Ok i have these cragers on my truck, the pic is one of the fronts. The back are not as bad but not great at all by any means. I dont have much for money to spend on new rims right now. I was wondering if there is a way to make them not such a eyesore. I dont just want to rechrome them. Im looking for cheap here, any and all ideas welcome!!!!

 

Well, real cheap would be sand blast them the pest you can then rattle can paint them then some clear coat from a can on top. It isn't the best but the better the prep the better the finished result. If you like the chrome you could try your best to lightly steel wool the rust and polish the best you can. Good luck

 

most of the chrome has peeled off!!! Would the sand blast take all off? is the chrome going to stay behind thats not already peeled?

 

A quick and dirty would be to clean it all up with a wire brush on a drill or similar power tool and then leave the center section in metal and paint the rim either black or to match the truck. That wouldn't be "professional" but might give a decent look, or paint everything one color. I'd probably shoot on a primer and then cover with the paint.

 

I would do what others here said and sand blast them, then I would paint them with Wheel Coating paint that is for rims.

A cool gunmetal might look pretty awesome.

 

in time i will buy a new set of rims but the truck is not going to be done for awhile, but it will be driven this summer for a little payoff trip to my self. NOthing is finner than Primer!lol

 

I actually used the Dupli-Color wheel paint on my Mustang. It's an easy, cheap, quick fix. I bought the gunmetal and had a chrome trim ring, looks pretty nice to me.

 

I agree. torque thrust gray would be decent. Black would work, too.

 

Come to Texas and help me weld in some panels and I buy the spray paint.... Your gallery shows what a great job you've done so far.

 

Acid (Phosphoric) dip 'em!

From Wikipedia;

Rust removal
Phosphoric acid may be used by direct application to rusted iron, steel tools, or surfaces to convert iron(III) oxide (rust) to a water-soluble phosphate compound. It is usually available as a greenish liquid, suitable for dipping (acid bath), but is more generally used as a component in a gel, commonly called naval jelly. As a thick gel, it may be applied to sloping, vertical, or even overhead surfaces. Care must be taken to avoid acid burns of the skin and especially the eyes, but the residue is easily diluted with water. When sufficiently diluted, it can even be nutritious to plant life, containing the essential nutrients phosphorus and iron. It is sometimes sold under other names, such as "rust remover" or "rust killer." It should not be directly introduced into surface water such as creeks or into drains, however. After treatment, the reddish-brown iron oxide will be converted to a black iron phosphate compound coating that may be scrubbed off. Multiple applications of phosphoric acid may be required to remove all rust. The resultant black compound can provide further corrosion resistance (such protection is somewhat provided by the superficially similar Parkerizing and blued electrochemical conversion coating processes). After application and removal of rust using phosphoric acid compounds, the metal should be oiled (if to be used bare, as in a tool) or appropriately painted, by using a multiple coat process of primer, intermediate, and finish coats.

 

Would the phosphoric acid react with the metal in the center of the old cragers though? That might be a problem if it is magnesium or aluminum. Just asking because I don't know the answer. Chime in you chemists.

 

Rodger,

Just arrived from the chapter B/S thread

Chemically any phosphoric acid solution will react with most metals.
After seeing what happens to galvanized (zinc) surfaces on boat trailers with Ospho or Rust Mort I don't think it could be good for mags.
Nor is it going to do anything about the peeling chrome.

Personally I think Fordster's advice is best.
Just sand blast and paint them if you have no intention of trying to resurrect them.
It would probably be the quickest and longest lasting solution.

 

That would be a good test for Mothers. They always seem to have the easiest rims to clean when demonstrating how good their products are.

 

my vote is to sand blast and powdercoat them satin BLACK (its cheap)

 

The biggest problem maybe to remove the chrome plating. Anyone have a good way of doing this?