Banded Steel Wheels leaking air

[Tourershine]

Anyone looking at banded steel stamped load ratings are totally kidding themselves.
The load ratings were applied when the steel wheel was in it's factory state, and thinking the ratings are the same after they've been cut up and welded back together isn't realistic. Any official MOT tester that knows what a banded steel wheel is, will probably fail the wheels on that basis. There are no load rating figures because I suspect banding wheels is so inconsistent in quality, no individual bander would have the time or money to have all their different wheel sizes and widths officially approved and load rated. A standard steel wheel has a rating suitable to the vehicle it's being used on, but does adding width make it stronger or weaker? No one will really know that, hence why it's better to buy from a bander you trust and buying second hand is much better if you know the history of the wheels in my opinion.

Lastly, I've had many sets of banded steels and all from the same person, Duchy. Not once has my heavy T32 fully loaded van failed on any of his wheels.

 

[Tourershine]

That's a bit misleading mate. Your wheel hasn't failed, the weld has just not been pressure tested correctly and that's something I've seen even the best bander do, to which he replaced straight away.

It's a simple mistake that can happen and not really what I'd class as a banded steel failure, more just a fault that's easily fixed.

 

[minmax89]

That's a bit misleading mate. Your wheel hasn't failed, the weld has just not been pressure tested correctly and that's something I've seen even the best bander do, to which he replaced straight away.

It's a simple mistake that can happen and not really what I'd class as a banded steel failure, more just a fault that's easily fixed.

Apologies, I wasn't trying to mislead at all. If you mean the title I was just trying to put it on youtube to post here. I'm really trying to have a descrete conversation about this without damaging said supplier's reputation. I'm not trying to collect amunition or anything. He's a good guy and I was happy with every other element of the pocess. I also fully understand the nature of banded steels. I know not to expect some certification or load rating on the wheel. If I was in a T32 carrying a heavy load all the time I may have been reluctant to fit them. I'm also not angry or annoyed with anyone, just simply a bit gutted I dont have them on my van right now and willing to simply pay for two new ones made.


Well when I was at the tire place (thinking I was getting a puncture repaired) this polish guy (a welder there) who was looking at it said "oh that wheel is scrap. can't be re-welded" etc etc. something about the heat has made the metal close to the weld brittle or something...

I understand about the pressure test an all. They may well have been tested at the time of making them last year. But they've been on the van for nearly a year and then BOTH wheels fail (or leak I should say) within 24 hours of each other??

when you say 'that's something I've seen even the best bander do, to which he replaced straight away.' do you mean replace the wheel or replace the weld?

I suppose I'm trying to find out whether these exisitng wheels could be fixed?? which would be great I suppose...

I now feel a little terrible that this has taken over the Banded Brothers thread! Any way the mods can move this to its own thread? Done.
Thanks so much to the mod for shifting this.

 

[Tourershine]

when you say 'that's something I've seen even the best bander do, to which he replaced straight away.' do you mean replace the wheel or replace the weld?

The wheel was sent back, blasted, re-welded and re-coated, then sent back all perfect.

My point was really just to make sure people didn't think banded steels had a habit of failing. They are an awesome wheel, but purchased with certain caveats that they are not an official wheel so to speak.

It looks like @Ads_Essex has flexed his mod power and changed the title anyway, so all good.

 

[minmax89]

The wheel was sent back, blasted, re-welded and re-coated, then sent back all perfect.

My point was really just to make sure people didn't think banded steels had a habit of failing. They are an awesome wheel, but purchased with certain caveats that they are not an official wheel so to speak.

It looks like @Ads_Essex has flexed his mod power and changed the title anyway, so all good.

Yep and I also changed the title of the youtube vid to similar. Thanks lads. Yes you're dead right. I didn't want to start freaking anyone out as to be honest I'd never really heard of a 'fail' so to speak.

SO can I ask @Tourershine, do you think these can be re-welded??

 

[The Van Cave]

Apologies, I wasn't trying to mislead at all. If you mean the tilte I was just trying to put it on youtube to post here. I'm really trying to have a descrete conversation about this without damaging said supplier's reputation. I'm not trying to collect amunition or anything. He's a good guy and I was happy with every other element of the pocess. I also fully understand the nature of banded steels. I know not to expect some certification or load rating on the wheel. If I was in a T32 carrying a heavy load all the time I wouldn't be fitting them. I'm also not angry or annoyed with anyone, just simply a bit gutted I dont have them on my van right now and willing to simply pay for two new ones made.


Well when I was at the tire place (thinking I was getting a puncture repaired) this polish guy (a welder there) who was looking at it said "oh that wheel is scrap. can't be re-welded" etc etc. something about the heat has made the metal close to the weld brittle or something...

I understand about the pressure test an all. They may well have been tested at the time of making them last year. But they've been on the van for nearly a year and then BOTH wheels fail (or leak I should say) within 24 hours of each other??

when you say 'that's something I've seen even the best bander do, to which he replaced straight away.' do you mean replace the wheel or replace the weld?

I suppose I'm trying to find out whether these exisitng wheels could be fixed?? which would be great I suppose...

I now feel a little terrible that this has taken over the Banded Brothers thread! Any way the mods can move this to its own thread? Done.

There are a few factors that I would consider when thinking about getting them fixed.

1. Is there anyone local to you, or at least within what you consider to be a sensible travelling distance, who is capable of inspecting the wheel, able to commit to achieving a good repair and then carry out the repair?
2. Would a bander want to carry out a repair on a wheel that has been banded by someone else? I'm assuming that the steel wheel banding community is a fairly tight one, where people work by reputation and would therefore know the quality of a competitors work, but I don't know, that may be a fantasy!! I await confirmation or otherwise on this one!
3. Consider cost. Is it financially viable to get a repair carried out, including the potential shipping costs in both directions to enable inspection of and repair of your existing wheels, or are you better off getting like for like replacements made?
4. Did the original seller offer any kind of warranty on the structural integrity of the wheels, particularly the weld, after banding. Now, I'm not talking specific load ratings or anything, but I would like to think that any company offering a banding service would warrant the quality of the workmanship and therefore the integrity of the welds. In theory, (I'm aware that I'm over simplifying here before anyone shouts at me), a properly produced weld should be as strong as the base material around it.

One last thing, you mentioned trying to get a colour match to Oryx white using the closest RAL colour for powder coat. I think the easiest way to get an almost perfect match would be to have the wheels painted rather than powder coat. The finish may not be as durable, but you would be able to have Oryx white using the VW colour code. A really good powder coating company with access to the necessary materials may be able to achieve something close, but the standard Oryx white would be readily available for painting.

Oh, and we really need to see a pic with you running the Claytons!!

 

[Jayjmac]

Keep us updated on what happens. Hope you get it sorted.

 

[minmax89]

thanks @Tourershine. Thanks for taking the time to reply mate, I really appreciate it.

Ireland doesn't really have the same community of modding van's that the UK has. I do see cars with banded steels on orund though. I also saw a builder with really wide banded steels on his battered Transit. I spoke to him about them. He'd made them himself as he's a steel fabricator.

I think it might be best just getting two new ones made really. To the same spec. From someone like Duchy. I could then get them sent over, and get them finished here.
There was no mention of warranty just reasurance that "my welder has made loads and they're all good". I'm nervous about contacting him simply because I can't decide what I'd want him to do.


I originally really wanted them sprayed in the Oryx White but the couple of places I went to were saying the powerdercoating would be much more durable on wheels and that it was a bad idea to paint them. But saying that, I've lived with them on the van for a year and kerbed them twice. I have a small tin of RAL 9016 that I touched them up with but the point is that would have happened if they were sprayed or powder coated.

But spraying in Oryx is a 3 stage pearl job so not cheap!

Also, living with white wheels is.........a nightmare! when theyre clean, they look amazing. literally 1 day later, not so good. so I was thinking I may go a different colour.....

 

[minmax89]

As requested, pic with the claytons on. They were filthy so went and got the her washed before taking a pic. Actually, they don’t look too bad

 

[Minimucks]

As requested, pic with the claytons on. They were filthy so went and got the her washed before taking a pic. Actually, they don’t look too bad View attachment 81539View attachment 81540

Stick some spacers on and they would actually look ok.
Sorry to hear about the bandeds, they looked sweet.

 

[DaveD]

There was no mention of warranty just reasurance that "my welder has made loads and they're all good". I'm nervous about contacting him simply because I can't decide what I'd want him to do.

It could be said that his welder has made loads and nobody has complained about air leakage, rather than they're all good. (You know they're not)
I think you could at least contact the supplier and tell him the situation, giving him the opportunity to suggest any solutions, i.e. you don't need to know what you want him to do. Even if he has no satisfactory answer, he is at least made aware that they are not all good.
It is somewhat strange that two wheels have turned out to be imperfect, while he may have hundreds of satisfied customers, half of the wheels you bought have turned out to be faulty!

 

[minmax89]

Stick some spacers on and they would actually look ok.
Sorry to hear about the bandeds, they looked sweet.

Thanks. Ah, I’m confident that we’ll get back to the same look.

 

[fezza68]

I dont see any reason why they cant be rewelded. When i had mine in for a colour change they were a bit heavy handed with the sanding down and caused one of mine to leak on a weld. Got in touch with jamie and he arranged the courier and off it went and was back within a week. Jamie solved the problem weld without any damage to the new powder coat as well,fantastic service.

 

[minmax89]

I dont see any reason why they cant be rewelded. When i had mine in for a colour change they were a bit heavy handed with the sanding down and caused one of mine to leak on a weld. Got in touch with jamie and he arranged the courier and off it went and was back within a week. Jamie solved the problem weld without any damage to the new powder coat as well,fantastic service.

It's not out of the question I suppose. I mean, I am getting all four blasted and re-painted anyway.

I've now spoke to the supplier who is away but we're going to discuss when he is back next week. I'll see what he'd like to do. It may be more cost effective for him to just make new ones. I don't mind either way to be honest but I do need to feel confident that it isn't going to happen again (due to the cost of getting them re-finished.

 

[minmax89]

Got in touch with jamie and he arranged the courier and off it went and was back within a week. Jamie solved the problem weld without any damage to the new powder coat as well,fantastic service.

Who is Jamie? And how did he fix the weld without damging the powdercoat?? Because I did think I might have been able to use some specific sealant on the inside to where the weld leak is on my wheels??? WIthout the need to reweld. Could that be done?

 

[fezza68]

Jamie is duchy. He ground down the weld and re welded it with no damage to the powder coat. I tried a sealant at first but it doesnt work. Jamie is the man take our word for it.

 

[minmax89]

Jamie is duchy. He ground down the weld and re welded it with no damage to the powder coat. I tried a sealant at first but it doesnt work. Jamie is the man take our word for it.

Yep. Wished I'd gone to him first maybe.