Fwd lace wires

[slammed_dub]

The Merc has a set of Fwd lace 18" wires and all the chrome is cracking off the rims. Nobody wants to rechrome them unless i sell both kidneys to fund it so i was going to get some shiney new ones! But Bling rims are not intrested in supplying fwd lace wires because they are apparently too much hassle with leaks around the spoke seals. Has anyone had any problems with Fwd lace wires or any ideas on freshening up the rims.
It sucks as if it was the spokes flaking off i would paint them.
Am i going to get stiffed with masses of import tax if i get them from the states? Is there anywhere other than Bling rims in the Uk to buy wires?

Cheers Chris

[ant]

In my experience with frt lace wires.... the bigger they are more hassle they are. I have had 15,17 and 20" frt lace.
The 15" were awesome no leak and no trouble same for the 17". The 20's were nightmare. A few of us on here have had frt lace and i'm afraid to say its a similar story from most.

They do come up on ebay now and again and if you find a good set make them summer use only.

[slammed_dub]

That sucks i need fwd lace ones or they wont fit under the arches! The knob that i bought the Merc off left it in deep grass for months with a missing window. I took them straight off and put them in the dry but the damage was done!
I can get wires from Asia but would need to get a larger quantity. $75 per wheel, knock off and hub adaptor, but then would need to pay import duty and thats a grey area, on top of finding buyers!

[fatdaddy]

That sucks i need fwd lace ones or they wont fit under the arches! The knob that i bought the Merc off left it in deep grass for months with a missing window. I took them straight off and put them in the dry but the damage was done!
I can get wires from Asia but would need to get a larger quantity. $75 per wheel, knock off and hub adaptor, but then would need to pay import duty and thats a grey area, on top of finding buyers!

you can get them down to $35 a pop for a container, delivered fob holland.
+ duty and vat.
At best the chrome wil be "california" chrome....... not meant for UK weather . If you splash out for US made with stainless spoke and rims they wont corrode as much ut the chrome will still flake in the end, but your looking around 2 or 3 times the price of normal.
The only way to get good life is to keep them covered in oil, just clean them for shows. I always sprayed mine weekly with WD40 and kept grease painted all round nipples etc in ify weather.

have you thought of getting a price for powder coating instead of chrome >?

[slammed_dub]

Intresting!
Has anyone ever powder coated wires or got any pictures? 

[Chops]

In my experience with frt lace wires.... the bigger they are more hassle they are. I have had 15,17 and 20" frt lace.
The 15" were awesome no leak and no trouble same for the 17". The 20's were nightmare. A few of us on here have had frt lace and i'm afraid to say its a similar story from most.

My front lace 18's were a bloody nightmare, they leaked like a sieve and the spokes came loose.
I eventually snapped 2 spokes whilst trying to re-tighten them so they're now just gathering dust in the shed and the car is on alloys. 
They looked great and if they worked I'd be rolling them tomorrow but from a practical point of veiw, big wires are shit

[fatdaddy]

Intresting!
Has anyone ever powder coated wires or got any pictures? 

http://uklows.com/forum/index.php/topic,1604.msg20519.html#msg20519

you noticed that post.......................... ?

[rudey]

Hey there, my man Little Gray has just had his wires powder coated black, Chewy is your man, yes they can be done with relative ease, just choose your colour and your away... As chops said, Chrome powder coarting???

[slammed_dub]

My 18" wires also leak like a sieve! but im going to persist!
Powder coat all the way!

[Chops]

My 18" wires also leak like a sieve! but im going to persist!
Powder coat all the way!

I cured the leaking on mine with something that was similar to that anti-puncture green slime stuff that you can get for push-bike tyres.
The stuff I used was blagged from a plant tyre fitter. It's hand pumped in through the valve and is supposed to permanently lurk inside the tyre to block any future punctures.
I took the wheels off, pumped the gunge in,  re-inflated the tyre then slowly rolled it around on the floor so the stuff coated the inside of the rim and it worked a treat.