Wheel Polishing, Anyone Ever Done This?

[hellmett]

Hi All,

I have taken the plunge and decided to polish the wheels of the Surf.

They are standard aluminium rims but after trawling the web for info I am pretty confident that they will polish up a treat!

I have stripped one down and as I suspected there is every possiblity that they will shine up like chrome if done right!

What I need is the proper aluminium polishing gear and I've seen a few places that sell it specifically for wheels etc.

See here for example:

http://www.v6z24.com/howto/polishing

And here,

http://www.englishcustompolishing.co...aluminum1.html

Has anyone attempted this?

Anyone any ideas of what kit to get and where?

Thanks!

Gary

[marky]

You need to LAQUER them afterwards

[surfenstein]

You need to LAQUER them afterwards

no dont laquer them thell go yellow,just polish them once a week with autosol.sorry marky dont mean to tread on your toes there but ive done that with disasterous results.

[hellmett]

Re

Apparently you don't NEED to clearcoat them but apply a protective coating, buggered if I can remember the name now!

Anyhoo, it only takes 1 application every 2 years and is applied by hand.

FOUND IT!

This is the gear!

http://www.eastwoodco.com/shopping/p...keyword=10516Z

Later!

Gary

[BUSHWHACKER]

Hi All,

I have taken the plunge and decided to polish the wheels of the Surf.

They are standard aluminium rims but after trawling the web for info I am pretty confident that they will polish up a treat!

I have stripped one down and as I suspected there is every possiblity that they will shine up like chrome if done right!

Thanks!

Gary

Paint stripper.
very fine steel wool.
Elbow grease.
Autosol.
Polishing mop with white compound.
4 cups of tea.

[nero279]

@bushwhacker

just incase yopu don't stumble across it in the other thread

[BUSHWHACKER]

just incase yopu don't stumble across it in the other thread

Yup, just seen it.


I've got more hair than that though!

[marky]

no dont laquer them thell go yellow,just polish them once a week with autosol.sorry marky dont mean to tread on your toes there but ive done that with disasterous results.

Mark i was'nt 100% sure but thanks for putting it straight. Mine are getting ready for some work soon so i'll go this way as well

[hellmett]

Re

NIce, nice NICE!

Where did you get the center caps from?

Were the rims damaged at all when you did it and if so, how did you deal with scratches/dents etc.

Thanks,

Gary

[hellmett]

Update:

I have just ordered the stuff from here:-

www.thepolishingshop.co.uk

I ordered:-

Combined Abrasive/Polishing Kits 26pc 1 £38.30 £38.30
Belgom Alu 250ml 1 £4.26 £4.26

Standard Polishing Kit 1 £17.02 £17.02
============================== ============================
Subtotal: £59.58

Shipping (Standard Delivery): £4.26

VAT: £11.18

Total: £75.02

If it works it will be considerably cheaper than £50 a wheel (£250) to get them done by a pro, plus having the satisfaction of doing it myself - PRICELESS!

When I start I will take pics of every stage and post them here!

Later!

Gary

[dirtydog]

keep us posted as that looks like some good kit your getting.

[BUSHWHACKER]

NIce, nice NICE!

Where did you get the center caps from?

Were the rims damaged at all when you did it and if so, how did you deal with scratches/dents etc.

Thanks,

Gary

The centre caps are the originals sprayed with Holts 'chrome-a-like' spray.

Any scratches can be smoothed ot with wet-or-dry paper followed by polishing.
I painted between the spokes and the indentations with satin black Smoothrite.

[Diezel Weazel]

The centre caps are the originals sprayed with Holts 'chrome-a-like' spray.

Any scratches can be smoothed ot with wet-or-dry paper followed by polishing.
I painted between the spokes and the indentations with satin black Smoothrite.

And only 4 cups of tea !!!! Vince
I'm in the process of cleaning some wheels I got of Ian619 ...
What I done so far :-

S$$$$ of Clear Laquer
Wire wheel attached to Electric drill (Very Coroded) & shotblast finish.
360 Dry paper, 240 Dry paper, Wet Brillo pad, 120 Dry paper,Lightly wet brillo & then 120 wet & a quick hand polish with Meek (similar to Solvo Autosol)
I'l post pics when I got time !!!!

There's always a Payback .... You just can't see it Comin !!!!

[hellmett]

Re

Check this!

I recognise the wheels!

http://home.off-road.com/~kemanuel/S...l/SR5Wheel.htm

Later!

Gary

[hellmett]

Re

Well the stuff arrived and I have made a start on one wheel!

It's simple to do the exposed faces but a bit'o'a'bugger to do the more fiddly bits!

When polished properly the faces came up like chrome, I kid you not!!!!

I had to begin again though because I was just too fussy about the insides of the spokes etc. and decided to do ALL the wheel.

Some of it will have to be done with some 1500 wet and dry for a perfect finish!

I will post some before, during and after pics when I get some batteries for the cam.

Definately worth doing from the mirror like finish that can be achieved!

Takes a wee while to suss out the polishing routine as well so in theory the 1st wheel should be the hardest and 5th the easiest!

Later!

Gary

PS: Have done shedloads of other stuff as well that I did not set out to do, I waxoyled the underside and painted a few bits and pieces of trim etc as well!

Oh, and I also got 5 BRAND NEW 31/10.5/15 General Grabber AT2's fitted as well!

This all started from trying to revamp the wheels, we are all MAD!