clear coat wheel polishing help

I

imported_RZJZA80

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How to do polish and remove scratches off of a polished aluminum lip that is clear coated? I have scratches and water spots on all 4 of my lips and aluminum polishes won't work (it doesn't turn black like it's supposed to).
 
RZJZA80 said:
.........(it doesn't turn black like it's supposed to).
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That's because it is clear coated. Use a paint polish and/or compound on them just like you would to correct paint.
 
Eliot Ness said:
That's because it is clear coated. Use a paint polish and/or compound on them just like you would to correct paint.
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the center section of my wheels is a gunmetal color, will using a powerball mini with polish or compound hurt the gunmetal part? It's inevitable for the powerball mini to touch it that's why I ask, thanks!
 
How do you know if it's clear coated or not? If its clearcoated can you not use steel wool?
 
No, you cannot use steel wool! Would you use it on your paint?



Best way to clean these is P21S Wheel Cleaner and a firm brush. Once clean, a good AIO sealant is all you need to keep them cleaner and easier to clean any brake dust etc.



Deanski
 
jw said:
How do you know if it's clear coated or not? If its clearcoated can you not use steel wool?
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no steel wool on CC

to tell if it is polished or CC use some metal polish and if it is not CC it will turn black as per post #1
 
RZJZA80 said:
How to do polish and remove scratches off of a polished aluminum lip that is clear coated? I have scratches and water spots on all 4 of my lips and aluminum polishes won't work (it doesn't turn black like it's supposed to).
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Best way is to have a wheel repair shop do the work. They can correct it, balance it and re-coat the clear in an oven designed for it. Depending on the wheel or car mfg, it's best to find a shop that has handled that type or mfg of the wheel.



I've seen curbed Porsche wheels repaired, and you cannot tell the difference between a new wheel or a repaired wheel it's that good. But it's all related to the company who does the repair.



Powdercoating a wheel also works well, however, depending on type of wheel and if it can be heated to the temps used in powdercoating is only verified by the wheel mfg. Powdercoating is more durable and can add color or just clear coating as well for a more bullit-proof finish.



Deanski
 
yeah I was trying to avoid taking the wheels to a shop to get them re-polished or the clear coat removed. The wheels are volk racing and just the lips are polished and clear coated from the factory. The problem is that there are water spots and scratches on the clear coat itself. I think I may try some compound or 2000 grit wetsanding and then compound, actually at this point I've no idea I just want to throw them away and buy new wheels :(
 
RZJZA80 said:
the center section of my wheels is a gunmetal color, will using a powerball mini with polish or compound hurt the gunmetal part? It's inevitable for the powerball mini to touch it that's why I ask, thanks!
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If the gunmetal is painted and cleared it shouldn't hurt, but if they don't need to be polished then just mask that area off with blues painters tape.
actually at this point I've no idea I just want to throw them away and buy new wheels
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Don't get too discouraged before you try a few things (carefully) on them.
 
I tried some red rubbing copound and some white rubbing/polishing compound and while they both made the clear coat smooth, didn't even touch the water spots or scratches. I did it both by hand and by air tool with buffing thing on it, neither one worked. I'm out of ideas unless a clay bar might do something, but I don't know if clay bar removes water spots and scratches? I have the mothers gold clay bar kit I suppose I'll try it, nothing left to lose now.
 
RZJZA80 said:
I tried some red rubbing copound and some white rubbing/polishing compound and while they both made the clear coat smooth, didn't even touch the water spots or scratches. I did it both by hand and by air tool with buffing thing on it, neither one worked. I'm out of ideas unless a clay bar might do something, but I don't know if clay bar removes water spots and scratches? I have the mothers gold clay bar kit I suppose I'll try it, nothing left to lose now.
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Not sure what the red/white rubbing compounds were or exactly what the air tool or buffing thing were. Clay won't remove scratches and at this point probably won't help with the water spots. If you can post some pictures that might help us recommend a plan.
 
So if they're clear coated I should try some paint polish? Would Menz SIP be a good canditate or should I easier like 106ff. I'm not sure anything will get these little rust spots off.
 
jw said:
So if they're clear coated I should try some paint polish? Would Menz SIP be a good canditate or should I easier like 106ff. I'm not sure anything will get these little rust spots off.
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Yeah, use paint polish. There's some kind of miscommunication going on with this thread:



If anything is clearcoated (wheels, wood, you name it) then just treat it like the paint on the hood of the car. Polish, wetsand, whatever. The clear on the front side of wheels is *usually* (but not always so be careful) thicker and tougher than regular clear.



I just did the some wheels with Sonus gray clay, HT Heavy Cut (by hand), OCP (also by hand), then KAIO and sealant. In other words, I treated them just like any other paint only I didn't bother with the final super-fine final polishing.



I'd rather leave some deeper RIDS than thin the clear too much, but that's just me.



For tough rust spots, I'd use AutoInt's "B" and clay while it's dwelling. Or at least an acidic wheel cleaner.
 
thanks for all the help accumulator, I am going to buy some clay bar today and give that a try. I won't dare try to wetsand it myself, but if all else fails I'll sell my wheels and buy new ones.
 
RZJZA80 said:
Oh here's something I forgot, would a powerball mini help in my situation at all? It just looks like foam on a stick to me, it is really that good?
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Beats me, never used one. Don't plan to either...to me it's like a rotary tool without sufficient control (for my taste). Guess people like 'em though :nixweiss
 
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