The Cal-look Lounge
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
Did you miss your activation email?
April 25, 2024, 08:49:07 am

Login with username, password and session length
Thank you for your support!
Search:     Advanced search
350687 Posts in 28576 Topics by 6821 Members
Latest Member: LasseA
* Home This Year's European Top 20 lists All Time European Top 20 lists Search Login Register
+  The Cal-look Lounge
|-+  Cal-look/High Performance
| |-+  Cal-look
| | |-+  How to: Restore/Paint/Clean Original BRM's...???
« previous next »
Pages: [1] Print
Author Topic: How to: Restore/Paint/Clean Original BRM's...???  (Read 6074 times)
Frank LUX
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1886


Back...Soon...hopefully!!!


WWW
« on: January 29, 2016, 20:45:09 pm »

As in the Title, looking for info on How to strip, repaint and polish original BRM's!!! I'm going to pick up a Set tomorrow and would like to know how to take care safely on them...!!! any help Info appreciated...!!!!

Frank
« Last Edit: January 29, 2016, 21:41:08 pm by Frank LUX » Logged

1960 Ragtop, 2332cc, 48 IDA's, Joe Hunt Magneto, someday it will be back...
1953 Split Window, 1799cc, 48 IDA's, Don Zig Magneto,  OG BRM's...in da works...
SumFun Racecar, 2332cc, 48 IDA's, Magneto
vwhelmot
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 687


« Reply #1 on: January 30, 2016, 17:11:20 pm »

I have a similar job to do on a set set of Mag rims. Im going to very gently bead blast or possibly soda blast them then paint and polish after.
Logged
karl h
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 927



« Reply #2 on: January 30, 2016, 20:17:33 pm »

 Grin
Logged

Sarge
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 4345



« Reply #3 on: January 30, 2016, 23:57:07 pm »

What karl h says Grin  Kidding aside, if your wheels are growing hair, take them to someone who knows about polishing magnesium and have them done
rather then trying to do it yourself.  You'll have to pay money but you'll like the results way better.  Then, you can give them plenty of love on a weekly
basis unless you keep them bagged up.  If you decide to do it yourself, always remember that whatever amount of labor it takes to finish one wheel will
need to be multiplied by four and also, you'll have black fingers for the rest of your life.  I used to help with the Underdog and I remember using 0000
steel wool (the finest) followed by Brasso Metal Polish and loads of elbow grease.  Have FUN! Wink
Logged

DKP III
speedwell
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 14701


the archivist


WWW
« Reply #4 on: February 01, 2016, 16:36:25 pm »

frank ask Bill S. for advice Wink
Logged

http://speedwell55.skynetblogs.be/
oldspeed 61 standard empi/speedwell
Bill Schwimmer
DKK
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 562



« Reply #5 on: February 04, 2016, 05:46:39 am »

You can lightly glass bead them, they don't have to be completely stripped, just knock off the loose paint & fuzz.  Polish them, if you take them to somebody make sure they know what they are & what they are supposed to look like, not somebody who is going to mow off all of the ribs & details. You can do it by hand... gonna take a while,  600 grit & 0000 steel wool. & Mothers polish. Wash off the compound with lacquer thinner & paint everywhere that is not polished, bead area ect.  Put bags over them while on the car, or if off the car bag them & close the bags up.
Have Fun  Grin
Logged

" don't buy upgrades    ride up grades"
    Eddy Merckx
Straight Time
Full Member
***
Posts: 145



« Reply #6 on: February 06, 2016, 17:48:39 pm »

Check this site out. Some great info and some surprising stuff

http://stevekouracos.com/2012/04/25/aluminum-magnesium-wheel-restoration/
Logged

No retreat, No surrender !
vwhelmot
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 687


« Reply #7 on: February 06, 2016, 19:08:38 pm »

That's me not soda blasting mine then. Good read. Thanks.
Logged
danny gabbard
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 2909


gabfab


« Reply #8 on: February 06, 2016, 20:34:55 pm »

Check this site out. Some great info and some surprising stuff

http://stevekouracos.com/2012/04/25/aluminum-magnesium-wheel-restoration/
I have know steve for a long time and he is a very good painter.
Logged

A poor craftsman, Blame's it on poor tools.  GAB-FAB shop # 775 246-3069
Udo
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 2077



« Reply #9 on: February 06, 2016, 20:38:10 pm »

I have heard the Bergs did some good work on those ? :-)

Udo
Logged

spoolin70
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 603



« Reply #10 on: February 07, 2016, 10:17:54 am »

Have any of you guys had your BRM's crack tested ?

I was very close to buying some magnesium motorsport wheels a while back but they hadn't been used for 20 years and the owner was very insistent that they were X rayed/crack tested before use.

I can't recall this being mentioned when you hear "I scored a set from the back of an old guys garage  Smiley

Just a thought
Darren
« Last Edit: February 07, 2016, 20:05:45 pm by spoolin70 » Logged
Bruce
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1414


« Reply #11 on: February 07, 2016, 10:37:43 am »

  I have know steve for a long time and he is a very good painter.  
Can you ask him why soda blasting is no good for Mg wheels?
« Last Edit: February 08, 2016, 16:24:12 pm by Bruce » Logged
Straight Time
Full Member
***
Posts: 145



« Reply #12 on: February 08, 2016, 12:24:18 pm »

Think its something to do with micro porous corrosion  Tongue. Does it not contain sodium ?

Also heard not to rub with wire wool as tiny splinters are left embedded in the magnesium and the different types of metal react and corrode also.

Seems like a minefield. I have been looking into this for years and have not started restoring my wheels yet for fear of making worse.

The joys of a vintage rim  Cheesy
Logged

No retreat, No surrender !
Bill Schwimmer
DKK
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 562



« Reply #13 on: February 08, 2016, 16:39:33 pm »

I don't know about soda blasting, as I have never done that. But I have glass bead them & used steel wool for decades. Don't over think it.  It is just metal.
Logged

" don't buy upgrades    ride up grades"
    Eddy Merckx
Straight Time
Full Member
***
Posts: 145



« Reply #14 on: February 09, 2016, 15:45:50 pm »

Bill, what grade wire wool do you use.  I'm over the precautionary measures.  The wheels will probably outlive me anyway ;-)

Love the Merckx quote!!
Logged

No retreat, No surrender !
Bill Schwimmer
DKK
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 562



« Reply #15 on: February 10, 2016, 00:01:23 am »

I use 0000 steel wool  dipped in just a touch of Mothers polish so it isnt so dry. If they are still pretty bright , just the Mothers. If you keep them up, they are pretty easy to take care of. Just dont get them wet or let them go too long.
 
As for Merckx, he has a few good quotes, that is my favorite though.
I am getting old now & I don't like to go as fast downhill as I used to. I would rather go up a hill than down.
Logged

" don't buy upgrades    ride up grades"
    Eddy Merckx
Straight Time
Full Member
***
Posts: 145



« Reply #16 on: February 10, 2016, 01:27:47 am »

Ha haaaaaaa!  Nice one. 🚴

Thanks for the tip on the wheels.  All the best.
Logged

No retreat, No surrender !
Pages: [1] Print 
« previous next »
Jump to:  

Powered by MySQL Powered by PHP Powered by SMF 1.1.21 | SMF © 2015, Simple Machines Valid XHTML 1.0! Valid CSS!