How do you polish anodized aluminum

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picorrect

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My wheels have a nice polished lip that is anodized aluminum. Can I use aluminum polish or should I use something else?
 
If it's truly anodized, you could use something like 3M IHG as needed and regular wax. Anodizing aluminum creates an almost indestructible surface and doesn't require much care. Anodized aluminum (polished or not, sometimes it has a matte finish) is not the same as polished aluminum. I'm just pointing this out in case your wheel rims are just polished aluminum, which in that case they may or may not be clearcoated. If they're uncoated, polished aluminum then use 3M Aluminum polish or something similar.



You can always get in touch with the manufacturer of your wheels, I'm sure they'd be more than happy to answer your questions.
 
any other options? I just use a poly sealant on mine after cleaning with soap and water only...wondering if there is something any better or recommended?
 
How do they look to you? If they meet your specs, then keep doing what you're doing. Cleaning wheels with a sealant on them is usually easier and can be done with your regular car wash and qd.
 
If you apply a paint polish to your polished aluminum wheels and don't get any black residue then you have clear coated wheels, use normal paint polishes and wax to take care of it. If it does turn black use a decent aluminum polish, mothers billet is some of the most amazing stuff ever.
 
Some anodizing (e.g., the clear anodizing on Audi exterior trim) is incredibly fragile, while other anodizing (e.g., the mil-spec stuff) is pretty tough. I'd be gentle with it as it can't be touched up/etc. and reodoing it would be an expensive PIA.



When I had anodized wheels (HREs on the Mallett, which Chuck had redone with Mil-spec as the HRE anodizing is too fragile), I never used anything stronger than mild paint cleaners and I kept them well sealed.
 
Accumulator said:
Some anodizing (e.g., the clear anodizing on Audi exterior trim) is incredibly fragile, while other anodizing (e.g., the mil-spec stuff) is pretty tough. I'd be gentle with it as it can't be touched up/etc. and reodoing it would be an expensive PIA.



When I had anodized wheels (HREs on the Mallett, which Chuck had redone with Mil-spec as the HRE anodizing is too fragile), I never used anything stronger than mild paint cleaners and I kept them well sealed.
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I'd follow this course and well, do follow that course.:D



My Racing Hart wheels with anodized lip sections look great after 8+ years.
 
SpoiledMan said:
I'd follow this course and well, do follow that course.:D



My Racing Hart wheels with anodized lip sections look great after 8+ years.
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which racing harts? I love aftermarket rims! I've got a set of CP-F Tune R's with a stepped anodized lip. and now a set of Speed Star D5R's with a bigger anodized lip.



My Racing Harts seem to have a few tiny spots where the anodization was etched (or deanodized?) by standing rainwater. I can use metal polish on the rest of the rim and it doesn't turn black unless I go over the little spots. Anyone ever dealt with this?



What wheel shops do re-anodization? (preferably mil-spec)
 
I've been using Finish Kare's 2180 Ultra Poly Wipe Sealant (Anti-Static) seems to work well for me to seal the anodized rims, they do seem to stay pretty clean:



2180 Ultra Seal a sealant for use on all finishes, is a blend of anti corrosive, detergent resistant polydimethylsiloxane copolymers, which provide the finish with a high glossed protective film that gives intensive wear and great resistance to heat and water. 2180 removes surface accumulation and oxidation while penetrating and sealing the pores of the paint, giving great depth and trueness of color. This along with high melt resins offers prolonged surface protection and resistance to the elements, UV, oxidation and detergents for months of maintenance free appearance driving pleasure. Excellent for use on paint, fiber glass, gel coat, glass and chrome surfaces
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IMG_4622.JPG
 
SpoiledMan- yeah, those *do* look nice (and they also look like a lotta work :eek: ).



djerickd- Sorry, I dunno where Mallett got the Mil-spec anodizing done :think: One of the big wheel refinishing places oughta have an idea.
 
They're actually not that bad to clean at all. I don't let them get all that dirty.:) Car wash solution is the order of the day. I've clayed them once since new as they had something on them that I couldn't I.D. The problem with them is DRYING them. There's a dip in the lip just behind the face that holds 6-8 ounces of water. I use some cheap WW's for that.
 
my new rims will hold about that much, I drove it for about a half hour to a meet and got there and noticed the water was still there!
 
hey thats a good idea... I do usually blow the car dry, that time had hadn't and just towel tried it. I will have to try that instead!
 
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