Metal Polishing Advice.

[Cvjeticanin]

Can some one with aluminum polishing experience suggest a good plan of attack on these wheel lips?

***These lips are bare aluminum with no coating on them***

I have already removed the bolts holding the wheels together and taped off the face of the wheel. But before I begin sanding, polishing, etc. I wanted to see if anyone has some tips/tricks about any products or techniques to make this process easier or quicker.

Thanks in advance guys! Here are some pics to show you what I'm working with.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Wow! That's some bad looking damage.

Working on curved aluminum like this in bad shape where the goal is to get them back to new condition is going to be a lot of work.

I've never restored wheels of this design, mostly by choice as these are somewhat complicated in their design.

Have you thought about farming the job out to a wheel polishing business that is both equipped for this type of work and experienced?

 

[forrest@mothers]

It almost looks like a hyper coating, instead of polished aluminum.

I'd start by contacting OZ and asking them what the finish is - that'll give you a better approach on how to restore it.

If truly polished aluminum, disassemble the rims and wetsand starting at about 800, and finish between 2-3,000. Then polish up with multiple steps of metal polishes.

 

[Cvjeticanin]

Wow! That's some bad looking damage.

Working on curved aluminum like this in bad shape where the goal is to get them back to new condition is going to be a lot of work.

I've never restored wheels of this design, mostly by choice as these are somewhat complicated in their design.

Have you thought about farming the job out to a wheel polishing business that is both equipped for this type of work and experienced?

Hi Mike! Thanks for the advice. I had these wheels refinished a few years ago. The lips were polished out beautifully but that of course was pricey. Last year I re-polished them myself at home with a Orbital buffer and a Cotton Buffing Wheel and they came out great! They weren't this badly pitted though.

I think my plan of attack will be what forrest@mothers suggested. Some hand sanding followed up by a final polish with my Orbital buffer. We'll see what kind of results I get.

It almost looks like a hyper coating, instead of polished aluminum.

I'd start by contacting OZ and asking them what the finish is - that'll give you a better approach on how to restore it.

If truly polished aluminum, disassemble the rims and wetsand starting at about 800, and finish between 2-3,000. Then polish up with multiple steps of metal polishes.

These are bare aluminum lips so I think your approach is what I'll be going with. Thanks again.

I'll keep you guys posted. Now all I need is to find some extra free time to tackle this project! :xyxthumbs:

 

[Crispy]

OK been there done that. Doesn't matter what they had on them, it's toast so move on. You need to remove the remaining coatings and defects by sanding. The trick is to know which sanding marks can be removed by which metal polishing compounds. Caswell website can explain better than I can. After restore the finish to your satisfaction seal with either clear coat or other paint sealers and enjoy. I did a seat of 12 year old wheels and they came right back.

 

[Cvjeticanin]

OK been there done that. Doesn't matter what they had on them, it's toast so move on. You need to remove the remaining coatings and defects by sanding. The trick is to know which sanding marks can be removed by which metal polishing compounds. Caswell website can explain better than I can. After restore the finish to your satisfaction seal with either clear coat or other paint sealers and enjoy. I did a seat of 12 year old wheels and they came right back.

Thanks! I'll update this thread when I get some free time. I polished them last year to a mirror finish so I have an idea as to what I'll be doing. Now I just need to get a free weekend and also figure out what my best options are to protect them once I get them perfect?

 

[builthatch]

and also figure out what my best options are to protect them once I get them perfect?

Opti-Coat Pro. worth the price of admission for something that will require so much work to get perfect again. i wouldn't bargain with anything else for that job.

 

[Ccrew]

I've taken worse than that off with just a Mothers Powerball and several different metal polishes based on the "least aggressive" first methodology.