Need Help With Polished Aluminum Rims

Metal polishing is different than paint. You need to use buffing wheels and metal compounds. In this case a tripoli compound on a sisal wheel will get rid of most. Then move to a cotton wheel and a jeweller polish to bring up the gloss. Finish with a polish (AG carries a bunch that work well). One thing about metal polishing, it makes piles of black messy stuff so best do outside and with disposable clothes.
 
You can either spend many hours per wheel doing it yourself or you can send it to a professional polisher.
The polisher will use a five horsepower polisher with a 12 inch or bigger cotton wheel on it and up to five steps of compound. You will get back wheels that are as shiny as a mirror.

Which if left untreated or un-clear painted will immediately corrode again.:buffing:
 
Sorry bro these are not worth it. Save your money


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Not to discourage people from trying I thought I would show a before and after.
Wheel when originally received (bought the snows used and rims came with them).
View attachment 36959
The clear coat had failed and the rim was oxidized in several areas. Barrels and pockets were painted not polished.

A synopsis of my procedure:
Chemical stripping of remaining clear coat.
Sanding off the oxidation (as low as 320 grit) and pit marks
Finish sanding the sanding marks to 1500 grit
Polishing with Metal Compounds (Brown and Red) and wheels
Finish polishing by hand with Metal Polish

These steps take a long time and further study for the various steps and materials used was also time consuming.

This is what they look like today.
View attachment 36962

Just trying to let people know it can be done by a DIYer with no experience and lots of time.
 
Don M said:
I have to agree, you're going to be putting A LOT of time and effort into a project that is at best only going to yield minimal results that you will have to constantly have to stay on top of ... bare aluminum oxidizes FAST. I would be more inclined to price out having them professionally cleaned (dipped) and powder coated.
Click to expand...


Ditto, I would find a place that does wheel reconditioning. But, your sweet deal won't be so sweet any more. It's usually $250.00 per wheel.
 
Polishing and maintaining aluminum is a labor of love.
Either ya got it or ya don't.

10-04?
 
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