Reconditioning tool cart/box wheels

[DIYJus]

Hi GJ, I've been slowly doing a restoration of an older MAC Rolling cart. It's not going fast at all and I got fed up tonight and started on a wheel.

I'm looking for what anyone has done to actually recondition the plastic wheel itself. My hardware is OK and the wheels are intact, but they're just FULL of nasty shop shavings, gravel, etc... If I end up doing a floor in the shop I won't want to roll this thing for fear of ruining it. Before anyone says so: "No, it doesn't have to be completely show quality because I'm scared to use my tools."

The 2 pics below show what I started with, and what I ended up with after about 30 mins of cleaning. (Sorry they are sideways, is there no way to have vertical pics?) So, what can I do to recondition the "rolling" area of the wheel? I was thinking of getting a long bolt, sliding the wheel on and tightening up a nut/washer to create a sort of spindle. Then, chucking this large spindle in the drill press to spin it. From there, I have no idea... sandpaper? Opinions welcome!

 

[taumac]

I cleaned up wheels using my bench grinder with a wire wheel. Just start off slow with light pressure allowing wire wheel to get wheel spinning then you can add some pressure. Don't need to use much pressure at all. Just enough to keep wheel spinning.

 

[Bighead38]

I was going to suggest a wire wheel bench grinder as well.

 

[DIYJus]

I know I'll solicit pity, but I don't have a bench grinder. LOL. Drill press, band saw, parts washer, tire balancer? Heh. Maybe my 1st choice should be a grinder resto?

 

[Bighead38]

So clamp the wheels and put a wire wheel in a drill.