As my Cromodora-wheels could need some attention, i have asked a few people about treating the magnesium. One friend has offered blasting and powdercoat. Another friend has offered blasting and aludine-processing. (both places could the blasting be replaced by a rotating jar with steelballs - don´t know the term in english). As i´m not sure what treatment the magnesium could stand, i´ve decided to use my sparewheel as ginnipeg. At this moment my vote stands for the aludine + regular paint afterwards, but i´m not sure. What would you do?
Hello. Eric, There are several, very informative threads on treating and painting wheels on this forum. Try the search function. Some time ago, I posted the following in one thread. I am reproducing it below for your convenience. It is not the last word on the topic, and the threads might point out current wisdom. "Reading the thread on Cromodora paint codes, I remembered a note I made for for myself some time ago, summarizing a procedure I used for preparing magnesium wheels on my Lotus Elan. Magnesium wheels (such as Campagnolos) are very prone to corrosion (never let them sit in water!), and proper treatment is essential. I thought the procedure (from an aircraft maintenance book) might be useful to those with Campagnolos, but it should apply to aluminum wheels as well. Here it is. SURFACE TREATMENT FOR MAGNESIUM AND ALUMINUM 1. Remove all WD40, etc., with lacquer thinner. 2. Apply paint remover, let soak, and remove with plastic scrapers. 3. Rinse thoroughly. 4. Wear rubber gloves. 5. Mix Alumiprep 33 (1 part Alumiprep to 5 parts water for light oxidation, I part Alumiprep to 2 to 3 parts water for heavy oxidation). 6. Brush the Alumiprep solution on the magnesium or aluminum item, scrubbing oxidized parts with synthetic abrasive. DO NOT ALLOW TO DRY. 7. Rinse thoroughly until water sheets and does not bead. 8. While surface still wet, apply Alodine 1201 with a brush. DO NOT ALLOW TO DRY. About 2 to 5 minutes treatment time. Surface should turn gold. 9. Rinse thoroughly with cold water until water sheets and does not bead. 10. Follow with a warm water rinse (not over 140O F). 11. Let dry for 24 hours. Handle carefully at this stage. 12. Paint when dry. Note: Small aluminum parts can be dipped in Alodine + 2 parts water for treatment." Good luck. Andres
Hi Andres Thank you for the reply. I think i´ll go for friend #2, and have the Aludine done. He works in a place very similar to this http://www.aerotech.dk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=33&Itemid=60 Will meet him later today, and have a little chit-chat about the processing. He´s very keen at his work; i´ve just assembled the Webers today after he have had my carbs ultrasonic cleaned, and they look brand new now. Will keep you guys posted in a while with an explanation and some pictures. Best Erik
Well, friend #2 told me that because of the steel-inserts for the wheelbolts, he would not dare to process the wheels. In the process they add current, and he have had bad experience with steel-inserts earlyer. The magnesium could burn/melt around the inserts! And we don´t wan´t that to happend, so i´ll go for friend #1 instead, and have the wheels glasblasted and a clear powdercoat finish afterwards. That will look great and will be very durable and easy to clean. Have had an enginecover done that way on my Morini 3½ years ago, and it still looks great. Pictures will follow in a while...
