Removing Clearcoat from wheels...
 

Hey guys, since my wheels clearcoat have been chipping like a bitch lately, I was wondering whats the best way to DIY removing the clearcoat without harming the anodized finish underneath?

I've heard many methods of Aircraft stripper; Brake Kleen; etc...

I don't wanna go to a shop to get refinished yet. I'm trying to DIY and if i fail, off to the shop it goes i guess...lol

Looked at youtube and did some forum browsing on google....but nobody has solid knowledge...has anyone local done the job without harming the anodized finish??
tia

clearcoat is adhesively stuck onto the finish so ugh its probably impossible to not harm the finish underneath.
Never knew anodized wheels had clearcoats tho, thought they were simply bare aluminium that you can just polish.
my painted wheels got curbed by a family member and I'm waiting for more stable weather before I get it refinished

Aircraft stripper + elbow grease + sandpaper + buffing compound

http://zilvia.net/f/tech-talk/243016...ur-wheels.html

Aircraft stipper would be the easiest way. Depending if its scratch resistant clear, then you would definitely want to strip that off because its going to take you forever to sand that off(i learned the hard way took me 5 hours a rim just to sand off clear on the lip of my rims).

What do you mean by anodized? Don't you have polished lips? if so, you can re-polish them after stripping.

Lordco sells good paint stripper, yet I still found it a PITA to get all the paint off my multi-spoke wheels. Maybe stripper + a pressure washer would do it.

Instead I'm going to sand blast my wheels @ U-blast in Langley. I'll polish and/or paint them afterwards.

aircraft paint stripper is amazing just spray on let it sit for like 5 mins then wash off

Whats the pricing like there?

http://www.langleyublast.com/Default.aspx

I emailed previously to inquire, I think ~$60/hr yet I could be wrong since I haven't had a chance to try it yet. The website doesn't show prices.

where do u guys get aircraft paint stripper?

Best video showing the process of removing clearcoat I could find.

Does removing the clearcoat really have any down side? One site said the wheels are more prone to corrosion than anything.

I'd like to do the same to these

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/atta...04111950pm.jpg

But I fear damaging the finish on the wheel.. Any input?

Those should be 2 piece wheels, just take the apart and use stripper on the outer piece.

I have stripped my wheels with paint stripper and can tell you it did not damage the finish at all.