The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Wheel Repair

I am working on cleaning up and repairing repairing some (47-54) 16" wheels I recently acquired. Each wheel has a patch of rust pits in the bead around the valve stem area. I am de-rusting the wheels using the electrolysis (http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/rust/electrolytic_derusting.htm) then the Molasses process. (http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/rust/rust_molasses.htm) I find that molasses process is not fast but does do a rather though job.

My question is: Would it weaken the steel if I were to fill the rust pits using a MIG welder? I wouldn't want to cruse around on wheels that ultimately be unsafe.

Any thoughts

Thank
Walt Williams
La Verkin, UT

Since my DH (dear husband) is more of a tech guru in this area so I asked his advice. His response.
"If you polish out the pits using a flap wheel in an angle grinder or similar, then MIG it with say .023 hard wire (great for bodywork too) it should be OK. Just be meticulous on your prep and polishing.

Radnor or Pferd 80-grit flap discs are good ones.

If you have more welding questions, http://weldingweb.com/ is the outstanding welding forum, with the Hobart and Miller forums being worth a read too."