Sound technical content, curated with aloha by
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Pine Beach, NJ
The authoritative public forum
for Metal Finishing since 1989
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Refinishing Cast Iron Wheels
Q. I recently acquired an old industrial cart that we plan to use as a coffee table in our family room. How can I clean up and finish the cast iron wheels? They are rusted and caked with dust, dirt, etc.
Peter Welsbyhomeowner - Lockport, New York
2005
First of two simultaneous responses --
A. Wire brush them clean of dirt and rust, and then spray two or three coats of low gloss clear lacquer. The more elbow grease you invest, the better they will look.
Jeffrey Holmes, CEF
Spartanburg, South Carolina
2005
Second of two simultaneous responses --
A. 5% citric acid
⇦ this on
eBay
or
Amazon [affil links] solution, soak them. That will get most of the corrosion off, then I suggest going over them with 000 steel wool
⇦ this on
eBay
or
Amazon [affil links]
to get and residue off then rinse with water to make sure there is nothing left. Afterwards I suggest painting with Rustoleum black high gloss. If you have any other rust on the cart I would say take a wire brush to it, or #01 steel wool
[affil link
on Amazon] depending on the severity of the rust.
Additionally the wheel lugs may be a bit rusty, take a torch to the nuts and try to torque them off while they are hot, if that doesn't work take them to an auto mechanic and see if they will pop them off with a impact wrench.
- Elizabeth City, North Carolina USA
Q. I have an industrial cart that I am redoing. The wheels are ? pressed on ? How would I go about removing them from the axle?
D Bourdage- Longview Washington usa
June 11, 2014
A. Hi D. I'd take a ? and then I'd go and ? the wheels with it :-)
Seriously, D, it's hard to offer an answer ... but if there is nothing left holding the wheels on except friction, then spray on WD-40 ⇦ this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] or Liquid Wrench ⇦ this on eBay or Amazon [affil links] , whack something with a mallet to try to set up some vibration or movement so you get a little penetration of the solvent, then attach the biggest "wheel puller" that fits, and hope for the best.
Sometimes nothing will work. I had an old MG-B with wire wheels and had to pay the mechanic to take a torch to one when I got a flat tire :-(
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
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