Discoloration on Rims after polish

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Moses

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hello guys it's me again and I need more help :). I went to Walmart and bought mothers powercone to polish my chrome rims. I am also using optimum metal polish "new formula". I did a small 2" test spot and notice that they got a little discolered. they look kinda like a very light bronze color. is this normal or are my rims not polishble?
 
Could you post a pic. I think the bronze color is whats under the chrome. But that is just a guess. Did you polish aggressively??
 
Uh-oh...
Is this on the 15 year old car Moses?

And is this the color that you're seeing?



As in the base metal that the chrome adheres to.
 
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Vegas Transplant said:
Uh-oh...
Is this on the 15 year old car Moses?

And is this the color that you're seeing?



As in the base metal that the chrome adheres to.
Click to expand...

Hope you don't mind, VT...I'd only like to add:

-What 'chrome' wheels' manufacturers forget to mention sometimes when they brag about their wheels being "triple-chromed", is that any good 'chrome' wheel is always, at the least, "tripled-layered"...
The bare wheel has at least: 1. one, (or more), electroplated copper-layer; 2. then one, (or more), electroplated nickle-layer(s)...one of which is bright-nickle; 3. then an electroplated chromium-layer.

-If you see 'bronze'...the 'chrome' wheels' top two layers have been compromised.

-I'm glad I started realizing awhile back that chromium-plating thickness is measured in millionths of an inch...and will scratch quite readily! (It's a futile exercise trying to further "polish" OEM's/Aftermarket chromium-plated-chrome...IMHO.)

-Also, I'm with you VT:

Why won't folks just clean their chrome wheels with either their car-washing shampoo solution, or an ammonia-free window cleaning product?!?!
(I'll add: For tougher "stain/rust" removal: Gently applying/removing something like The Turtle's Chrome Polish and Rust Remover)...

...And then, if so desired, gently apply/remove a non-aggressive wheel-polish/wax/sealant, of choice...I like Simichrome/Wheel Wax/WGDGPS.

:)

Bob
 
Moses said:
-mothers powercone to polish my chrome rims.
-I am also using optimum metal polish "new formula".
-I did a small 2" test spot and notice that they got a little discolered. they look kinda like a very light bronze color.
Click to expand...

KMD.jpg


-I don't see the "bronze-color" at the area I've pointed to above.

-Looks like your polishing-process': tool/product were held for too long of a 'buffing-cycle'...(a magnifying lens will probably reveal a whole lotta scratches)

-From what I 'see', with my tired old eyes...The chromium-layer doesn't appear to be compromised, ('burned/broken'-through), though. I sure hope it's not!!
(I suggest to: Stop "polishing" here...And...Make doubly-sure you apply a protection product to this affected area!)

-Your wheels don't look that dirty/blemished...Why not just go for the by-hand application/removal-process?

:)

Bob
 
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Let me see if i can pointed out, the rims have some severe swirls and some oxidation by the spokes. but will try by hand and see if that works

here is the pic i marked look around the flat part


View attachment 11852
 
It does look somewhat discolored where you've pointed out.


kdm2.jpg



Be gentle...
As I've mentioned, hard to remove swirls/scratches from a surface that's only a few millionths of an inch thick, without breaking through.

Good Luck.

:)

Bob
 
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