Sandblasting Rims - What media to use

Got another one for the group, I've got an old set of rims I'm looking to clean up and repaint.

I found a post somewhere on another forum on rim refinishing that said you shouldn't use sand as a blasting media on aluminum rims, it said to use aluminum oxide.

@turbodb I know you've done this, or if anyone else has any comments on what to use.

Thanks
Ken

 

I just sanded by hand using the superfine purple sanding pads. First degreaser, then cleaning, sanding and painting. I went from aluminum color to gunmetal. Mine turned out great.

 

Here's a great writeup (by someone else) that I followed:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/step-by-step-trd-wheel-paint-project.553263/

 

I just used play sand from Home Depot. $5 for a ~50lb bag. Then, I used some window screen I had around to filter out the larger grains and I ended up with material that was perfect for blasting. Was it "technically" the right thing to use? No idea. But it worked amazingly well, and the wheels still look like the day I painted them... well, except for the rock rash.

Wheel Makeover - Extreme Labor for a Totally Non-Functional Mod

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Both look great, mine are in a little rougher shape, so I can't just sand them.

I'll probably just use sand then, its not like its a show truck.

Now I need to decide on a color, bronze or black.

 

great job!

 

What color is your truck?

 

Silver, black is pretty neutral, dark bronze is a maybe

 

Bronze may look pretty sharp.

 

Went with sand, tried the aluminum oxide, the powercoating they use is really tough stuff, I gave up, so I took them to a local guy.
75.00 was worth it.

Another note.
That self etching primer goes on real thin, jeepers.

My plan is to let the primer sit a week them have the tires put on, touch up any marred up areas, then mask it off paint then clear.

hopefully it works out well.

 

His wife must be pleased

 

Ya. If I started carting home broken glass my wife would not be pleased but go Man, go! Here’s a pic of my rims blasted with Tick Turds from the local SPCA then primed greenand painted silver I’m sorry... watching Smokey and the Bandit; that Buford T Justice is a rip!

 

Garnet or Starblast are both good options