plastidip um..I would like to get them chromed or just take the finish off. Thoughts please, thanks.
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I didn’t realize chrome would add weight thanksMost likely redoing your wheels in chrome will be prohibitively expensive and may be difficult to find a local source for the work, due to environmental restrictions. It will also add considerable weight. Have you looked into respraying them with a faux chrome? Not nearly as shiny but it might get you close enough to the chrome finish at a reasonable price.
Thanks sounds like the best option as someone stated chrome would add weight and added weight means reduced gas mileageIf you really want to do this, Aircraft Remover will take the paint right off, no problem. Then you can polish them, make them shine.
Your wheel may be powder coated? I would at least find out before jumping into the project.
To preference my experience with powder coating.. there is not a week that goes by that I don't send something to be powder-coated.! And this includes a few set of wheels each year.
Powder coating is not difficult to remove. If you know what you are doing. We use Aircraft paint remover as was mentioned earlier and it work jusssss fine!!!
Sand blasting a none steel wheel would never be my first choice for a number of reasons. DONT DO IT! Light media blasting and again as mentioned using none sand abrasives like walnut shell is far better on the alloy's.
Powder coating has never EVER shown to weaken a wheel. While there is no real proven direct evidence either way . I might add that there are dozens of OFF-ROAD shop all across the US that will often buy top brand wheel and have them powder coated for special POP sales. There has to the best of my knowledge any mention from reputable sources indicating a powder coated wheel Integrity may be reduced for having a wheel powder coated? Most all off road none steel wheels are powder coated or anodized.
Speaking off, anodizing this may be an option for you to consider along with your other choices. They do have a Nickel color and you can even get the wheels hard anodized . And here is a good point to support why powder coating does not hard a wheel. Hard anodizing removes less then a fraction of surface material which in most an cases can not be measured in the usual way. NO anodized wheel has ever been reported damaged from off road use or street even racing because of the process.
Powder coatings unlike a few decades ago now each have different temperature application recommendations from the manufactures of the powder coats. Find a powder coating shop that has experience powder coating wheels should you go that route.
Chrome DOES NOT ADD CONSIDERBLE WEIGHT... sorry but this one gets a rolling eye emo
I literally on my none street SHOW 1967 Chevelle chromed every suspension including the rear end housing , almost everything but the engine block, re chromed ALL the factory chrome and NO it did not add "considerable weight to the car! hahahaha!@ Just when I almost thought I had read everything on forums.
There is new powder coat that looks very close to chrome.
What all this means is $$$$$$$ the best response I read is go shop for a new set of custom wheels that will personalize your MAZDA.
Before you do this, check with the business that's chroming.Thanks I watched a couple of YouTube vids using the aircraft remover pretty simple. I have looked at custom rims and the one place had I believe only 18’s and 19’s.
Got a quote of 900 to get my wheels chromed. I want to stick with my factory 17’s as it’s better for mileage also it would be quite unique being one of the few Mazda’s with tricked out factory wheels.
thanks
I’m going to see how the Airplane remover works if the wheel look good without anything else being done hey it’s LA we trick our cars out a littleI highly recommend if you are going to Chrome them talk to the plater you are intending using before you do anything to the WHEEL.
Don't bother weighing before plating and after its ridiculous! It takes at least 10lbs per wheel to make ANY notable difference and that is mostly if you sport drove the vehicle regarding the handling. Nothing will change to increase the MPG unless you start saving over 300+ lbs in the total vehicle weight. Its a pure MATH formula thing....taking into account so many factors its a waste of time when all you really need to do is drive no faster then 65mph.(after about 60mph the force of nature, aerodynamics starts to challenge all your efforts) Better at 55mph which was proven in the US years ago saving billions of gallons of fuel.
I think IMHO when I read where people are trying to increase their MPG they do not first understand how the sticker from the manufactures got their fuel usage rating?
Well you have a lot to think about. I personally am looking forward to seeing a set of FACTORY MAZDA WHEELS CHROMED!
ThanksAfter you strip the paint, get a Dremel with some polishing wheels and some rouge. After some work, they'll shine like you can't believe.
Yes and then he would need to clear coat them.After you strip the paint, get a Dremel with some polishing wheels and some rouge. After some work, they'll shine like you can't believe.