how do you get powder coating off of aluminum ?

[r81275]

any help on how to remove powder coating off of aluminum rims would be greatly appreciated

[tencentsshy]

Either a good sand blaster with some abraisive black beauty and a lot of patience, or heat. This isn't always a good idea, just depends on the piece being heated. I had a set of aluminum beadlocks with three coats of powder on them, took a oxygen acetylene torch and lightly went over them until the powder starts to melt and flake off, and then I blasted them with the sand blaster. It depends on how good the powder is cured as to how hard it will come off. What are you going to do with the wheels? You can always powder over powder, just sand with 220 grit and re-powder.

[r81275]

that might be my best option im putting the rims on a mini

[pimpt250r]

paint thinnier and some steel wool & (elbow grease)

[tencentsshy]

If the powder was cured well it should be chemical and corrosion resistant. Thinners and reducers shouldn't do anything but dull the finish. I have never tried steel wool, so that may work, but will take a lot of elbow grease. I'm not saying that pimpt250r is wrong, just that I have never tried it and am interested to see how it works. I know it takes a long time with 80 grit on a DA sander, and even one of those black paint/ rust stripper pads normally wear down to nothing before taking all the powder off.

[r81275]

its starting to sound like maybe ill just have blck rims lol

[Scro]

Originally posted by r81275
its starting to sound like maybe ill just have blck rims lol

Buy some aircraft remover. Spray it on and let it sit for about 10 minutes. It should come off with the water hose. Depending on the prep work that went into the part, it may take a couple soakings to get it all off.

If Pappy did them....lol...you might want to buy a couple cans. His stuff was tough!

[Scro]

One more thing. If you decide to use this method, be sure to wear gloves and long sleeves because it will burn your skin.

[r81275]

where do you get this stuff

[Scro]

I got mine at a local automotive parts store. I think that most people use it to remove paint from cars, but I'm not sure.

[Scro]

Check out item number 4618644342 on ebay. This is basically the same thing, except the kind I used was in an aerosol can.

[1fst400]

They sell it at wall mart.

[JessetheKid]

i am not sure if aircraft remover will work on powder coat but id imagine it would. It is very strong, i would recommend taking as many safty precautions when using it. Most autoparts stores have it, it is in a gallon can usually.

[Pappy]

exactly what do you think the rim will look like if you remove the coating? if prepped right, it will NOT be shiney aluminum.

[r81275]

nevr removed any so i was assuming that i could buff it out but from what i have gathered so far i would be better off leaving it powder coated

[Pappy]

that or have them recoated.

used rims are cheaper then stripping the ones you have:p

[r81275]

thanks pappy

[mojo123]

break fludid would prob. work but idk if that would be to much