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Stripping baked on paint from aluminum rims

Hello,

I've got a Mazda 626 and the rims are clear coated and I've used aircraft stripper and sandpaper and still no different in color I think the paint is baked on they are aluminum and I would like to get them stripped so I can redo them without a lot of money. this question interests me because I would like to know that my rims are done right I like my car and want it to look good.

Philip Whitaker
- Lancaster, Kentucky, USA
2006

You say you used aircraft stripper? I don't know what it is [Ed. note: here's a link to Aircraft Stripper at Amazon; it's probably methylene chloride], but it sounds to me like something really strong that would easily defeat any auto lacquer or paint. Are you sure they are really clear coated? Could they be anodized instead?

Guillermo Marrufo
Monterrey, NL, Mexico
2006

Sounds like they could be powdercoated, your best bet is to have them sandblasted.

Marc Banks
Blacksmith - Elizabeth City, North Carolina
2006