How should I polish rough Blade lips?

[tgard]

I started polishing my Blades (with tires removed) and some of the curb rash on the lips is so bad that I'll need to use a file. I know it would be better to get the lip done on a lathe to get it completely even but if I just file it by hand will that create excessive problems when it comes to balancing the wheel? Thanks for any help!

 

[whitedc4]

i did this to some si's with some pretty thick curb rash.
use the 40 grid sand paper on the area with the rash but don't push down hard just rub it lightly then go to 100 grid i went from 40 to 100, to 200 to 500 to 1000 with wetsand and then to 2000 with wetsand on the rash'd areas. came out quite clean if i do say so

 

[jznsn2u]

^seriously you did 40 grit? Thats really ruff no homo. When I polished my blades i didnt go less than 300?

 

[tgard]

The lips on mine are all pretty bad in places, with the odd chunk missing here and there. I'm thinking I should just go get the lips machined so that they're even and then sand and polish the rest by hand.

 

[jznsn2u]

The lips on mine are all pretty bad in places, with the odd chunk missing here and there. I'm thinking I should just go get the lips machined so that they're even and then sand and polish the rest by hand.

that's a good idea. When I polished my blades I think I started off with 500 grit then I worked it up until 1000 and 2000 wet. My scuffs weren't deep. The grit you should use is determined on how badly your blades look. Can you post a pic bro? Oh right and then I took it to the school i taught at and sprayed it with 3 coats of clear. Heres how it went ->

now they're in the backyard chillin until i get new thread for em .

 

[tgard]

that's a good idea. When I polished my blades I think I started off with 500 grit then I worked it up until 1000 and 2000 wet. My scuffs weren't deep. The grit you should use is determined on how badly your blades look. Can you post a pic bro? Oh right and then I took it to the school i taught at and sprayed it with 3 coats of clear. Heres how it went ->

now they're in the backyard chillin until i get new thread for em .

Looks good!

I've already practiced the entire sanding and polishing process on a couple spokes so I've got that part down it's just the lip i was concerned about but I think I've decided what to do there.

I'm also thinking about changing the paint up slightly rather than going with the OEM gray but have yet to decide on that.

Can I ask what kind of clear you used? And did it have any effect on the lustre of the polished surface?

 

[jznsn2u]

Looks good!

I've already practiced the entire sanding and polishing process on a couple spokes so I've got that part down it's just the lip i was concerned about but I think I've decided what to do there.

I'm also thinking about changing the paint up slightly rather than going with the OEM gray but have yet to decide on that.

Can I ask what kind of clear you used? And did it have any effect on the lustre of the polished surface?

In my opinion, blades look flawless when they're polished. I used regular clear coat from a high school body shop. There was nothing wrong with the clear coat although the air compressors were old and dirty causing my blades to look some what gunmetal from different angles

I resprayed one of my blades just to test out kragen canned clear coat, before I put them on my ek.
It turned out a lot better. Sorry I dont have any pictures of the out come of the blade but this is what I used ->

 

[whitedc4]

yeah the 40 grit works wonders! i just found out that you have to use it lightly.. i'll look for pics of how they turned out..

 

[tgard]

In my opinion, blades look flawless when they're polished. I used regular clear coat from a high school body shop. There was nothing wrong with the clear coat although the air compressors were old and dirty causing my blades to look some what gunmetal from different angles

I resprayed one of my blades just to test out kragen canned clear coat, before I put them on my ek.
It turned out a lot better. Sorry I dont have any pictures of the out come of the blade but this is what I used ->

Cool. Yeah I'm trying to decide whether or not to leave the polished part bare. I think it might look better without clear despite the added maintenance. Anyway, I'll try to post some before and after pics when I'm done.

Thanks a lot man.

 

[jznsn2u]

yeah the 40 grit works wonders! i just found out that you have to use it lightly.. i'll look for pics of how they turned out..

L O L yeah. its freakin ruff. :rolf:

 

[whitedc4]

they'd been on for two days

this was them months after

can't find close ups from when they were done still looking...

 

[tgard]

yeah the 40 grit works wonders! i just found out that you have to use it lightly.. i'll look for pics of how they turned out..

I was using something like 60 grit on the first lip and thought, I might as well just use a file, lol. Oh well. Would love to see pics of the si's. Thanks.

 

[whitedc4]

 

[tgard]

Nice!

 

[jznsn2u]

they'd been on for two days

this was them months after

can't find close ups from when they were done still looking...

you didnt clear coat it did you? I like the shine of it when its nakey but I wouldn't want to polish them monthly

I was using something like 60 grit on the first lip and thought, I might as well just use a file, lol. Oh well. Would love to see pics of the si's. Thanks.

If you're going to get them machined you might as well pay someone for the whole job. My neighbor curbed his rims on his tl. He got someone to refinish them for $100 each rim. Id say its a good deal. polishing sucks xD