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cleaning clear coat off of chrome wheels

4K views 24 replies 9 participants last post by  COPRICE-SS 
#1 ·
I got my 95 SS back from my paint man with a new paint job. It looks immaculate and I am very pleased with the work done on it for the price. There is one problem, I have chrome wheels and some of the clearcoat was over sprayed onto the wheels. What is the best way to get the clearcoat off so my wheels will shine again?
 
#2 ·
4-0000 steel wool. Thants how!
 
#4 ·
He is a very good friend that gave me a $8000 paint job for the cost of materials==$950 It was our deal for me to clean off the extra polish mateial and the wheels. It took about 2 minutes for each wheel and about 1 hour on the polish in a few places. You can treat your friends anyway you want but for the deal I got I was happy to do it!
 
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#6 ·
I would love to but its back at my paint guy for some touch up
 
#9 ·
I used acetone to remove the clear coat. Time consuming [cotton balls] but got the job done. Then used NevrDull to polish them.

i.e. man cave, clean rim and tire, good movie playing, tire on the deck; you should be done with removing the clear coat over the bare aluminum on one wheel before the movie is over.

Two things: ventilation and no smoking!

Worked for me.

Good Lord - my first post in months! New laptop due to blown hard drive in previous one.
 
#13 ·
There is some misunderstanding here. I did NOT recommend useing steel wool to take off the original clean coat of off the factory wheels. I used 0000 steel wool to take clear coat that was ovewrspray when I had my car repainted. AND it worked like a charm+100. Taking the clear coat offf the factory wheels is a whole nuther topic
 
#16 ·
I don't want to argue the point, but no scratchs using the 0000 steel wool. It looks good even with a very expensive magnifing glass and feels good to the touch Since I used it on my chrome wheels I use it on all my chrome. Works for me and I will always suggest it to other---because it works when used with a good chrome polish
 
#17 ·
I meant well, as there are still MICROSCOPIC SCRATCHES that all kinds of crap gets into..

The THINNER AND SHOP TOWEL method only takes off the clear coat overspray in a gentle fashion, and leaves metal scratched microscopically. Common sense says SOFT SCRUB is better than abrasive right..
 
#21 ·
I appreciate what you are trying to say about the steel wool, BUT I have found a process that works very well and comes highly recommended by more than just a few paint and body guys. Like I said I don't want to argue about this, but believe me I am not wrong on the outcome I achieve using 0000 steel wool with a chrome polish. And that doesn't make you wrong either. We just see things a bit different. BTW my 12 year old chrome wheels shine like they are new
 
#24 ·
As 95 Wagon said,
"Fact of the matter is the production Impala wheel has coarse metalic silver paint on the sides of the spokes and clear over the entire wheel.
The finish on wheels should be treated the same as the paint on the rest of the car."

So, Allot of today's wheels have clear coats on them you may not realize..and chrome's/anodized finishes I would definitely suggest being gentle with.

I respect people for finding creative ways to get things done, I'm all for that.
At the same time, if you are not skilled or don't have the experience someone else does in using certain methods, I URGE YOU TO BE VERY CAREFUL and research what your project material is, what's on it, and how to properly care for it...

Otherwise, you could screw up a set of $500 to $5000 rare wheels.
 
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