Wet sand and polish? Whats the best aluminum polish.

Ok cool so that makes it easier. Thanks for all the help David. Now I got to order the balls LoL but I'm glad I know what to use thanks to you. I'll post some pics when I'm done.
 
So I polished a wheel today and the outer ring looks pretty good but the middle part ain't too good.



I clayed then heavy coumpounded with the wool ball then fine polished it with the wool ball



I think I'm screwed, I don't know if these wheels can get any better, the grooves are still in there, the swirls around the wheel my dad said thats how it was machined. Do you think you could get these things any better? David come down to St. Louis and help me out!



I don't think they've ever shined like this in the sun



Wheelhere.jpg




Heres a close up of the hazy part, hopefully you can see the grooves its a phone pic.



Wheelclose.jpg




Any help?
 
Metal polishes from what I have experienced dont do much on Clear Coat rims. The HD Metal David recommended is really meant for bare metal. I would treat them as you would car paint. Polish multiple steps using something with filler and then wax.
 
Ben - I'm pretty sure these wheels are polished w/o any clear. Count - did they turn black as you polished?



Those scratches look pretty deep. The worst part is all the rivets that you can't polish around very well. You can try using a rotary with a wool pad to see if you can tilt it enough to level the surface. I did the wheels on an AC Cobra replica that way. Made a huge difference over the polishing balls. Worth a try you have access to this.
 
Yeh the ball is black and the wheel was black and covered in wool when I was polishing.



I tried wool balling it, and then I tried a rubbing it in with my fingers on the vertical part, then I even used a toothbrush around the rivets.



The vertical part just looks so hazy.



I was gonna use that aircraft stripper first to make sure theres no clear on them but my dad said thad be stupid cuz he don't think theres clear on it, should I go buy some and try it?



I think the wheels are modular aluminum satin machine finish.



Do you think if I wetsand them down to get that scratches out I could get a mirror shine?



Thanks guys.
 
David Fermani said:
.. The worst part is all the rivets that you can't polish around very well. You can try using a rotary with a wool pad to see if you can tilt it enough to level the surface..
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I'm thinking maybe the Count will need a polishing buff, or one of those "flappy pads", mounted on a mandrel..the sort of thing you generally use on a flex-shaft.



Rather than get all tongue-tied trying to explain it, maybe I oughta just post a link..Buffing Polishing Supplies Buffing Wheels Compound Polishing Aluminum Polishing Kit - Caswell Inc.
 
The Count said:
I think the wheels are modular aluminum satin machine finish.



Do you think if I wetsand them down to get that scratches out I could get a mirror shine?



Thanks guys.
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I think that trying to completely change the surface/finish from machined-satin (with the grooves/etc.) to mirror-like shine is a mighty tall order and unlikely to turn out quite the way you'd like. Eh, I hate to be so pessimistic but I bet that a pro wheel shop (with the ability to disassemble them and more importantly get 'em back together right) would consider this a huge job and they'd charge an arm and a leg to do it to Autopian standards.
 
Well then I guess I can't go any further, wet sanding might work but that would be a lot of work.



I'll do the other back wheel and just leave it at that. I'd like to just get new mirror shine new wheels maybe a little skinnier to cuz these tires are 10 inches wide, thats quite a bit. But the new wheels are like 150-200 bucks, so I don't know if that will work out
 
Oh you think I should seal the ones I polish? And the ones I don't polish will still have those spots on them. What do you think?
 
Depending on the metal polish that you use, it contain sealers already. It doesn't hurt to use another sealant though. Any time you clean the wheels, you will most likely take off that protection though.
 
I prefer to use a jewelers roughe on alluminum. here is the kit I love. It works great for me. Its definately a baller status wheel kit! :first:





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DSC_0289-2.jpg
 
If your expectations are to achieve the mirror finish of factory polished centerlines, you've got a lot of backbreaking, repetitive work ahead of you. I wetsanded and polished my 13" centerlines for a month and only achieved half the shine of the factory polished CLs. For one, ALL of the factory machining marks need to be wetsanded out 100% and as alluded to here, around the rivets are impossible to get completely smooth. I believe they do not machine the factory polished ones so thats why they are like mirrors. Work your way gradually wetsanding until 2000 grit until all of the scratches are gone, then polish away. I believe i used some metal polish in a small blue and white jar. Sorry, the name escapes me as this was done in the 80's.
 
The Count said:
Well can someone tell me how to post a pic?



I don't know if the DA will be much help seeing as how there are like 2 lips on the wheel ya know? Or are the 3 inch ones good for that? And do you use a ball you get OTC at the store uptown or is there a better one that you suggest?



Glad to know bf will produce marring then it might get the deep stuff out.



And I'll buy the whole thing from the heavy cut to the fine finish polish. I'm excited LoL.
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This video demonstrates how i polish fuel truck's aluminum tanks. I do this without the use of compounds. The metal surface can swirl up just like clear-coat. you can also polish decals and vehicle wraps. I removed 80 % of the scratches in the decals. You can use a wool pad or buy the cloth pad at your local truck vender that sells accessories for 18 wheelers.



 
This video demonstrates how to polish aluminum and decals. Vehicles that have decals & wraps can be polished just like paint. This is some hard core damage. Get ready to work if you decide to take on a fuel tanker. You don't see a lot of videos that demonstrates polishing an entire aluminum tanker. You can charge big money for these type of repairs, but it also takes up your time



 
Enough is enough Jeff. Spamming the forums with the same videos over and over and posting in year old posts to advertise yourself. Your agenda is obvious to everyone that you are here for one reason and one reason only. You're here to promote your business and not add an ounce of anything beneficial to the forum.



:banned::banned::banned:
 
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