Stripping and polishing Magnesium wheels

TS · 07-19-2002, 01:02 PM

I have read some other posts about stripping the clearcoat and paint off wheels and then polishing them. However, none seem to directly address magnesium wheels. I understand the magnesiums are actually painted and conventional wisdom says you can strip the paint and start over. Comments and suggestions?

GTB/ZR-1 · 07-21-2002, 09:55 PM

I did see a set of those on EBAY--they looked great...

AP · 07-21-2002, 10:00 PM

Magnesium will oxidize wont it??

Bill Reid · 07-22-2002, 04:32 AM

TS,
I don't recommend leaving magnesium unprotected. Yes, it will oxidize... and quite a bit faster than aluminum. Recommend if polishing to follow up with a clearcoat... otherwise powdercoat a color of your desire and be done with it. I havn't tried chroming magnesium... wondering if the nickel base plate will adhere to mag. We have a set of polished mags right now... and they look like crap. We're thinking of powedercoating them and selling them...

TS · 07-22-2002, 11:48 AM

Thanks for the replies.
Looks like I might just sell them and upgrade.

PRIMAL · 07-25-2002, 12:56 PM

Quote:

TS,
I don't recommend leaving magnesium unprotected. Yes, it will oxidize... and quite a bit faster than aluminum. Recommend if polishing to follow up with a clearcoat... otherwise powdercoat a color of your desire and be done with it. I havn't tried chroming magnesium... wondering if the nickel base plate will adhere to mag. We have a set of polished mags right now... and they look like crap. We're thinking of powedercoating them and selling them...

Well I just bought those wheels from you that "look like crap" and they arrived today. I think they will repolish out terrific. Im sure that I'll have to keep up with them every week but its worth it to have something that is different. Now dont flame me but Im getting tired of seeing chrome Y2Ks and Z06 wheels on everything from Vettes to Camaros. Dont get me wrong they both look great but everyone has got them. I like being different. :cheers:

PRIMAL · 07-25-2002, 01:51 PM

I couldnt wait so I went out and just got some Blue Magic metal polish. It took two seconds to see that these are going to look awesome. :smash:
They cleaned up really quick . :cheers:

Allthrottleandsomebottle · 07-25-2002, 02:20 PM

Pictures please of the before & after polish job!! :D
I like different too!
I already bought a spare set of Mag rims before those were on the market :yesnod:

y2khrdtop · 07-25-2002, 05:58 PM

Magnesium will not polish to the result you will be happy with. Because magnesium has a body-centered tetragonal crystiline structure composition. aluminum has a face-centered cristiline structure thus polishable, same as stainless. It is a very less noble metal and will attract contaminants much faster then any other usable material.....
sorry! :yesnod: :smash: :smash: :yesnod:
:seeya

PRIMAL · 07-25-2002, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Magnesium will not polish to the result you will be happy with. Because magnesium has a body-centered tetragonal crystiline structure composition. aluminum has a face-centered cristiline structure thus polishable, same as stainless. It is a very less noble metal and will attract contaminants much faster then any other usable material.....
sorry! :yesnod: :smash: :smash: :yesnod:
:seeya

Obviously you haven't seen these wheels yet. They even outshine my aluminum Weld racing wheels. They polished out GREAT.
:lol: :lol: :lol: :cheers:
Watch for pics soon :D

[Modified by PRIMAL, 9:42 PM 7/25/2002]

[Modified by PRIMAL, 2:59 AM 7/26/2002]