Stripping clear off M-Parallels post 2022

[632 Regal]

A second redo cause I didn't like the finish of the rear wheels. The front wheels with the extraterrestrial clear finish, the aluminum is softer than on the rear wheels. The fronts wheeled out okay but the rears still wont polish up past the 2000 grit. So after respraying with the rest of the Wurth paint I can try try again or say... can't say here but the point is I am very fatigued of it all. The fronts are very shiney for sure, not mirror but close. The rears suck in comparison. I did upload a bunch of pictures but am unable to post them right now. Just don'e want to get into that part. I am thinking 3000, 4000 and 5000 grit actually has a purpose now. Not going to do it to the rears but I bet that is whats missing. The clear paint does not hide any sand or wheel scratches at all. If your wheel shows sanding then after clear you will see them. Why did I bother?

[632 Regal]

Pictures... Notice the width of the spokes and the edge where it blends into the barrel on the rears. Same part number and all. So I attempted to re-clear with a somewhat satisfactory failure but should be workable. Those pics will come later in another post.

Note: When spraying high solids clear you DO NOT max the flow and use low pressure! Those people telling you that want you to fail, and I did. I didn't figure that out in time but know for next time. Anyways pics in no particular order.

[632 Regal]

Current state of affairs:


I don't want to discuss it.

[632 Regal]

Redo 3. The clear sucked and looked to be too much BS to sand and wheel so lets do it again I guess. Store stripper works on fresh clear okay. Definitely not great but works. That was 3rd try with stripper. Don't want to waste the real stuff on it yet.

Thinking I will just pound on some old school Buick hubcaps and call it done. Should have I spent 2500 on mint M-Pars? Not a chance this is much more rewarding.

[genphreak]

Redo 3. The clear sucked and looked to be too much BS to sand and wheel so lets do it again I guess. Store stripper works on fresh clear okay. Definitely not great but works. That was 3rd try with stripper. Don't want to waste the real stuff on it yet.

Thinking I will just pound on some old school Buick hubcaps and call it done. Should have I spent 2500 on mint M-Pars? Not a chance this is much more rewarding.

Admire your heroic perseverance from afar, the far away continents took years of toil, frustration, and at the end, sheer luck and the ability to overcome waves of pestilence.

Well done, no way you can stop now. At least they look really super, even if you are not happy with the finish, yet...

[632 Regal]

Admire your heroic perseverance from afar, the far away continents took years of toil, frustration, and at the end, sheer luck and the ability to overcome waves of pestilence.

Well done, no way you can stop now. At least they look really super, even if you are not happy with the finish, yet...

I am working on flipping X3's so that took all the room of continuing the effort on these things. It also leaves me a great break to rethink things when I do choose to restart the M-Pars. One is the sanding step. I bought 2000-7000 grit so for the rears that don't polish I have that option of stepping up to at least the 4000 before polishing and clear coating. The clear coat I am using does bond to polished aluminum which is pretty much a rare situation. I like that idea I can get the finish like I want and then clean and clear. As I mentioned in this thread the fronts are a softer material that can be wheeled out for the shine, the rears are much harder finish.

One of my friends that has been watching my continued efforts told me to just paint them black and be done. Lol... Once I start again I think it will be my final effort no matter how they turn out. They however will be better than the last time which is progress... right?

[632 Regal]

This post didn't die, just took a break. Probably hit it soon.

[632 Regal]

Only dealing with the rears that won't polish up. Did 600 and 800. Don't take long but lack of motivation.

[632 Regal]

1500 and 2000 so far.
Looks the same or worse, I don't care, my arms hurt.

[shogun]

don't care, just install the wheels, after some thousands of miles there is enough brake dust which covers all this.