Refurbishing Wheels

[Robert Eilers]

I will be changing tires here soon and want to refurbish the wheels while I'm at it. What is the recommended method of removing the old paint? A friend suggested bead blasting the wheels, but I'm not so sure that is a good idea.

[GAHorn]

Paint stripper is commonly used, but bead blasting, if carefully done so as to not move metal and care taken in the areas of bolt holes and bearing boss areas, should not be a problem. Inspect closely for cracks and elongated bolt holes while they're bare.

Paint them with lacquer and they'll be easy to strip/inspect in the future. Heavy enamels may hide cracks which could be missed during tire-changes and pre-flights.

[wingnut]

To add to George's suggestion, if you do bead blast, use the least amount of air pressure required to remove the paint. Bead blasting also hides cracks. I have found that if you have a way submerging the wheel half in MEK, or Acetone, or even mineral spirits, overnight, it softens the paint and takes a lot less effort for the beads to do the work.

[blakelewis]

Well I tried to attach the file but it is too large (1MB limit) So http://web.missouri.edu/~bclzz4/clevela ... kes_mm.pdf is a link to it.
Page 327 is the refinishing procedure. I found the Magnesium treatment chemical online but 10lbs @$45/lb is the mimimum size.
I have some PreKote which Boeing uses on Magnesium and Aluminum. I am going to use that process. http://www.pantheonchemical.com/prekote-process.aspx and then epoxy paint.
Blake

[Robert Eilers]

Thanks for the advice. I think I will go with the paint stripper.

[GAHorn]

I found the Cleveland list of recommended strippers:
Spray or brush on application: Turco Products, Water Based Environmentally Advantaged Paint remover P/N T-6813 or P/N T-6840S

Tank type stripping: Turco Products, Diphase Hot Tank Paint Remover P/N T-5668

(The first listed is likely more labor intensive since it's environmentally sound. The old original paint strippers contained methylene-chloride which has become a bad name, but is a fast, effective paint stripper. I've seen it in various auto parts houses under names like "RustOleum Aircraft Stripper" in 18 oz aerosol cans. AutoZone carries it under their PN 248872 . It is also
claimed to be "water cleanup" soluble.)

Paint Stripper.jpg (15.4 KiB) Viewed 14995 times

[wingnut]

Yeh, I like that brand George. You'll notice the can doesn't say "Aircraft Paint Remover". It says "Aircraft Remover". I've had a few aircraft over the years I thought about trying it on

[170C]

Just stripped my tailwheel on Thursday X$!*^&($! Turned into a big job. Started out with two different containers of Kleen Strip which took the first coat off fairly well, but the second one didn't do as well. Then tried some "official" aircraft paint stripper (same brand) and it would't touch the original paint so I primed it and painted it on Friday. Tough to do well without access to good water pressure and a drain that gets rid of the old paint & stripper. Just my luck that on Friday at work I discovered we have a bead blast cabinet. That gets used the next time

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

Just my luck that on Friday at work I discovered we have a bead blast cabinet. That gets used the next time

Really, you just discovered it Frank? I usually am scanning the entire operation for any and all tools or materials that I may (with permission) use to my benefit during the interview process.

[Alwine00775]

methylene-chloride ?

How could it be bad ? MC based adhesives were the greatest thing ever. It could be 100f in the shop or 20f and that
stuff would always go off in the same amouint of time.
Until the sales rep told us all about the nervous system damage and then there was that thing about making people steril .... hmm maybe thats why it took 5 years to have a child with my wife , or maybe it was that vasectomy.

[GAHorn]

Or maybe you just needed the practice?

[wingnut]

Or maybe the milk man managed to "hold out" for a few years

[jlwild]

OK guys, please let's stay with the topic. We have women 170 owners and members of the association who also read the posts.