....I will get stuck into it...Just bought a Mothers speed cone today as well.
Cleaning CCW's
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,899
Likes: 212
From: Christchurch, New Zealand
Cleaning CCW's
Howdi..
Do you polish them with metal polish and then zaino or similar? Or just wash them down with soapy water..then metal polish? I've been doing the later but was wondering if people put some sort of sealant on them.
Do you polish them with metal polish and then zaino or similar? Or just wash them down with soapy water..then metal polish? I've been doing the later but was wondering if people put some sort of sealant on them.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 4,671
Likes: 1,245
From: Southern Ca
Also use webril wipes don't scratch . works great tip from Mr. Toque..
Last edited by oldC5; May 25, 2014 at 06:56 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 174
Likes: 0
From: Seattle WA
I tried Blue Magic metal polish and had good results, but it took more effort than using Adams liquid metal polish. On the other hand, the Adams polish was a bit messier to work with.... but it went on and off easier. I'll probably continue to use Adams.
Also, everyone, including CCW, seems to recommend applying a sealant like Rejex, after polishing. I have not tried it yet, but I may have to order some of this tonight. I'm all for trying anything to reduce the time and effort that goes into polishing.
Also, everyone, including CCW, seems to recommend applying a sealant like Rejex, after polishing. I have not tried it yet, but I may have to order some of this tonight. I'm all for trying anything to reduce the time and effort that goes into polishing.
Last edited by 02blackLS6; May 25, 2014 at 07:27 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,807
Likes: 331
From: Ocala FL
I tried Blue Magic metal polish and had good results, but it took more effort than using Adams liquid metal polish. On the other hand, the Adams polish was a bit messier to work with.... but it went on and off easier. I'll probably continue to use Adams.
Also, everyone, including CCW, seems to recommend applying a sealant like Rejex, after polishing. I have not tried it yet, but I may have to order some of this tonight. I'm all for trying anything to reduce the time and effort that goes into polishing.
Also, everyone, including CCW, seems to recommend applying a sealant like Rejex, after polishing. I have not tried it yet, but I may have to order some of this tonight. I'm all for trying anything to reduce the time and effort that goes into polishing.
OP- As for "cleaning" the wheels I have had good results with using armor all wheel and tire spray cleaner and a soft bristle brush, rinse with cold water, then dry off to avoid water spots. THEN polish with a good aluminum polish. I like the two stage Adams polish system with a really good really CLEAN micro fiber towl to apply and remove.
Last edited by mre1974; May 25, 2014 at 09:44 PM.
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There have been a number of good posts in the past on how to get a set of wheels like the CCWs looking great again. I have included two Word files below that may help you and I think that forum member Evil-Twin had posted a good tutorial also but I could not find a file on it. You may be able to find the thread using the search function.
Hope these provide you with what you are looking for.
Hope these provide you with what you are looking for.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
I use the same thing John at CCW uses.. Mothers.... when I'm done, I put a coat of Zaino. I do my wheels rotors and wheel wells twice a year. takes about one hour a corner. So the eight hours a year I spend to keep my wheels, rotors and wheel wells looking brand new are worth the effort to me.
The best advice I could give anyone is not to bite off more than you can chew. I always set reasonable goals for myself. If I decide to do a corner. I take the time it takes to do it right be it 50 minutes or 80 minutes. I would never do more than 2 corners in one day. its too labor intensive. Naturally the wheel has to come off. A speed ball or a speed cone works well. Mothers billet is slightly better than the regular mothers because it has finer polish and more lubricant. Ill sometimes use Simichrome, just to change it up a little. I always put a coat of Zaino. Ill sometimes use corn meal after I polish the wheel, then Zaino... these things all work well.
Wheels in this picture are 12 years old and have 90,000 miles on them.
The best advice I could give anyone is not to bite off more than you can chew. I always set reasonable goals for myself. If I decide to do a corner. I take the time it takes to do it right be it 50 minutes or 80 minutes. I would never do more than 2 corners in one day. its too labor intensive. Naturally the wheel has to come off. A speed ball or a speed cone works well. Mothers billet is slightly better than the regular mothers because it has finer polish and more lubricant. Ill sometimes use Simichrome, just to change it up a little. I always put a coat of Zaino. Ill sometimes use corn meal after I polish the wheel, then Zaino... these things all work well.
Wheels in this picture are 12 years old and have 90,000 miles on them.
Last edited by Evil-Twin; May 25, 2014 at 10:33 PM.
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Drifting
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,776
Likes: 500
From: West Seneca NY
Have used all of these, Wenol, White Diamond, Adams, and Blackfire so far tops all of them, NOT CHEAP 2 items pictured $100 but if you are fussy, worth every penny, I do it by hand with Webril Wipes one to polish with and one to wipe it off, a little hard to work with do to it's pine based formula. My wheels are new and difficult to polish, but works great for my wheels because it is a paste.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,194
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From: Houston Republic of Texas
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12-'13-'14, '16
My 2cents, I use Zephyr metal polish and Adams,they're both good. Money wise or quantity wise,Zephyr is 32oz bottle and last a long time,Adams is a small bottle but you don't use as much. I use the Zephyr throughout the year and the Adams the 2 times a year I pull off all the wheels. Also as stated, Webril wipes is a must,buy to rolls at a time to last. L8R ZFLASH
Pro
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 510
Likes: 67
From: Weeki Wachee Fl.
I've used the webril wipes they work ok but with all the oxidation is a mess. I have been using a sponge that seems to be the right density that it works real well on the aluminum and all the oxidation stays in the sponge. The sponge is cut into 2" x 3" x1" thick. I use 1 per wheel and tose it in a warm bucket of water with dawn. The sponges clean up very easy, and I only use one small micro rag to buff up all the wheels and it not that dirty with the oxidation. When I first got my wheels out of the box I polished them and had a pile of black oxidized rags and webril wipes. Had to pre soak the rags before I could wash them. Each is own, my way works good for me and they look great. I use Adams metal polish and mothers bullet aluminum polish both work well.