What material are VR GTS wheels

[Lex]

I don't have all the proper tools, drill has been the choice tool atm.

I have a couple foam cones and a rag thingo attachment. Will get a couple more polishing attachments.

I have mothers mag & aluminium polish which I've used before, but will keep the purple polish in mind.

More progress in between Christmas preparations, just wet sanding with 200 girt.
View attachment 261794

View attachment 261795

Need to strip the paint next to each spoke, going easist route to finish them off.

Once you've paint stripped them, start with a rougher grid to cut as much crab out as you can. Then work your way down to at least a wet 400 grid.

When polishing my wheels, l started with a 80 grid. Then worked down to 800 grid. eg. 80, 120, 180, 240, 320, 400, 600, 800. Then l started the polishing.

Later l decided to polish my throttle body. I started with a 180 grid, then worked my way down to 400. Then polished it. It came up good, like the wheels.

Here's a reminder how one of the wheels came up.

 

[Lex]

That purple metal polish, https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/1953054...MI2IzKxZ2pgwMViqRmAh0t7Q40EAQYAyABEgKA9fD_BwE
l've never used. I've heard @panhead mention it. He said, if l remember correctly that he would use it to freshen up something that had already been polished.

@panhead would be nice to hear what you have to say on the subject? (He used to run a polishing & electro plating shop.) Sorry if l got it wrong?

 

[Lex]

I should of mentioned too that all the sanding was done by hand & the polishing was done with what is called mops, bolted onto a extension on my 4 inch grinder. Polish used was tripoli for the first polish & green rouge for the final polish. Then cleaned down with cotton wool & isopropyl alcohol. https://diggersaustralia.com.au/products/cleaners-sanitisers/diggers-isopropyl-alcohol/. I bought from Bunnings.

 

[ephect]

I had a couple goes with 80 and it was too harsh around the small patches with primer. 200 seamed perfect to remove the primer spots and smooth out the bare alloy around it without deep scratches.

I welcome more feedback and techniques, I just dont have all the grits and bits and pieces I should have, so working with what I have atm.

 

[ephect]

Work continues, but with paint stripper. Repco had this stripper on clearance for $10, bought 3 cans. Normal price $35

First rim that I manually sanded, I hit the corners

Second rim untouched apart from stripper.

Waited for it to do its thing then hit it with steel wool.

I'll need another coat as I didn't slap it on thick enough, and it dried a little too quick.

 

[ephect]

Second rim now done, soo much better of a base to start with less time invested.

 

[ephect]

Ok my next question is, what do I do with the inside rim area. They are filthy and not really silver. I've scrubbed and power washed with minimal results.

Do I strip and polish them also? If I can get them to a clean silver state I'll leave them, unsure how they will look.

 

[figjam]

Inside rim, smooth the crap off with a light sand and paint silver over the staining as is. They are only going to get dirty with brake dust and tar anyway.

 

[losh1971]

I stripped mine fully including the inside. I don't reckon you will get the inside clean enough to paint properly.

 

[AirStrike]

Ok my next question is, what do I do with the inside rim area. They are filthy and not really silver. I've scrubbed and power washed with minimal results.

Do I strip and polish them also? If I can get them to a clean silver state I'll leave them, unsure how they will look.

Sand, etch prime and paint.