Blasting Wire Wheels

[rtbcomp]

I've just been asked to blast some wire motorbike wheels and I was wondering if this is a wise thing to do?

I'm worried that the blasting process might affect the metal, and would any pits left blasting rust out form stress points?

The guy then wants to have them powder coated

 

[pedrobedro]

If he wants it doing just do as he asks and let him get on with it.

 

[Pete.]

I don't see a problem with it. How much effort will it take to strip the chrome?

 

[rtbcomp]

The chrome's a problem. In the past I've found it comes off easily where it's already started to bubble, but other areas won't shift.

I told the guy to get the chrome stripped electrolytically, but he came back to me saying he'd been told to leave the chrome on as it forms an ideal base for powder coat.

My main worry is weakening the spokes though, I wouldn't want to him to have wheel come apart at 100mph!

 

[Pete.]

Mic them up and check them again afterwards - give the guy a report with the finished wheel. If they have lost any thickness they have lost some strength. If he had any sense he'd re-spoke them anyway, spokes will look pants after powdercoating has been on a while.

 

[rtbcomp]

I don't think blasting would cause a significant reduction in thickness that would be a problem, pits might be.

Then again if they're pitted I'd be inclined to replace them anyway.

I wouldn't powdercoat them either, it's bound to clog up the tensioning screws.

 

[brightspark]

I've just been asked to blast some wire motorbike wheels and I was wondering if this is a wise thing to do?

I'm worried that the blasting process might affect the metal, and would any pits left blasting rust out form stress points?

The guy then wants to have them powder coated

id pass on it there not worth doing theres more miss than hit doin the spokes . the only spoked wheels i used to do were mga and jag car wheels

 

[rtbcomp]

I've managed to worm my way out of it, I did some Ford Capri wires a while back and said never again.

I was just wondering if there were any safety implications &c in blasting wires.

 

[500e]

"I told the guy to get the chrome stripped electrolytically, but he came back to me saying he'd been told to leave the chrome on as it forms an ideal base for powder coat."
Strange if the chrome is lifting the rest is suspect as well, all or nothing, walk away

 

[rtbcomp]

I didn't say the chrome was lifting on these wheels, just a general observation about some other chromed items I've seen.