Polished Aluminum Rims.

[Swamp Donkey]

I cleaned up my rims today and just used an SOS pad. They look alot better then they did, but I believe some polishing and some kind of protectant is in order. What do you guys do to look after your polished aluminum rims?

 

[Dkevdog]

Depending on how bad they are, I use Mother's Mag & Aluminum polish if they need a good one. If they need a light polishing I use Eagle One Nev'r'dull. Works pretty good. I also use a high content caranuaba wax on them as well.



Kev

 

[Swamp Donkey]

Do you use some kind of power tool for your method or is it all elbow grease like I just went through?

 

[AYSCII]

Be careful using the S. O. S. if it is steel wool type. Steel wool can leave steel deposits and can end up with little specks of rust. Bronze wool is available (from Marine Shops) that would not end up rusting. As to applications on rims, any type of wool, I really couldn't tell you. I use never dull and mothers on my boat. My truck rims are stock steel and treat them likewise.

 

[redneckdr]

wheels

i looked at mine--forged aluminum, and can't tell if they are clear coated, or not. i wasn't going to abrade them with anything til i had asked on the forum. btw, if they are not coated, Eagle makes a complete system for cleaning and protecting alum wheels, available at the big truck parts stores. the cleaner has "jeweller's rouge" in it and works quite nicely. i bought a batery operated hand held polisher/scrubber at the local Black and Decker outlet that has several different pads to use. with a little time uncoated alum wheels can be made to look like chrome. btw2, Alcoa also makes a "complete" system for cleaning and protecting wheels--often available at the big boy franchises, Freightliner, Kenworth, etc.

 

[EOliver]

You can buy the alcoa aluminum cleaning "system" from their web site.



The address is: Alcoa Aluminum Care

 

[Dkevdog]

John- I don't use any power other thanelbow grease. It would be a difficult task to use some type of power polisher on the wheels without removing them. Hardest part is getting them to shine around the lugs. I use a paint stick with foam wraped around it and the polishing cloth wrapped around that to get into the crevices.





Kev

 

[Hammer]

Shiny wheels = Happy truck

Hey,SD,,On all the aluminum I keep polished I use a product called DURAGLOSS ,,Its overall the best polish I've used to keep a set of rather old Weld Wheels looking nicem that I had on my old truck,,Also used a polish calledX-TREEM and its sealer called METAL MAGIC after it was used to seal the wheel before winter's harsh conditions came upon us,,Either is good,just prefer the Duragloss shine over any I have tried and there are a lot of cans in my detail area,,Let me know if you can not find either and I'll send a can up... ... ... .

 

[lgibson]

I use X-treem if they are bad and I use Zymol wheel cleaner and sealer to keep them looking good. But after 112,000 miles, over 20,000 gravel they look beat up. Time for a new set.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

Well sounds like I will have to polish them again, because I am pretty sure I took off whatever coating that was on there with the steel wool SOS pads. I will search around for some complete kits.



Thanks for the generous offer Hammer. I will have a look locally first.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

I found some Eagle1 aluminum polish locally. Thanks for all the advice.



PS. the first time I was looking for a product like this all I found was wheel cleaners. They did not give me the desired result!

 

[Briar Hopper]

Check out www.eastwoodcompany.com they have everything you could ever want, in the way of polishing wheels. They have complete wheel refinishing kits, among many, many other tools. Their catalog is fantastic, send for it. Nobody in the TDR should be without this catalog !!!!