wonder if heating the chrome up with my heat gun will help it peel? hah.
Oh and yeah thats why i primed them.

if you got friends with sandblaster that be real easy if not you can just make sure the surface is smooth and paint over it

I thought if you sandblast aluminum it will make it really rough and will never be "smooth" again.

I guess no one else has had chrome lc wheels. Ill probably end up doing all the work myself i guess since i did get a good deal for 100$ no use spendng 200 and making them a total of $300.


Oh well ill just quit the whining and do the work myself. Now to find the time which is the most expensive part of this... Thanks for your input guys.:cheers:

 

[cj80cruiser]

if you got friends with sandblaster that be real easy if not you can just make sure the surface is smooth and paint over it

Yeah, just scuff it up really well and remove all flaking material.

Buy you some of this to help this project come out even better. high build primer I'd just get the duplicolor one. This should make the surface even.

Do you know the card trick? Place playing cards between the tire and wheel to paint your wheels...use it when your tires are already mounted on the rims. I wouldn't paint my wheel until after the tires are installed and balanced because whoever mounts them will probably scratch the new paint up. I painted over my wheel weights but you can mark where they are, remove them, paint your wheels and put them back on in the same location if you want.

 

[t4r4life]

just drink a lotta beer and blast good music time will go by real fast doing those rims, or i can take it off ur hands for 100 and get ur money back lol

 

[SleekRunner]

Yeah, just scuff it up really well and remove all flaking material.

Buy you some of this to help this project come out even better. high build primer I'd just get the duplicolor one. This should make the surface even.

Do you know the card trick? Place playing cards between the tire and wheel to paint your wheels...use it when your tires are already mounted on the rims. I wouldn't paint my wheel until after the tires are installed and balanced because whoever mounts them will probably scratch the new paint up. I painted over my wheel weights but you can mark where they are, remove them, paint your wheels and put them back on in the same location if you want.

Oh yeah well my tires are still on my stock tri spokes so these rims are just by their lonesome... haha thanks for the tips If worse comes to worse ill do some "touchup" work on them. I would love for some new tires, but dont really have the cash to do so. maybe in the spring... credit cards are nice.

just drink a lotta beer and blast good music time will go by real fast doing those rims, or i can take it off ur hands for 100 and get ur money back lol

Music is definitely something ill add into the equation. Im not much of a beer drinker though. Oh well i did one rims work so ill charge ya 300$ for that one... sounds good? When would you like to pick them up? haha

 

[cj80cruiser]

BTW those are aluminum alloy and won't rust if you primed them to prevent it....just an FYI if you didn't already know that.

Oh and yeah thats why i primed them.

I realized what I said didn't come out right....I meant, you didn't have to prime them because they are aluminum and won't rust.

 

[Whackmaster]

This will remove the chrome finish down to bare metal..I did a set of chrome wheels and it peeled that chrome finish right off.

Rust-Oleum/18 oz. aircraft remover (248872) | Paint Remover-Stripper-Thinner | AutoZone.com

 

[Whackmaster]

I thought if you sandblast aluminum it will make it really rough and will never be "smooth" again.

If you blast them with glass beads it won't pit them. They will come out smooth..

 

[catalina34]

For future reference aircraft stripper is great for removing finishes on wheels. It can be had at most auto parts stores. Just don't get it on your skin.

 

[SleekRunner]

I thought if you sandblast aluminum it will make it really rough and will never be "smooth" again.

If you blast them with glass beads it won't pit them. They will come out smooth..

Oh learn something new every day haha thank you

This will remove the chrome finish down to bare metal..I did a set of chrome wheels and it peeled that chrome finish right off.

Rust-Oleum/18 oz. aircraft remover (248872) | Paint Remover-Stripper-Thinner | AutoZone.com

Yesss easy way out! Thank you so much! Well ill post up finished pics once i get them done, should be this week hopefully. I would do it tomorrow but we are moving to a new house. arty:

I realized what I said didn't come out right....I meant, you didn't have to prime them because they are aluminum and won't rust.

Ahh okay... oh well better be safe than sorry haha.

 

[JohnsD90]

take a angle grinder with wire brush wheels, its not hard man its a 2 beer job max

That all depends on how many beer per hour you consume lol.

 

[SCRunner12]

Any luck with the aircraft stripper? I got a set of LX450 rims with the chrome plating and need to get it off easily. I really hope that worked for you and hopefully you have some pictures.