Aluminum wheel ?

[cbaker65]

I have those American style aluminum wheels.
My ? is,can they be buffed or some what polished out to be alittle
bit shiny to what they are now? They are just a dull look.
Im not looking for a mirrored polish look,but maybe I can get them
to be of a shiney brush look.
I want to get some new tires,an would like the wheels to look
decent.

 

[taxreliever]

I have those American style aluminum wheels.
My ? is,can they be buffed or some what polished out to be alittle
bit shiny to what they are now? They are just a dull look.
Im not looking for a mirrored polish look,but maybe I can get them
to be of a shiney brush look.
I want to get some new tires,an would like the wheels to look
decent.

AUSTIN!!!!

I've shined up wheels like this with some scotch bright.

 

[cbaker65]

AUSTIN!!!!

I've shined up wheels like this with some scotch bright.

Thnx,I mess with aluminum all the time with my rc's,which I use files,
emery cloth,fine sand paper,an steel wool,which I do get that stuff to
almost a mirrored finish.

I just wanted to know If that type of aluminum can be polished with
something like scotch bright or steel wool,or even some kind of abrasive
material.Or something on a drill.

 

[smokey]

I would use a buffing ball and rouge on a drill.
Way faster than by hand.

 

[cbaker65]

I would use a buffing ball and rouge on a drill.
Way faster than by hand.

Thnx Randy.

These wheels also have a tiny micro type ridges all around the outer
part of the wheel,I dont know if that will wreek havoc on the buffing
ball,But I will try.

 

[smokey]

 

[Sparky83]

CB you referring to taking something like this??

to something like this??

 

[Austin]

American Racing rims, or like the Ford 10 holes? You need to first determine if they have a clear coat. If so, it'll most likely need to be stripped off. If not, grab some mag polish and get to.

Keep them up weekly with a quick polish pass.

 

[Sparky83]

hey austin... check your PM's for a ? lol

 

[cbaker65]

They are these type of wheel.I think they may have some kind of sealer
on them.Ive known people to use oven cleaner to strip iodine off of
aluminum.

 

[Sparky83]

thats how the rims i did the s10 looked..

they were brushed aluminum when i pulled them out of the dumpster...

the powder coated white blades were chipping off...

took some aircraft remover paint stripper to them..

works great too.. you can literally watch paint lift...

just to show how bad the rims were shape wise...

bought a buffing and polishing kit i could attach to a drill that uses those bench grinder buffer wheels...

few hours later... some recommend using sandpaper to cut the ridges down and work your way down to a very very very fine wet sanding.. i did do that myself but im not the greatest at sanding body stuff..

but they came out great i think... had painted the blades so they looked good...

 

[cbaker65]

WOW... ....They look show...

The more I go outside an sit by my truck,the more I want to do more
to it.Im going to start buying tires for it,But I also want to start doing
some light body work...Were going to start fall pretty soon,so i need to
do something with the body to get some protection on the metal.

I want to get it sanded an primered,My mind is made up on going ahead
on painting the truck a satin black,so I need to atleast start doing body
work.I also want to do away with the side mouldings,an I know that I will
have holes to deal with from them.

 

[Sparky83]

WOW... ....They look show...

ty... was alot of work into those rims... sad thing is i gave the truck away not long after that...

The more I go outside an sit by my truck,the more I want to do more
to it.

you know what the solution is to that dont you???


*grabs CB by the collar and drags him inside where he cant see the truck..*

 

[cbaker65]

Lol....Someting like that....

I go out there an sit,my eyes get heavy,then I come back in the house an
doze.....

 

[Sparky83]

well if ya stayed in the closet you couldnt see the truck lol

 

[cbaker65]

well if ya stayed in the closet you couldnt see the truck lol

I need to go purchase some stuff before I get started.I dont have the equipment other than a drill.
But when I get it,I will show some pics...

For now,Ill crawl back into my hole...

 

[BIGRED911]

I don't do aluminum. ....



Crap. The picture didn't post

 

[cbaker65]

I don't do aluminum. ....



Crap. The picture didn't post

Oh well,we didnt need to see your mug in the mirror anyways...

 

[cbaker65]

The wheels do have a sealer on them,I used a wire wheel on a hand
grinder,but take a long time,but does come off.First it burns an blackens,
but finally starts to come to a polish effect.

Im going to see if I can use some kinda of chemical to eat the sealer.
I bought a tire today,an I think the rims would look good shiny with the
new tires.

 

[Sparky83]

The wheels do have a sealer on them,I used a wire wheel on a hand
grinder,but take a long time,but does come off.First it burns an blackens,
but finally starts to come to a polish effect.

Im going to see if I can use some kinda of chemical to eat the sealer.
I bought a tire today,an I think the rims would look good shiny with the
new tires.

air craft remover should do it...

just... dont get it on your skin... wear chemical gloves... and get a chemical brush... and make sure you rinse the rims off when your done.. then wash em...