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How to polish aluminium wheels?

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Old Aug 24, 2009 | 07:56 AM
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Default How to polish aluminium wheels?

I got the pix from another thread and the user just posted that he polished them. Does anyone know how to get this finish? Paint stripper and just buff the sh*t out of it? Any thing else?




Also if my wheels currently have curb damage, i guess you won't be able to fix polished wheels right?
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Old Aug 26, 2009 | 10:06 AM
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i got by my own thread.
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Old Aug 26, 2009 | 04:17 PM
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Polishing is certainly possible but better left to an expert. It takes a bunch of polishing compounds, buffing wheels, etc. to make aluminum shine. Once you get it that way, then you better clear-coat them to protect the shine or they'll start oxidizing immediately.

Yes - polished wheels can be fixed if curbed. They'd just need to be repolished and clearcoated again.
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Old Sep 14, 2009 | 07:01 AM
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I started polishing my 18" OEM wheels this weekend.

I only got two wheels done and it took me virtually one full day!

Getting the sand casting smoothed is the most difficult part of this whole process.

My method was as follows:
1) Remove wheel from vehicle
2)Strip paint with aircraft stripper
3)Start sanding to remove sand casting
4)Wet sand 400-600-800-1000-1500-2000
5)Polish with Mother's powerball and polish
6)Wax with Adams Americana paste wax till I can get some Eastwood Diamond clear

I think I am going to go a different route with the next two wheels. I will either buy the proper polishing wheels and compunds or hire it done. If it is $100 or less per wheel I will hire it!

Crappy cell phone pic...
Attached Thumbnails How to polish aluminium wheels?-0913092022a.jpg  

Last edited by bcampbe7; Sep 14, 2009 at 07:38 AM.
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