Polishing rims- Is there an easy way?!

[South East Rocket]

I've decided to polish my rims instead of getting them powder-coated.  The decision is mainly financial...  I do really like the polished look, but don't wanna go through all the work to get there.

Can someone give me some shortcut?

Oh! and last summer when i put my new tires on, I took my rims off, sand blasted them, primmered them with aluminum primmer and painted them black.  The only problem is that my paint is not holding up around the edges.  Polishing them would get rid off the problem areas.

SO WHAT IS IT GUYS?!
AM I JUST IN FOR A LOT OF WORK HERE?

[gitarman]

check out pantablo's website http://pantablo500.tripod.com/ he has a link to a guy that stripped the paint off his sv650 using paint stripper and it worked pretty well...now that is on the factory paint im not sure how well it will work if you have a layer of primer below the top coat.

[sprint_9]

Here is an old post with some good pics and info.

http://www.gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2192&highlight=

I also want to do this but havent gotten around to it. The center part of the wheel will be very hard to polish since it isnt smooth. You would have to sand it smooth first. You can do the sides of the wheel since there smooth and perhapes buy some good spray pant and paint the inner part of the wheel. I think it would stick good since the center is pretty rough.

[pantablo]

I do really like the polished look, but don't wanna go through all the work to get there.  Can someone give me some shortcut?

Pay someone to do it for you.

The only problem is that my paint is not holding up around the edges.  Polishing them would get rid off the problem areas.

Another way is to use 600 wet sandpaper and sand the edges down. Couple of the UK boys just did that this week and it took them about 2-3 hours per rim, sanding and polishing. Once you do the sanding and get down to bare aluminum you need to polish with an appropriate polish-hopefully in one of the links above they'll say something.Getting to the bare alum. comes pretty quickly-when I painted my grab rail I got to bare alum before I knew it.

Check my site-I've got some info there from either/both Bandit and sv650 site. It's hard work either way. Also, it can be done with tires on.

Polishing looks really good with a dark or colored center part. BTQ, the center is a Buddha Loves You to polish because it's not a smooth surface. I don't think you want to go there... I have silver rims and don't think it'll look that good but one day I want to paint the centers either to match the bike or contrasting color, llike orange and polish the edges.

But I'm too lazy to maintain the polish...

[Rashad]

....or contrasting color, llike orange and polish the edges.

But I'm too lazy to maintain the polish...

That would look sweet. Like the rims on the new Kawasaki Z1000... ohhhh that bike is soo hott. And the rims are orange with polished edges.

[Leveller]

Pablo is spot on, South east  the process seems to be a few hours per rim , grab yourself a set of Wet and dry sandpaper start with a coarse grit of 240 grade to take the upper and primer coats off, use plenty of warm soapy water , it helps to soften the sandpaper ( easer to follow the lines of the wheel ) and makes the paper last longer, after you have taken all the paint off , move up to 400 grade , followed by 800 then finishing with 1200 grade , then rub the wheel down with a good metal polish to shine , i used Peek, i think Sean was using Autosol




drop by the Site for more info and pictures //www.gs500e.co.uk/forums




Lev

[JohNLA]

Wow Leveller, those rims are sweeeet
I like your choise of gold. I think they contrast that dark blue well.

[Rashad]

Leveller, i agree that is Beautiful!!

WOW.. you inspired me... look out... :lol:

[JasonB]

You could always spray on some clearcoat once you have them all polished up to your liking so you dont have to polish them all the time.

[Black Snowman]

You could always spray on some clearcoat once you have them all polished up to your liking so you dont have to polish them all the time.

I agree, a good clearcoat makes all the differance.

[JBix]

Those are some nice rims!  I think I may do a black center on mine, with polished outer rim.  When I put on the fairing kit, I'll paint something to contrast so the wheels will stand out and look nice.  I think I am also going to have the frame powder-coated black.  What y'all think?

[Black Snowman]

Sounds slick. This winter I'm going to tear apart the GS and repaint it. Although there's a guy selling a 93 Kawi Ninja 600R for only $2500 and if I can sell my GS I might move up.

Now that I've got all the major upgrades done on the GS there's just not enough left to tinker with