Re: [DML] "Machined" Wheels

["Walter" <Whalt@xxxx>]

Jan,

What I understand concerning 'machined' wheels is that first the original
paint stripped off. I suppose this could be done by sandblasting. (Before
rims are powdercoated they are sandblasted first.) But for machine
polishing, I think that sandblasting might impart a texture that would be
hard to polish out. If it is a polished surface that you want, I think you
would be safer with chemical stripping.

I can't quote Warren verbatim, but what I understood of the process is that
first they strip the paint off, then put the rim on a lathe (to spin it) and
then run an orbital polisher over it while it is spinning. Sand blasting or
bead blasting would probably give a very different look which may or may not
be bad. Unless you want to try for a highly polished surface, you might as
well bead blast the paint off and see how it looks. If you don't like it,
you could always have them powder coated after that.

Walt Tampa, FL