Hey all.

If I have an aluminum wheel with a painted finish, can the paint be stripped off and the wheel anodized? How difficult is this? Please speak up if you have done this, or know if it can be done or not.

Thanks!

 

Anodizing is a surface treatment the needs fresh aluminum to work. Most wheels have a finish already and would require removing some of the surface. This is not practical and why they powder coat them to change color.

 

Yeah, I know. But is it possible (if not impractical) to remove a layer of paint and THEN anodize?

Anodizing looks SO much better than powdercoating...

 

Yes, it is possible to anodize a wheel that has been previously painted.

 

What is the best/safest way to remove the paint, and do you know someone who has done this?

Thanks!

 

sand paper and elbow grease

 

What do you care how they get the paint off? Call a place that can anodize the wheels and let them have at. It's up to them to get the paint off.

 

FYI after you get the paint/clearcoat of the wheel you may want to consider polishing it for a better apperance before you get it anodized

 

sandblast
media blast
sandpaper=hellll
stripper

best idea would be media blasting

you'll get a kick out of what it is too.. look in phone book/online for media blasters

 

u basically just wanna get down to raw alum.. all wheels except high end are powdercoated.. paint is easy to remove w/ media blast.. also makes a cool finish u might wanna ride em after the blast haha