correct knock off wheel finish

[Craig F.]

Does anyone know if the original KH wheels were finished on a lathe in the production process and if so, did they have circular sanding marks on the spokes? I have heard various comments that to finish them correctly they need to be put on a lathe and sanded with 180 then 220 grit paper to achieve the correct look. I have also heard that each spoke needs to be finished one at a time. Is the correct finishing process out there anywhere?

Thanks

[Clark K.]

Re: correct knock off wheel finish

Craig, look on page 79 of the 1965 JG. Nowhere does it go into that much detail about the look of the Kelsey-Hayes wheel finish. If a judge took exception to your wheels in regard to your issues, I would politely show him the JG and ask for restoration of the originality point deductions.
-Clark

[James W.]

Re: correct knock off wheel finish

Craig,

The spokes should not have the circular lathe marks as seen on many reproduction knock-off wheels. The fins should be wet sand finished one at a time with 220 grit sand paper, sanding each fin back and forth from top to bottom. This will give you the factory finish you are looking for.

Hope this helps.


Regards,

James West

Does anyone know if the original KH wheels were finished on a lathe in the production process and if so, did they have circular sanding marks on the spokes? I have heard various comments that to finish them correctly they need to be put on a lathe and sanded with 180 then 220 grit paper to achieve the correct look. I have also heard that each spoke needs to be finished one at a time. Is the correct finishing process out there anywhere?

Thanks

[William C.]

Re: correct knock off wheel finish

I'm with James, I've had originals for the las 35 years, and there is no sign of lathe tooling marks amywhere on the face.

[Craig F.]

Re: correct knock off wheel finish

James and Bill,

Thanks very much for the information on the wheel finish, very helpful and just what I have been looking for.

Craig