Having trouble polishing aluminum wheels

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racin69z

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I am having trouble getting my wheels polished with a show quality shine. They are Mickey Thompson classic II polished aluminum. The wheels were used and a little neglected when i got them, and ive attempted to bring them back a few times, and i haven't had much success.

This week i orbital sanded dry from 320 up to 2500. I am pretty certain that the wheels are flat and smooth prior to polishing. Here are the things i tried this time around

1.Cotton airway buffs at 3000 rpm with solid compound like they polish big rigs with

2. Mothers powerball with mothers power metal polish

3. Mothers powerball with mothers mag and aluminum polish

4. 6" wool pad on drill with mag and aluminum polish

5. 6" wool pad on drill with meguairs m100

6. 6" wool pad on drill with meguairs m210

7. 6" foam pad on drill with mothers mag and aluminum

8. 6" foam pad on drill with meguairs m210

9. 6" foam pad on drill m100

White diamond aluminum polish on the power ball, foam and wool pads.

Hand with mothers mag and aluminum with cotton towel and micro fiber towel

Every combo i tried winds up with the same up close appearance. They look OK from 10 feet away, but up close they are rough.
The up close pic shows what i have going on

Any ideas?

Thanks
Lynn
View attachment 76465View attachment 76466
 
Looks to me that they need to be sanded more before moving on to the polishing.

- And -

Some of the defects look deep enough that sanding with 320 would take forever... I'd be starting with something in the 150 neighborhood.
 
Thank you for the reply. It does appear that the defects are still there. I am not worried about the few larger defects, just the overall texture and tiny defects that are keeping the finish from being mirror like. I thought for sure that I had sanded the defects completely out, and that it was something I was causing in my polishing. I can try a section of a rim with some coarser grit and see how that works.
 
To add to the other two posts that I agree with..... as far as a mirror like finish..... it is possible but there are many different qualitys of aluminum where some of the lesser or even average quality aluminum will not provide a mirror finish no matter what you do
 
98CayenneTA said:
To add to the other two posts that I agree with..... as far as a mirror like finish..... it is possible but there are many different qualitys of aluminum where some of the lesser or even average quality aluminum will not provide a mirror finish no matter what you do
Click to expand...
Mickey Thompson?
 
Rsurfer said:
Mickey Thompson?
Click to expand...

I would expect them to be a better quality but I was just saying it as broad statement that is not always possible and usually more often then not to get a mirror finish from aluminum
 
Also to add to my previous post, Everyone had a different vision of mirror finish. When someone says mirror finish I think of trying to mimic chrome.... which no, those Mickey wheels are probably not going to get there.
 
Is it possible they need to be etched before polishing? If so I’d look into the previously mentioned California Custom Purple Metal Polish but also buy the step 1 they sell as a combo pack.

I looked into it last time it was recommended on here and it certainly looks impressive. I don’t have to polish aluminum very often but if I did, I’d love to have that combo at my disposal.
 
I understand the possibility that there could be some porosity in cast wheels. I have never used or heard of the purple polish. I have been seeing a lot of people raving about Adams polish 1&2. I was about to order some of that and give it a try. Is the purple a better option?

I know its not metal polish, but I figured the M100 would have the cut to at least level the surface. One thing I did notice, is that actual metal polish creates the black tarnish, where the m100/m210 will polish the finish but is a much cleaner process.

Tonight I am going to try and sand one spot much more thoroughly and see what happens.
 
I am wanting to try some of the California Customs polish. Id like to find some local to me and so far no luck. Ive tried the auto parts stores and truck stops. I may just have to order some.

Autozone does have the chemical guys heavy polish. Ive never ised it before.
 
racin69z said:
I am wanting to try some of the California Customs polish. Id like to find some local to me and so far no luck. Ive tried the auto parts stores and truck stops. I may just have to order some.

Autozone does have the chemical guys heavy polish. Ive never ised it before.
Click to expand...

They have the 2 pack online for $35.99 Same day delivery. It’s telling me if I order it it’ll be here by 5pm. You know where I’m talking about.

That Chemical Guys isn’t going the be any different.

It sounds like you need to try a different approach. At least with this you give yourself a fighting chance. Do it for science. We all want to know if it works.
 
Its next day here in the sticks. I ordered it. Ill find outsunday
 
I did. Any specific instructions other than on the label?
 
The Purple Polish arrived late yesterday. Using only the new polish, the results were very similar to what I already had going on. Like someone mentioned earlier in the thread, the porous texture is from some type of surface pitting/oxidation/rock chips or something. I am going to have to do some more extensive sanding and try to polish after that. The purple polish did bring out a nice shine. To me, it seemed very similar to white diamond, without the vanilla smell.

Thanks for the replies and suggestions
 
racin69z said:
The Purple Polish arrived late yesterday. Using only the new polish, the results were very similar to what I already had going on. Like someone mentioned earlier in the thread, the porous texture is from some type of surface pitting/oxidation/rock chips or something. I am going to have to do some more extensive sanding and try to polish after that. The purple polish did bring out a nice shine. To me, it seemed very similar to white diamond, without the vanilla smell.

Thanks for the replies and suggestions
Click to expand...

So you didn’t use step 1 of the 2 step process? Fanatastic!!!
 
I used both the green deoxidizer and the polish. What I meant was the only change from what I was doing before was the polish.
 
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