Aluminum Wheel Refresh
#1
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St. Jude Donor '10
Aluminum Wheel Refresh
Just a quick post to share the start of my Aluminum Wheel clean up and polishing. I had already stripped the clear coat off the wheels and have stripped the black paint from the center hub so that is removed. The stripping materials stained and left water spots on the wheels as you can see in this picture.
After about an hour of pretty tough rubbing by hand and by machine and then buffing out the wheel with soft cloths they turn out a little more like this one which I had just finished.
So now I have hope that my previously ugly and stained wheels will be converted back to a shiny new set of four. No decision yet on painting the center black or leave it aluminum when I clear coat the wheels.
So one down, three to go...soon. Then these will be up for sale.
Thanks for looking.
David Howard
After about an hour of pretty tough rubbing by hand and by machine and then buffing out the wheel with soft cloths they turn out a little more like this one which I had just finished.
So now I have hope that my previously ugly and stained wheels will be converted back to a shiny new set of four. No decision yet on painting the center black or leave it aluminum when I clear coat the wheels.
So one down, three to go...soon. Then these will be up for sale.
Thanks for looking.
David Howard
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ptaleo (10-03-2016)
#2
I think they look great!
While we are on the subject, I like the un-painted center look of the 80-82. Imo they are the best looking car/rim combo I have seen. I believe there is no aftermarket wheel that looks better, but that is just me.
While we are on the subject, I like the un-painted center look of the 80-82. Imo they are the best looking car/rim combo I have seen. I believe there is no aftermarket wheel that looks better, but that is just me.
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St. Jude Donor '10
#6
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St. Jude Donor '10
David
#7
Le Mans Master
If you do decide to paint the centers, see my thread on painting the centers. I agree though, if you are just selling them, I think I'd leave them bare.
#8
Recently stripped the clearcoat paint off my aluminum wheels. Tried alot of different compounds and polishes. The best was Mothers mag and aluminum polish. Really put a chrome like shine on the wheels. Finished up the process with a paint sealant, then a few coats of wax. They look better than new.
#9
Burning Brakes
I just refinished mine. I removed the tires from the rims, jacked up the rear of my vette and supported the axles so I could use the car to spin the wheels/rims at idle. I started with 800 grit paper (wet sanding) and worked my way up to 1500 grit. Finished up with compound then polish and they do look new.
#10
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St. Jude Donor '10
All great stuff guys, keep the information coming as we all learn together.
David
David
#12
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St. Jude Donor '10
Anyone else polishing up those wheels???
#13
Safety Car
#14
Instructor
I am in the process of polishing mine now. My car set up for 8 years and we had two hurricanes blow through here with salt water spray everywhere, so the wheels were not pretty. The clear had been removed long ago, so there was a lot of pitting.
My car is a 79 and I know the factory finish is supposed to be dull, but I got spoiled to the super bright wheels that I had on my '81 years ago. I also plan to paint the slots black like the early 80s wheels.
I too am at the 1 wheel point of the process. I rubbed on the one with 1000 grit sandpaper (I know now I should have started off with some coarser paper) and some stuff I got from a local wheel remanufacturer called "Way 2EZ Wheel Cleaner & Polish." I used that with a variable speed drill & Mother's Super Ball and finished up with another rubbing with Never Dull and a coat of paste wax. At the recommendation of the reman guy, I am not going to spray any clear on the wheels. He said that the clear will help keep the wheels from dulling out as quickly, but will also slightly affect the shine. You can keep a brilliant shine on the wheels without the clear - as long as the wheels are properly maintained and lightly polished periodically.
I read on the forum that someone recommended using a die grinder with polishing attachments to clean aluminum wheels, so I got one of those from Harbor Freight and hope that will speed up the process on the other three. I will say that the grinder is not variable speed and the one attachment that I stuck in it bent almost as soon as I turned the grinder on, before it ever touched the wheel. I am thinking that is because I should have had the polishing pad on the wheel before I turned the grinder on - or the polishing kit I also got from Harbor Freight is cr@p. Waiting for some warmer weather to get on with the process. Any tips on working with this grinder would be appreciated.
My car is a 79 and I know the factory finish is supposed to be dull, but I got spoiled to the super bright wheels that I had on my '81 years ago. I also plan to paint the slots black like the early 80s wheels.
I too am at the 1 wheel point of the process. I rubbed on the one with 1000 grit sandpaper (I know now I should have started off with some coarser paper) and some stuff I got from a local wheel remanufacturer called "Way 2EZ Wheel Cleaner & Polish." I used that with a variable speed drill & Mother's Super Ball and finished up with another rubbing with Never Dull and a coat of paste wax. At the recommendation of the reman guy, I am not going to spray any clear on the wheels. He said that the clear will help keep the wheels from dulling out as quickly, but will also slightly affect the shine. You can keep a brilliant shine on the wheels without the clear - as long as the wheels are properly maintained and lightly polished periodically.
I read on the forum that someone recommended using a die grinder with polishing attachments to clean aluminum wheels, so I got one of those from Harbor Freight and hope that will speed up the process on the other three. I will say that the grinder is not variable speed and the one attachment that I stuck in it bent almost as soon as I turned the grinder on, before it ever touched the wheel. I am thinking that is because I should have had the polishing pad on the wheel before I turned the grinder on - or the polishing kit I also got from Harbor Freight is cr@p. Waiting for some warmer weather to get on with the process. Any tips on working with this grinder would be appreciated.
Last edited by beige79; 02-04-2011 at 07:44 AM.
#15
Melting Slicks
#16
Melting Slicks
I used a product called "White Diamonds" on a set of AR Vectors recently and it cut the heavy oxidation without resorting to sandpaper. The only drawback I see to this stuff is it does not leave a protective coating behind, so waxing or similar is required. A little of this stuff goes a long way. It came from my local Harley outlet.
#17
Burning Brakes
76 Slotted Wheels
Alohas,
I like to use Bomsaway for polishing my wheels with a buffing wheel I got from Ecklers.Comes out pretty nice but here in Hawaii the shine lasts about 2 weeks.Just got a product called Alumnaclear and will see how it holds up.The truckers say that this is the best lasting product to keep the shine.Will post how well it works when I get to doing the application.I really like the look of the slotted wheels and would like to keep them but hate the constant upkeep.Chrome plating is an option but how long would that last in Hawaii's salt enviroment.Here's a few pics of my freshly polished wheels...Mahalos [IMG][/IMG][IMG][/IMG]
I like to use Bomsaway for polishing my wheels with a buffing wheel I got from Ecklers.Comes out pretty nice but here in Hawaii the shine lasts about 2 weeks.Just got a product called Alumnaclear and will see how it holds up.The truckers say that this is the best lasting product to keep the shine.Will post how well it works when I get to doing the application.I really like the look of the slotted wheels and would like to keep them but hate the constant upkeep.Chrome plating is an option but how long would that last in Hawaii's salt enviroment.Here's a few pics of my freshly polished wheels...Mahalos [IMG][/IMG][IMG][/IMG]
#18
I just refinished mine. I removed the tires from the rims, jacked up the rear of my vette and supported the axles so I could use the car to spin the wheels/rims at idle. I started with 800 grit paper (wet sanding) and worked my way up to 1500 grit. Finished up with compound then polish and they do look new.
When I was farming, a neighbor died getting his clothes caught in the PTO on a tractor while grinding feed. Not pretty.
Be careful.
#19
Instructor
I used wizards polish from a local shop and a microfiber pad on my 80 and they look as good as chrome. In fact a lot of people thought I had them chromed- ill post a picture later when I get home
Last edited by mwm1993; 02-05-2011 at 07:12 PM. Reason: typo
#20
Drifting
Just a quick post to share the start of my Aluminum Wheel clean up and polishing. I had already stripped the clear coat off the wheels and have stripped the black paint from the center hub so that is removed. The stripping materials stained and left water spots on the wheels as you can see in this picture.
Attachment 47664451
After about an hour of pretty tough rubbing by hand and by machine and then buffing out the wheel with soft cloths they turn out a little more like this one which I had just finished.
Attachment 47664452
So now I have hope that my previously ugly and stained wheels will be converted back to a shiny new set of four. No decision yet on painting the center black or leave it aluminum when I clear coat the wheels.
So one down, three to go...soon. Then these will be up for sale.
Attachment 47664453
Thanks for looking.
David Howard
Attachment 47664451
After about an hour of pretty tough rubbing by hand and by machine and then buffing out the wheel with soft cloths they turn out a little more like this one which I had just finished.
Attachment 47664452
So now I have hope that my previously ugly and stained wheels will be converted back to a shiny new set of four. No decision yet on painting the center black or leave it aluminum when I clear coat the wheels.
So one down, three to go...soon. Then these will be up for sale.
Attachment 47664453
Thanks for looking.
David Howard