DeTomaso Mailing List: October 99, Message #62

In a message dated 9/27/99 4:18:58 PM, jeaton@cybersource.com writes:

<< The wheels on my pantera have been painted over with silver paint. The 
paint was put on over apparently a bumpy and/or rough surface. Do the 
Campagnolo wheels flake or pit? Can I bead blast the rims and buff or sand 
them to bring back the metal How does one refurbish these precious wheels? >>

Cast magnesium is porous and most of the wheels were sand-cast, giving a 
rough surface. They should have some sort of zinc-chromate surface prep 
followed by silver paint to look 'stock' and be well protected from the 
weather. Mag chemically reacts with water; its often called "compressed 
corrosion".  They do not polish out well, but some guys have had luck 
powder-coating them; this is a very heavy coating that covers roughness, but 
its also a bit brittle..... Note they're also weldable and should be 
heat-treated after any such work.  Cheers- J deRyke