So I took a gamble on some chrome aspecs that were plastic dipped. I started peeling the coat and i saw that the chrome underneath on a wheel is not super pretty by any means. It’s chipped down to all hell. Is there any cheap way to blend this or do i have to get a shop to fully strip and re chrome them? I paid $400 for them. He originally wanted 650 and did not know the condition of the oem finish because of him buying them plasti dipped.

Regardless they’re going on the car once i get them fully stripped and i’m just grateful for 18’s! Also considering giving them a different finish.

 

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Just use google to find any / all wheel refinisher shops in your location and get on the phone for price details.
I would not have them re-chromed unless you really have the budget.
If that one picture is any indication of the underlying condition of all four , then do them justice and get a pro involved.
Are they 18x8.5's? If so, then that $400 price was a steal.
This is what they should look like, if you like the gunmetal finish color:

 

I’d pay to get them powder coated

 

[QUOTE=zeta;17008023]^
Just use google to find any / all wheel refinisher shops in your location and get on the phone for price details.
I would not have them re-chromed unless you really have the budget.
If that one picture is any indication of the underlying condition of all four , then do them justice and get a pro involved.
Are they 18x8.5's? If so, then that $400 price was a steal.
This is what they should look like, if you like the gunmetal finish color:






I actually just sent a shop a message asking for a quote for the charcoal/gunmetal color. They aren’t 8.5 sadly but they also aren’t replicas. They have the Enkei badging on them. Thank you for your wisdom kind sir i’m definitely going to follow down this path. I really do hope im going to be in it less than if I were to go out and get a nice new set of wheels.

 

Oh yeah that’s the gameplan after some consideration.

 

Be sure to come back & update your thread here with pictures of the final result & the cost so that others can learn.

 

If you want to go cheap, then just get some sand paper and start sanding the entire wheel. Focusing on the rough edges. Then get some canned paint and maybe 2k clear (if it is compatible with the paint can) and get it done.
Yes you can sand it all by hand. it is not that difficult. Just takes some time. Get something to sit on and pick a warm day and just do it. It may take a few days to sand and then paint. Also, warmer weather helps the paint to cure. I did my wheels like this. Got some cheap aspecs and painted them myself. Just watch out at the car wash not to jab or hit the rim too hard with the brush or wand until the paint cures.

Also try using Aircraft Paint remover. It may not work on chrome, but it can remove paint. So it may take off a layer of what you have. If you still do a light sand before the aircraft paint remover, the scores will help the aircraft paint remover to dig in..

 

acura used chrome look paint so you might be able to have a place strip the old paint and use some of the chrome look paint instead of the whole-chroming process. There are a few mobile wheel repair companies that can come out to you and do it, or they send it off to a warehouse and it takes 2-3 weeks to get it done.

 

fyi Painted my wheels but I just sanded them. I did not use aircraft paint remover or any paint remover. Too much trouble!