Restoring rims
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- ICOA Member
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- Location: Charleston, Illinois, USA
- Location: Charleston, Illinois, USA
Restoring rims
Has anybody restored any 79 rims? If so what is the process?
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- ICOA Technical Director
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- Location: Knox, PA
Re: Restoring rims
There's a thread here about Copper Collar's rim restoration. Should be easy to search up.
Dave
Dave
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- ICOA Member
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Re: Restoring rims
I have not done it myself, I know people who had the Comstars powder coated. Also, years ago someone tried a new product that gave a chrome-like finish on silver Comstars. His report is somewhere on CBXWorld.
Only thing that I have done is a thorough cleaning.
Only thing that I have done is a thorough cleaning.
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- ICOA Member
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- Location: Hants/UK
- Location: Hants/UK
Re: Restoring rims
Hi,
Well I haven't finished yet with mine, but this is how I have gone about it.
For me, the wheels were reasonable condition with the "spokes" being pretty good, but the "rims" being torn up with tyre lever damage etc. I wanted to get as close to original finish as I could, and didn't want a mirror polished finish which was one option.
So, I used "wet and dry" on the rims to sand out all the damage - started with 120 grit, then 240, 400, 600 and finished with 1000 grit. Then gave a light polish with aluminium polish.
The results seem pretty good - somewhere between original finish and mirror polished. Not an exact match by any means but don't look too bad. Need to see what they look like on the bike once tyres and discs etc are back on.
Some pictures...
Will post more pictures once back on the bike in the next few weeks.
Paul.
Well I haven't finished yet with mine, but this is how I have gone about it.
For me, the wheels were reasonable condition with the "spokes" being pretty good, but the "rims" being torn up with tyre lever damage etc. I wanted to get as close to original finish as I could, and didn't want a mirror polished finish which was one option.
So, I used "wet and dry" on the rims to sand out all the damage - started with 120 grit, then 240, 400, 600 and finished with 1000 grit. Then gave a light polish with aluminium polish.
The results seem pretty good - somewhere between original finish and mirror polished. Not an exact match by any means but don't look too bad. Need to see what they look like on the bike once tyres and discs etc are back on.
Some pictures...
Will post more pictures once back on the bike in the next few weeks.
Paul.
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- NobleHops
- ICOA Member
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- Location: Tucson, Arizona, USA
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- ICOA Technical Director
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- Location: Knox, PA
Re: Restoring rims
Yes! Fantastic.
Dave
Dave
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- ICOA Member
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- Location: Charleston, Illinois, USA
Re: Restoring rims
wow them look great... How many days do you have in them?.jnnngs wrote:Hi,
Well I haven't finished yet with mine, but this is how I have gone about it.
For me, the wheels were reasonable condition with the "spokes" being pretty good, but the "rims" being torn up with tyre lever damage etc. I wanted to get as close to original finish as I could, and didn't want a mirror polished finish which was one option.
So, I used "wet and dry" on the rims to sand out all the damage - started with 120 grit, then 240, 400, 600 and finished with 1000 grit. Then gave a light polish with aluminium polish.
The results seem pretty good - somewhere between original finish and mirror polished. Not an exact match by any means but don't look too bad. Need to see what they look like on the bike once tyres and discs etc are back on.
Some pictures...
Will post more pictures once back on the bike in the next few weeks.
Paul.
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- ICOA Member
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- Joined: Tue Feb 10, 2015 2:05 pm
- Location: Hants/UK
- Location: Hants/UK
Re: Restoring rims
Hi,
Sorry, been away for a few days.
Each wheel took me:
- 5 grit sizes
- it takes circa 60 minutes to do the rim on one side of a wheel for each grit size
- so, 5 x 60 minutes x 2 sides per wheel. Call it about 10 hours per wheel!
Not a quick process - I did it by hand (used a flap wheel for the major damaged areas, but went over by hand after). I am sure there could be quicker ways of doing it...
Paul.
Sorry, been away for a few days.
Each wheel took me:
- 5 grit sizes
- it takes circa 60 minutes to do the rim on one side of a wheel for each grit size
- so, 5 x 60 minutes x 2 sides per wheel. Call it about 10 hours per wheel!
Not a quick process - I did it by hand (used a flap wheel for the major damaged areas, but went over by hand after). I am sure there could be quicker ways of doing it...
Paul.
- CopperCollar
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- Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
Re: Restoring rims
Oven Cleaner will remove the anodizing and making the sanding go easier. Be sure to mask off any painted or anodized areas you do not want to strip.
When given the choice between being right or being kind; choose kindness. W. Dyer