Projects Prepping steel wheels?

Short of sandblasting what's any one used to clean them up? HD wire wheel? Mostly rust with a few paint spots....

 

You could soak them in vinegar to remove the rust and afterwards do your best with a wire brush.

Soaking in Simple Green at full-strength will remove both paint and rust as well if you give it a few days.

 

I've had great luck with 24hr white vinegar soak on smaller parts. Never did anything as big as a wheel. It would take quite a bit of vinegar to immerse those. Wheels, I've always blasted. The right container & enough vinegar, it could be done I suppose. It does work.