Galvanised wheels?

jonathan_dyane · Post by **jonathan_dyane** » 25 Nov 2004, 03:33

Ok, here's a new one...
I am sick to death of horrible rusty wheels, and the messing around required to make them nice, *and* also sick of my wheeltrims falling off to reveal them.
SO, is it possible to have wheels galvanised? This would solve the rusting, and look smart, but is there a reason I haven't seen this before? Will it buckle the wheels or somehow compromise the strength?
Just a thought...

john alexander · Post by **john alexander** » 25 Nov 2004, 05:37

I've seen some things galvanised over the years, gates, large transformer cooling radiators etc. These are mainly dipped into the molten metal then hung up, you get runs and the thickness varies which would make balancing a problem. hope this helps. john

AndersDK · Post by **AndersDK** » 25 Nov 2004, 05:45

Why not ?
We have been doing so for years here in DK.
Some £30 a set of 4 at my local sander/galvaniser.
Sanded clean and then spray (!) galvanised in a heat gun process, fast & cheap.
No - it's NOT paint - it's melted zinc sprayed on !

tomsheppard · Post by **tomsheppard** » 25 Nov 2004, 13:07

Spray on galvanising will certainly help. Galvanic plating, or hot dip galvanising does sometimes distort components but in the case of a sturdy item like a wheel rim (Nurse- more pills, I just used the word sturdy in a Citroen posting!)it shouldn't make a big difference to anything except weight. Surface texture will change, which may cause fitting difficulties with wheel and tyre but as long as it is all nicely stoved afterwards, it seeems like a good idea.

samcro · Post by **samcro** » 25 Nov 2004, 16:52

My dad works at a galvanizers and he had 2 trailer wheels (ex mini) galvanised. Seems to work fine, though they don't keep the shiny metallic galvanised look. They turn a dull grey colour and salt on the roads brings out fine white oxide powder, a bit like on aluminium.

Kowalski · Post by **Kowalski** » 25 Nov 2004, 17:11

If you laquered the wheels after they'd been galvanised they wouldn't oxidise. You could try painting them too which would have similar results.

samcro · Post by **samcro** » 25 Nov 2004, 17:25

Yep, thats always an option. One word of advice though... Fresh galvanising needs an etch primer to make paint stick properly. If it's been weathered a bit then you can get away without it.
Could even powdercoat them!
Shameless plug:
For any of you in Scotland, Highland Colour coaters in Cumbernauld can do galv and powder coat together.

Kowalski · Post by **Kowalski** » 25 Nov 2004, 18:55

An etch primer makes the zinc go black, so there would be no point in trying to laquer it, it would look horrible.

rossnunn · Post by **rossnunn** » 25 Nov 2004, 19:23

just get um chrome plated! lol[:D]

bxbodger · Post by **bxbodger** » 25 Nov 2004, 19:52

My local spares shop do packs of 4 wheeltrims for a tenner, in a good range of styles. My current ones are quite Citroenesque, being almost solid, and not trying to look like alloys!!
I used to do roller shutters years ago, and we regularly took them to a galvanisers-it was like hells kitchen, god knows how the blokes who worked there could stick it!!!!

jonathan_dyane · Post by **jonathan_dyane** » 26 Nov 2004, 00:38

Thanks guys; rather encouraging [:)]
I know of a place that does cheap shotblasting, now I just need to try and find a kindly galvanizer, or, better again, someone who works at one...
But first I need a matching set of wheels. I have the plain type, the small hole type *and* the big hole type. I like the no-holers the best.

rossnunn · Post by **rossnunn** » 26 Nov 2004, 18:11

why not just cable tie the trims on?? or use 15" Steelies & Xantia trims

tomsheppard · Post by **tomsheppard** » 26 Nov 2004, 20:09

Are these for the BX? Unholesome ones are not the best choice for them because the Turbo is much nicer if it has well cooled brakes.

pwatson · Post by **pwatson** » 27 Nov 2004, 05:01

Am I unusual in owning Bxs and Xantias (often 2 at a time)and now a Xantia and a Berlingo, for the last 17 years and never yet ('til tomorrow!!) lost a wheel trim?? And I don't tie them on. Always put it down to the fact that they were held on by the wheel nuts rather than the rims as in other cars

pwatson · Post by **pwatson** » 27 Nov 2004, 05:05

PS Think I might still have a set of trims from a Mark 1 BX somewhere at the back of the shed if anyone wants them.