Ralley Wheel polishing help
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,449
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Ralley Wheel polishing help
Ive heard of a few forum members taking stuff like 2000 grit sand paper to the wheels and polishing them up, I need a good time consuming project that will keep me from spending money, can you guys help me on getting started? what do I need? and what are some tips? pictures are always welcome!
Miles
Miles
Racer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 271
Likes: 0
From: N.Y
Ive heard of a few forum members taking stuff like 2000 grit sand paper to the wheels and polishing them up, I need a good time consuming project that will keep me from spending money, can you guys help me on getting started? what do I need? and what are some tips? pictures are always welcome!
Miles
Miles
just messing with ya. i would google it i've heard of coca cola to lime juice, google it or ask jeeves it and you'll probably find a good proven method, good luck
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2006
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and yes that is my girlfriend, but shes in Bloivar for the summer and Im in Joplin.....
Miles
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,429
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From: Tucson AZ
Start out with Bon-Ami bar from the grocery store. Use a wet towel to rub over the bar and then polish out the rings and caps. I've been a sheetmetal worker/painter since I came in the Air Force in 75. This Bon-Ami bar is about the best, cheapest thing I've find for chrome and glass cleaning. Try it on your mirrors too.
Then try your 2000 grit wet sandpaper. I've also used 0000 steelwool with a fair amout of success. Use some 3M Finesse-it II with the steelwool. Don't forget, on the chrome, it's straight lines, no wax on- wax off circles.
Good Luck, let us know,
BBTank
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,697
Likes: 833
From: WI
Check out this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfWY9VEmsvc
You may want/need to sand away the imperfections prior to polishing. You could get a 9" grinder at Harbor Freight pretty cheap and the right buffing pads (Eastwood) and do a great job. Wish I'd have thought of this years ago on other rims I've done. I always did it the 'hard' way. I'm going to try this on my vette rims when I'm ready to polish them up. Good luck.
Mark G
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfWY9VEmsvc
You may want/need to sand away the imperfections prior to polishing. You could get a 9" grinder at Harbor Freight pretty cheap and the right buffing pads (Eastwood) and do a great job. Wish I'd have thought of this years ago on other rims I've done. I always did it the 'hard' way. I'm going to try this on my vette rims when I'm ready to polish them up. Good luck.
Mark G
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2006
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bump
Id also like to do this to my rocker panels (if I can get them off with the side pipes) there was a forum member with a yellow vette and he got his to look like chrome, if anyone knows his name it would be of great help
Miles
Id also like to do this to my rocker panels (if I can get them off with the side pipes) there was a forum member with a yellow vette and he got his to look like chrome, if anyone knows his name it would be of great help
Miles
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,283
Likes: 4,373
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi Miles,
I believe the trim rings are stainless steel with 'flash' chrome on them. You need to be careful that you're not too aggressive or you'll buff through the chrome and get to see what a different color stainless steel is compared to chrome.
The center cap 'hat' is chromed pot metal and the saucer is stainless steel like the rings. Be careful you don't buff the black paint off the 'hat' because its pretty difficult to duplicate.
The rocker trim is anodized aluminium. Once you buff through the anodizing you'll be on your own.
Have Fun!
Regards,
Alan
I believe the trim rings are stainless steel with 'flash' chrome on them. You need to be careful that you're not too aggressive or you'll buff through the chrome and get to see what a different color stainless steel is compared to chrome.
The center cap 'hat' is chromed pot metal and the saucer is stainless steel like the rings. Be careful you don't buff the black paint off the 'hat' because its pretty difficult to duplicate.
The rocker trim is anodized aluminium. Once you buff through the anodizing you'll be on your own.
Have Fun!
Regards,
Alan
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I would use some Never Dull or some Dupont #7 and then follow it up with a good polish/sealant like Zaino All in one.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
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I also have a spot of rust on my drivers side front ring, its only about half the side of a dime, this is why Im leaning tward a sanding instead of a buff, last year I took mother mag and aluminum to them and it helped alot but its still not as shiney as it should be
Miles
Miles
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,347
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From: Salinas Ca.
Miles...I've buffed and poloshed basically all my stainless and aluminum, ect... using the info from this site...http://www.caswellplating.com/buffs/buffman.htm
Some of my stainless, I had to start with a hammer and dolly. From there, files, and then sandpaper... 100, up to 1500, 2000. Then it was finally taken to the buffer...
Muddy
Some of my stainless, I had to start with a hammer and dolly. From there, files, and then sandpaper... 100, up to 1500, 2000. Then it was finally taken to the buffer...
Muddy
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 28
From: Florida
I wouldn't touch it with any sandpaper etc. before you try polishing it first, properly.
SS contains chromium, the more % the more it will shine. It's the chromium content you are really polishing for the bright shine.
SS is very hard and you need a super hard very fine abrasive to polish it to it's highest finish along with power tools.
The buffing pads are called "mops"
"Calcined alumina" is usually what the pros use for polishing ss.
It's a lot of work.
SS contains chromium, the more % the more it will shine. It's the chromium content you are really polishing for the bright shine.
SS is very hard and you need a super hard very fine abrasive to polish it to it's highest finish along with power tools.
The buffing pads are called "mops"
"Calcined alumina" is usually what the pros use for polishing ss.
It's a lot of work.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Kissimmee fl
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The rings on the white car do not look like original 4-clip trim rings from the pic. I can't make out the edge around the outside and they look a bit more rounded. If they are not original style, its hard to say what is there. They may or may not be chrome over stainless or just stainless. There should be no rust if they are stainless. Either way I prefer a cotton wheel with white polishing rogue. If you polish thru the chrome, Alan is right, you wil see the difference in the color.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,084
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From: Aussie expat in Saudi Arabia
Mine were as rough as a badger's ****! I started out with 240 wet and dry to remove deep scratches etc, then moved up grades until I was using 800. Then I hit them with some Mother's aluminium polish and my buffer. I clear powder coated the chrome spinner...
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 850
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From: Providence RI
I was going to say they look like the trim-rings from a 4wd K5 Blazer (I slapped some of those onto some 7" Rally wheels on another car). Those will not shine up without an inordinate amount of polishing. If you're going for the factory-fresh look, you'd be better-off starting with the correct Vette trim-rings.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 127
Likes: 34
From: South Carolina
The rings on the white car are indeed truck rings and they have a somewhat "brushed" finish that I don't think will ever polish into a chrome looking finish. Since you don't have original rings, why not just invest in a set of chrome plated rings from one of the venders? I have been using them for years because I like the look over polished stainless. You can probably buy a whole set for what 1 decent original ring would cost. I love a project as much as the next guy, but I would put the effort towards another area.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2006
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I never noticed it before, but mine dont have then little lip on the outer ring that my dads have, so it looks like I get to go to the junk yards now!
Thanks for your help, Ill probably have to buff and sand the ones I find, so Ill be back! haha
Miles
Thanks for your help, Ill probably have to buff and sand the ones I find, so Ill be back! haha
Miles