Wheel Refurbisher/Polisher in UK?

Central Wheel Components, I believe, will refurbish the hub before rebuilding the wheel with a new rim and spokes.

Just an observation, if you have galvanized spokes, it is pointless having them polished. This may make them look pretty, but the zinc coating will be severely thinned, if not removed altogether, by polishing.

What remains of the zinc will dull pretty quickly, and rust will form on the areas where the zinc has been removed.

Its not the outside of the chrome rims you need to worry about but the inside, the replating process will get rid of the outside stamps and all the hidden rust inside the rim will be chemically removed, the material thickness left can be bordering on dangerous. I do all my own wheels using stainless rims, stainless spokes (gauge incresed to cover the lower tensile stength of stainless) chromed brass nipples with copa grease on the threads and nipple heads to reduce risk of siezure. If the stainless spokes are too blingy compared to the dull zinc then just get them sand blasted and they will be a close match.

Greg,

I recently stripped my Mk3 chromed rim wheels and had the rims re-chromed. The original chrome was only lightly pitted in most areas and deeper pitting was limited to the flats of the rim, away from the spoke nipple regions. The rims came out really well, with the Dunlop stamping as clearly visible as before. I was wary about material loss around the nipples through polishing, but there has been no noticeable thinning. The inner surfaces are not as shiny as originally (a consequence of the chrome removal process and limited polishing), but are well enough coated. I was very pleased to be able to salvage these original rims.

Whilst the rims were away, I polished both hubs. This process proved very straightforward, even though the front hub had initially appeared quite crusty after years of neglect (not by me). Starting with 400 grade wet and dry, then progressively moving on to 800, 1500 and 2500, all used with lots of water, and then finally Solvol Autosol, it took only about an hour per hub to restore them to a pretty pleasing shine - and I am quite picky.

I am now just about to order a new set of galvanised spokes and nickel nipples from A/N. I had considered stainless, as most seem to go for them these days, but I like the contrast between the greyish spokes and chrome/polished alloy. Also, even after years of neglect, the original, now 41 (!) year old spokes were very grubby, but not actually particularly corroded at all.

Rebuilding is where the fun will start, especially with the front wheel's tight offset, but lots of measurements and photos were taken before strip - and I like a challenge!

Cheers,

Andy

Don't be too nervous about rebuilding the wheels yourself. I have done several over the years. Patience and time are the main prerequisites!

There is a thread here somewhere regarding the front wheel. It is likely that you will need to use a rubber mallet on the spokes when fitted to settle the spoke head angle.

It seems that the spokes cannot be manufactured with the correct angle or it would be impossible to feed them through the holes in the hub, so they need an 'adjustment' when fitted.

This was the factory-approved method, apparently.

I don't know about re-chroming, but the chap who runs Wheelwise in Cowfold, W. Sussex did an excellent & reasonably priced jobon my front wheel some years ago.

I went through Cowfold a few weeks ago & the sign isstill there.

Mike