Aluminum wheels-buffing?

[bgilbert]

How do I get these wheels back to looking good? Front ones don't look bad, but rear are pretty bad off. What 'tools' do I need for ?buffing? or whatever is needed to clean these up? Thanks, Bill

 

[Philip]

Hi Bill



This will be all hand sanding.



Start with some 400 grit sand paper. I would just go dry on the first size of paper. Then step up to 800 grit. Wet sand this time. After you get the surface to a uniform level and the scratches out from the 400 grit. Step up to 1000 grit or higher and wet sand.



Do not sand across the rim. Only around it.



Then throw the mothers polish to it.



You have seen my rims when they are polished. Those rims are 10 years old and I have sanded them a few times.

 

[ARhine]

A friend of mine glass bead blasts aluminum... makes it look nice on intakes and engine parts at least.



You coud also get some felt wheels/cones for a drill or dremmel and start polishing away with the propper compound. Check out www.eastwood.com they have lots of neat stuff for jobs like that.



Maybe something like this http://www.eastwood.com/shopping/pr...temType=PRODUCT&RS=1&itemID=951&keyword=13105

or

http://www.eastwood.com/shopping/pr...temType=PRODUCT&RS=1&itemID=953&keyword=13107

 

[bgilbert]

This is already starting to sound like work :-laf . Forgive my ignorance here, I've heard of it, but not exactly sure what 'wet sanding' consists of ? BTW I'm not a body man :-laf , so where do I get the sand paper needed for this job? Is there a hand held thing that the sand paper attaches to that I hold, LOL? Did I mention I'm not a body man?

 

[T-Bone]

Hi Bill,



Mothers polish, a $5 buffing wheel from Harbor Freight, a cordless drill, and a few hours of work turned my 18 month old UTE bumper from this:



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To this:



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The buffing wheel I used probably would not help you on the holes.



T-Bone

 

[ARhine]

wet sanding is simply soaking the sandpaper in water and keeping the surface wet while sanding. You need paper designed for this obviosly.



You can get the papers at an autoparts store that carys refinishing stuff. My loocal carquest has it. The local walmart even used to stock it so you might check.

 

[Eric_77]

Are you looking to get clean or polished?



If just clean go to your local Harley shop and get some stuff called S100 it is a spray on wipe off stuff and gets most of the brake dust off but will not do anything for pitting.



If you want the polish then the sandpaper and polish is the ticket.

 

[Glen Pratt]

Try this stuff. Works awsome.

- <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=490 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top align=middle>

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=362 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>This is a very Hi-Tech chemical designed to clean and deoxidize ALL metal surfaces without streaking, hazing, burning or damaging the surfaces. Removes scale, road film, most acid </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=left colSpan=2>stains and even rust on Chrome! It is the easiest and safest way to prep the metal before polishing. It really takes the elbow grease out of polishing! Can be used with most cream type polishes. It really works great. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>​

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</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=center align=left colSpan=3 height=50>After saturating a palm size terry cloth towel with STEP-1, you simply wipe on surface. Then apply our PURPLE METAL POLISH over the entire treated area and buff off to an incredible shine!</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=center align=middle colSpan=3 height=14>#ad
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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=490 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top align=left>If your aluminum has a milky look to it even after being polished: by using our ALUMINUM DEOXIDIZER before polishing on a high polished surface, you will achieve a CRYSTAL CLEAR SHINE. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>​

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http://www.californiacustom.com/products

 

[Greenleaf]

Take it to the local De-Tail Shop.



-S

 

[PToombs]

Mother's polish and a buffer wheel,or by hand,like T-bone said. Works excellent,used it on the rims and aluminum stuff on my bike. Shined it up good. OR pay the neighbor kid $3 an hour to do it!

 

[DieselTweaker]

Bill,



I use a Coil Cleaner for A/C systems, it's an acid that works great on Alum. It will cut anything. It give's it a nice finshed look. I use it on my wheels and diamond plate will even cut the soot,

 

[BHiggins]

There is a place a few miles from me in New York that has a specialty machine just for polishing wheels, they're called "American Wheel and Tire". The machine has several arms and different size polishing wheels that get into every "nook and cranny".

I'm sure there has to be someone with a similar machine within a reasonable distance to you in Indiana. The price was quite reasonable (less than $50. 00 a wheel) and they come out like new. The down side is that you have to dis-mount all your rubber and bring them just the rims. Try a Google search for "Automotive wheel polishers" or something like that, maybe you'll get lucky and find a place close by.

 

[MMiller]

Bill-the first thing I would do is take that truck to a Semi truck wash like Blue Beacon or Truck-o-mat. They will have some acid that they spray on aluminum wheels and tanks. It will take all the corrosion and garbage off, and turn the wheels and nice bright white. After that then I would start the polishing. At least this way you would not be trying to polish through the years of grime. **NOTE** after you get them polished do not go back and get the acid bath, this will pull all the polish off and turn the wheels from shiney to a brite white again, BTDT!! Good luck. I hope your arms are in shape!!



Michael

 

[bgilbert]

I've got a Streakin Beacon in Indy next to the fuel stop I use. Could I take them off and take them there off the rig? Thanks for all the help guys, as you probly can tell, body work I don't care for. I'm looking for the least labor way to do this. Be nice if a shop closeby did the work... Not sure what I'll do though.

 

[Paychk]

You may want to try this stuff to seal your rims, after you have them polished.



http://www.zoops.com/zoopseal.asp



It is supposed to be the cats meow.

 

[Excessive Force]

Bill-the first thing I would do is take that truck to a Semi truck wash like Blue Beacon or Truck-o-mat. They will have some acid that they spray on aluminum wheels and tanks. It will take all the corrosion and garbage off, and turn the wheels and nice bright white. After that then I would start the polishing. At least this way you would not be trying to polish through the years of grime. **NOTE** after you get them polished do not go back and get the acid bath, this will pull all the polish off and turn the wheels from shiney to a brite white again, BTDT!! Good luck. I hope your arms are in shape!!



Michael

DITTO !! Oo.

 

[MMiller]

If you take them off to have them wash them, I would take some rubber mudflaps or floormats to set the rims down on. If they flip em over on the concrete, the rims will get gouged, especially important on the front rims, the nice side will get beat up. Semi truck tire shops usually have extra flaps laying around so they don't beat up the nice shineys.



When you get the rims all cleaned up promise me you won't let somebody put them ugly wheel weights back on!!! Find a shop that uses the stick on weights that are glued to the inner part of the rim, or use balance beads, or equal. Those weights will be a pain to clean around, and ruin the finish again once you get the wheels cleaned.



Does anybody make those poly inserts to put between the duals for pickups? That way the rims don't get stuck together?



Also see if you can find some stainless steel center caps, they last longer then the chrome covered ones do.



Need anymore ideas and suggestions? I guess there is somebody here that would trade you for some steels, so you don't have to work sooo hard!! :-laf



Michael

 

[DValentine]

Meuratic acid is the stuff you are looking for. (I can't spell it correctly) It will take off the oxidation off before you start to polish. I used a clear acrylic to reseal mine. I don't know how long it will last.



Good luck



Dave

 

[Philip]

hea Bill I was talking with Jeremy last night. He said he was thinking about offering you a set of freshly bead blasted and painted stock rims for yours.



What color you want those rims? :-laf :-laf