Stripping paint with a dremel?
 

Hi.
I've got an aluminum rim with machined sidewalls, its painted black.
I'd like to get all the paint off and have a polished metal look instead.
I don't have any kind of paint stripping chemicals, but I do have a dremel tool and a bunch of wire brush attachments.

Is there anything about this thats a totally bad idea, or am I good to go?

Also, if I dremel around the seam of the rim is that going to damage its bond?

Would it make any difference if I used a steel wire brush or a brass wire brush?

Are you sure it's painted black? Because the vast majority of black-coloured rims are anodized - and that doesn't come off unless you scrape the surface aluminum away. And then you're just going through a lot of trouble for a result that I don't think you're going to be happy with.
I think you should just buy some polished rims and lace them to your old hubs.

Bad idea. You will be removing a layer of anodized aluminum.

I would disagree that most black rims are anodized. Masking anodization isn't easy (if it is even possible) and most black rims are not completely black. However, the little wire brush attachments that come with a Dremel will be mostly worthless against the paint. Chemical paint strippers would be concerning if the rim had eyelets as it may eat away at the plating on the eyelets. [edit]In rethinking my statement above, if the rims were anodized then machined it could explain the non-black brake tracks. But if they were going to anodize the rim, you'd think they'd leave the brake track anodized for wear resistance and not machine away an improved surface.[edit]

If you wanted to polish the rims, I'd suggest a die grinder. You can get various sanding attachments from aggressive to almost polished. Finish up with polish compound on a cotton buff and you should get the look you want. You will need to either maintain that finish with polishing compound or clear coat it to preserve it. Id recommend the latter.

This kit should do the trick (you'll need an air compressor): http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/p-32...atic-2010.aspx

It may be hard to get nice smooth and flat finish with a Dremel. The bits are small you'll probably end up with lots of grooves and scratches on a large flat surface. A mouse sander would probably give better results.

Adam

Oven cleaner.

Sorry, I found out you fellas were right.
My rims are anodized instead of painted.
The place I got the bike said it was paint, but I just checked their websites bike specs and it says anodized.

"Weinmann ZAC1800, 32H, Aero Track DoubleWall, black anodized"

I understand that if I sand/chemical the anodization off, I'll be removing a thin layer of aluminum.
But, it shouldn't be enough to cause much structural damage, right?
These are just the cheapy stock wheels it came with, so I'm not super concerned about it not looking brand new at the end, just so long as its not black anymore and the rim won't fail.

Thanks for all the info!

You can remove the anodizing using oven cleaner. But getting it out of all the nooks and crannies around the spokes and eyelets so it won't continue to eat away at the aluminium underneath will be a trick. And when the anodizing is removed in this way the underlaying aluminium will require some polishing or sanding to produce the sort of look you're after since the oven cleaner leaves the surface looking like hell. And again to get a nice consistent finish working around the spokes and eyelets will be a royal pain.

Frankly this is one of those times where it's best to just lay down until the feeling goes away. If you really must have silver rims then swap your wheels with someone that has similar quality wheels that wants black rims.

Hi again.
After a long while I got some aircraft remover.
It comes in a rattle can.

What I'd like to know now is if its safe to use it to strip the anodization off my aluminum rim while its still built up with spokes/nipples/hub, or will the chemicals likely eat through the nipples and cause my wheel to fail when I'm riding around on it?

I wouldn't do it to the built wheel; that sounds like a real bad idea for reasons already mentioned.

I concur with folks who say just get different rims, but what the hell, have fun with that.

...?

Its probably not a good idea to have the stripper wicking into tension loaded threads in the nipples. If they are al nips and stainless spokes you might get some interesting galvanic reactions (the threads might let go).

Paint stripper won't remove anodizing. Why ask for advice if you're not going to read it?

Just trade your rims off for some in silver or polished aluminum.

Any attempt at removing the anodizing around eyelets is bound to turn into a very labor intensive disaster.

-Kurt

I'm thinking you will be condemned to eternal rim misery. The dremel idea would be great at the masochists forum. Even if you were able to strip the anodization off you still have to polish the rims with a power buffer. Not easy with spokes in place. You also have to worry about any corrosive stripper residue getting stuck in the many little crevices in your rim that even a good flushing may not get to. Not impossible to do but doesn't seem worth it. Kinda the same as the girlfriend wants me to look like Brad Pitt but too much work involved and not likely to produce the results she'd like anyways. Best to just call Brad instead. :eek: