Anyone know of a chemical that will remove the clearcoat off of the lips of my wheels.
I would like to try something before I start to do it the old
fashion way (sanding).
thanks!

 

anything that removes the clearcoat may remove the paint too.


if you don't need to worry about paint, than anything with methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) will make short work of it. You must not let it sit on your tires, body paint or panels....it will ruin them.

OK, I just went into the garage to find the name of the stuff I used to remove polyurathane with, it's "Goof Off" it turned 1/8" think 10 year old poly into melted sludge. Again, don't let it get on anything you don't want gone.

 

thanks I'll give it a try.
I'm trying to remove the clearcoat finish off of the lips of my wheels

 

paint thinner

 

rember, don't get it on the tires, if it sits on the rubber....the tire will be finished.

 

you can try jet stripper but i think youd take out more than the clear coat, but if you use paint thinnner it might not be strong enough to get it up.

 

IMO, not a very smart thing to try on your own, or even do in the first plae. but whatever, do what you want. i will just be waiting for the "i tried to remove clearcoat from my wheels" thread.

 

I'm polishing my wheels my self so before I start sanding the clearcoat off I'd like to find a faster alternative to get the clear off

 

I have a friend that tried aircraft stripper and it did nothing

 

you don't mean Naptha do you, that stuff is no stronger than rubbing gas on it.

 

Try aircraft remover.

 

I took the clear coat off some old wheels I had with OOPS or Goof OFF one can't remember. They had a stainless steel lip on them and the wheels shinned sooo much better than before, almost like billet aluminum. Only thing bad is you have to polish them all the freakin time.

 

Paint stripper should do it. I once used the pro strength stuff you get at home depot to take epoxy paint off a concrete floor.

 

Get the tires removed befor you do anything, and are you trying to just strip the lips and not the centers? Are they multipiece wheels that you can take apart. If so remove the centers and tires and strip the lips using a paint stripper, then polish

 

+1

 

+1 on aircraft paint remover. I've used tis many times, very fast/effective. About $7 bucks.

 

Yes I know, i would never risk the chance of screwing up the tires or center face.
Yes my wheels are two peice

 

I'm going to go threw some of the paint strippers and paint thinner's I have now and see if any works, then hit Lowes to find some of the products said here.
thanks!

 

So I tried everyone’s suggestions and nothing.

So, a friend mentioned oven cleaner, he said some of his cycle buddies use it to remove clear coat.
So I tried it and behold it takes it right off.

I spray a specific area, let it sit for about 3-5 minutes and wipe.
It takes it right down to the bare metal.
Some times you'll have a bit of residue but just reapply and wipe.
There will sometimes be some residue on after a couple of coats, you'll just have to wet sand it with 400 grit

 

i have done it already when i got my paintjob, just use ACETONE it works good