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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Wire wheel refurbishment

My painted wires are a little scruffy and could do with stripping and repainting. They are otherwise perfect - no dents, no squeaks, no loose spokes, no worn splines There are loads of companies who now refurbish alloys, but is there anyone around Hampshire / Surrey / Berkshire who anyone here has used to undertake this?

I know that some people here don't like wires, but I do.

Bear also in mind that new ones are only £100 or so each and I can't be bothered to do them myself. Any views or suggestions ?
Thanks
Simon
Simon Wood

Simon, cant help with anyone in your area, but its also worth considering powder coating. I know some people say it wont last on wires but I know someone who had his done locally two years ago and they are still perfect. I cant remember the price now but if I remember correctly it was about £50 to strip and paint and about £70 for strip and powder coat.

Trev
T Mason

Thanks Trev, that's useful to know. I have wondered about powder coating and whether or not a wire wheel flexes too much to make this the best option.
Simon
Simon Wood

That used to be my worry and I have heard others say the same, but I saw the car only last weekend and deliberately looked at the wheels and spoke about them to the owner and they are still fine. He was originally going to have them repainted but the guy at the place he had it done suggested powder and when questioned about the flexing he said they would be fine and that appears to be the case so far. I would also expect more flex on his too as the wheels are larger and on a more powerful car.

Trev
T Mason

Simon, I supply many companies up and down the country with coatings for Alloy Wheels and have mentioned coating wire wheels to several wheel coaters and have not heard of any problems if you use a decent company.

There is enough elasticity in decent coatings to flex, a wet paint will crack the same as a powder if there is too big an expansion gap caused.

A company in Hampshire powder coats many wheels a week and if I remember rightly powder coated his own wire wheels, the company is Silver Wheels Ltd at Wimborne, dont know if thats close enough? If not there are several scattered about in the south of the country, Melksham, Exeter, Crawley, Slough etc.

My wire wheels are going to be recoated with a Powder Primer, water based basecoat and Acrylic Powder topcoat.

Tim
Tim Lynam

Tim, thanks very much, that's very helpful.
Simon
Simon Wood

This thread was discussed between 03/09/2016 and 04/09/2016

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