Brakes Wheels 2nd Gen Tires Most liked posts in thread: Work VS-XX 17x7.5 et41 4x100 Refurbish

No secret.... It's all about how perfect the surface needs to be. Obviously the smoother the surface, the more the surface reflects light. A mirror finish would naturally reflect more light than a surface that is broken up with lots of small peaks and valleys. The peaks and valleys are created by dragging the sand paper across the aluminum surface if seen with a magnifying lens..... This causes the reflected light to be scattered. The good thing with the scattered light is it tends to minimize surface defects.

In my case, these wheels have been on the receiving end of rocks and grit just from being used. The sandpaper is just being used to dress up the surface.

Using my rigged up "potters wheel", I start out with 100 grit sandpaper for 10 minutes, then 180 grit sandpaper for 10 minutes, followed by a 3M medium grit surface conditioning pad for.... you guessed it, 10 minutes. So in about 30 minutes, the lips are finished with a satin finish. If I didn't have my rig and I was to do this by hand the look would be completely different because short back and forth sanding strokes on a circular rim would give an inconsistent finish. The trick is the spinning wheel on the mill. I'm running it at 1,200 rpm's and it's putting a very consistent and even pattern on the aluminum, much like the circular grooves on a LP record..... only much finer. The effect is fine satin finish that sort of reflects light like a very fine Fresnel lens so to speak.

The first lip I did had a high gloss finish.... Didn't like it very much... Some of the old Fuchs wheels that were used on the 1980's Porsche had a similar satin look.

 

Ummmmm.... Well.... Ahhhhh.....
Here is Argento on some vehicle out of Yurop.... Heh Heh Heh

It' somewhat similar to Dark Silver, you might say....

 

Argento faces going into the oven a few minutes ago...
The camera flash is bringing out the metalic in the coating on the one on the right....

 

Presenting Argento faces....

 

My powder coater being a real jerk....

 

Satin lip with gloss clear coat....

 

Argento Centers with gloss clear....

 

Picked up all the bits and pieces from the powder coater.... I'm pretty happy the way they turned out.
Last picture... I promise...... Until I get them assembled.... This weekend....



Before.....


After...

 

Another little update....
Went down to the shop this morning....

Taped up all the wheels next to the barrel joint...



Wiped off the excess RTV and removed the painter's tape for a professional looking joint.....



Letting them cure unmolested over the weekend.....

 

Don't see it happening next week....:sad:
I'm still waiting for the TPMS units to come in.... Maybe Monday...
Then I need to fabricate a method to install the TPMS in each wheel because the air valve hole is located in the back barrel behind the center face.

Then......... I need to generate some $$$ for the "sneakers".... Right now I'm leaning towards Hankook Ventus V12 in a 215-45-17 size...

Since I don't drive the MINI in the winter and it's almost the end of summer, I may hold off on the tire purchase until next year.... Fresh rubber and the tire companies all have Spring specials anyway.....