What product to remove this stuff from my rims?

Velosityworks said:
What's the difference between the Quad Steel and the 000 steel wool?
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0000 (Quad) is Finer than 000. Personally I would pull a wheel off & on the backside of the rim lip do a test spot. Try some FLITZ (sold here @ AG)with a mf towel, then graduate up to the steel wool if needed. Go slow & be very careful. From your pic's & from what I can see, it looks like body shop sanding dust / overyspray. Good luck to ya.
 
Velosityworks said:
What's the difference between the Quad Steel and the 000 steel wool?
Click to expand...

I really wanted to say one zero, but I stopped myself. Had a similar problem with my wife's Jaguar. I used "ZEP stainless steel cleaner" and a MF towel, worked like a charm. Yes, stainless steel cleaner, not a typo.
 
Go for the least abrasive option first.

If its overspray or industrial fallout that's sitting on top of the chrome plating, a clay bar will work.

If it's the plating corroded, and down into the plating, only replating will correct it.

Do they feel like bumps above the surface, or indentations into the surface? If you have access to a magnifying loupe used for close up work on photos, it'd be easy to tell. They only cost $5-10 at a proper photography store.
 
+++ on the Quad 0 Steel Wool. You have a little bit of work ahaed of you but that should all come off.
 
They feel like they are on top but i looked up really close and it might be imprinted on the chrome. Can that be taken off?

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It's a 8MB Camera phone, i think it can do better if i zoom on it and wait till i get a good focus on the spots.

Is it possible for a chrome spray just to cover them for lets say? A month?
 
If you drag your fingernail across the chrome you should be able to tell if they are above surface or below. If you feel your fingernail catching or skipping across the surface, than they are above the chrome, and you should be able to remove them. I wouldn't focus on how to hide these, rather how to remove them. It's not like it's just a small little section; it's the whole wheel(s).

If they are above the plating try what everyone has said in this order:
1.) Claybar with lubricant (clay lube or qd). Again you should feel the roughness and probably hear it as you're claying the surface.

2.)0000 Steel wool (quad zero) and alot of lubrication. This should leave very minimal or no marring to the surface. That is why you want to try this before the next step.

3.)000 Steel wool (triple zero) and chrome polish. This is more likely to leave some marring in the chrome, but nothing that can't be removed by stepping back up to quad zero steel wool and chrome polish.

If none of this removes the contaminants, than they are not likely coming off. But check back here with your results, and I'm sure people will have more suggestions... If nothing else, someone will be able to tell you a good place to bring your wheels.
 
If its in the chrome (I think it is) then there is nothing you can do to fix it.
 
I was going to let this post lie, but since people continue to post, and the OP is still asking questions, here's my contribution.

Every possible solution has been mentioned, and in various ways with various details.
I don't think there is anything that can be added until the OP tries something.

One of the recommended solutions is either going to work (which means problem solved) or none of the recommended solutions are going to work (which means re-chrome).

Either way - the question has been answered - let us know how it goes! I hope that you can bring 'em back to bling!

DLB

P.S. Not trying to sound harsh - but there's only so many ways to say try clay and Quad 0 steel wool...
 
Well, clay didn't do a thing. So, i'm not going to bother buying the quad. I'm thinking of re chroming. Does anyone know anyone that would do each rim on the$100-$125 on the l.a area?
 
DLB said:
I was going to let this post lie, but since people continue to post, and the OP is still asking questions, here's my contribution.

Every possible solution has been mentioned, and in various ways with various details.
I don't think there is anything that can be added until the OP tries something.

One of the recommended solutions is either going to work (which means problem solved) or none of the recommended solutions are going to work (which means re-chrome).

Either way - the question has been answered - let us know how it goes! I hope that you can bring 'em back to bling!

DLB

P.S. Not trying to sound harsh - but there's only so many ways to say try clay and Quad 0 steel wool...
Click to expand...

+1

0000 steel wool is a very good option to remove whatever that is, but just remember that you will be creating a ton of refinishing work for yourself. If you do not have a compound/polish like Meguiars M105 on hand I would recommend that you pick some up before you go at the chrome with steel wool.

Optimum metal polish is amazing stuff and cuts really well if you would like to try that.

Good luck.
 
If you gently rub a spot with a clean white cotton terry towel and maybe some glass cleaner for a 30-90 seconds, does the towel look rusty?

If it's rust on the surface, I've polished similar rust spots off a bicycle with Mothers Billet Polish and a gentle touch -- if that works, a PowerCone will make the job easier. This could be ferrous particles that landed from your brakes onto the surface and took a bite into the chrome as they rusted. This could also be the copper or nickel plating coming through the chrome.

Clay can help, but you may still need a polish. Mothers Chrome Polish is very mild, and anything more than that risks lightly scratching the surface, though Billet Polish is worth a try and its fine polishes make it a good alternative.

If it's too bad off, you may be stuck with it.
 
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