polishing wheels...suggestions please

[v12horse]

Hello everyone, I am planning to polish my mags in a few weeks, but first I wanted to get a complete agenda ready on what I am going to do. Here is my list so far:

1. Take wheel off.

2. Clean with degreaser, back and front.

3. Wash wheel with hot soapy water using a non-scratching stiff bristle brush.

4. Thoroughly dry.

5. Start sanding with 80 grit to get the curb rash out of 2 wheels. I did not rub up against a curb, the previous owner did. (One wheel will not be perfect because it has some very bad curbrash, but I think I can still get it to look real nice. It is unfortunate about the one wheel though. Oh well.)

6. Sand with 100, 180, 220, 400, 600, 1000, and finally 1500. I am going to do as much wet sanding as possible. The 1000 and and the 1500 grit are going to be harder to find.

7. Then I was thinking of getting a good polishing kit. Is this a good one? http://www.zcarparts.com/store/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=80-8204

Use the wheels of the polishing kit with the right abrasives with my electric drill.

8. Now I will use a dremel with a polishing cone to get where the drill with the wheel could not.

9. wash thoroughly again with hot soapy water and scrub with plastic non-scrating brush.

10. Dry with cotten cloth.

11. Mount and look in awe of my now seen reflection in the wheel:D

12. repeat three more times. errrr

If there is anything that you think should be added, deleted or types of polishing kit/ materials I should buy for this project please post here. I hope this was not a bore or a repeat of the thread on how to polish a valve cover, but I want to show the start to finish of polishing wheels the right way with all the materials needed so it can be used for future reference for others. Like I said, I will not be starting for a few weeks, but I want to get everything together so when my spring break comes I can jump into this project with the materials and knowledge on how it is done. Thanks in advance.

-Ben :classic:

[Alfadog]

so thats how you do it?! Geez, and my arm was sore after just using metal polish on 2 wheels.....

I recommend 'Autosol' in metal polish. That's all I used for the Watanabes in my gallery, but if you look closely you'll notice the pitting. Maybe thats what the sandpapers for.........

[sblake01]

I use basically the same procedures as v12horse outlined except instead of the finer sanpapers I use 00 and 0000 steel wool. I use a buffing pad on my bench grinder for the main polishing and the drill and dremel for the harder to reach areas.

[tanny]

Anyone have some good methods for taking off the plastic coating on some wheels before beginning the sanding and polishing process?

[sblake01]

Some of the shops use an acid wash. I have always been reluctant to try that since the acid will also etch the aluminum if left on too long.

[NCLarry]

V12 preety much nailed it, although it MUCH more work than it sounds. I'm working on my Shelby .500 Cal wheels (the five spoke ones) and have hardly made a dent in the first one.

As to the plastic coat, all the research I had done indicated to use the 80grit to remove it. Once the shaivings are no longer 'white fluff', then your past the clear coat.

[civ104]

Check Eastwood.com. Items 13103 and 13105. Both of those are combined in item 13107. They are Wheel Smoothing and Buffing Kits. Autosoll is item 13170 for 3.52 oz. tube or 13175 for a 2.2 lb. can.

eastwood

[Victor Laury]

I've got a small fortune in polishing equipment. After polishing a few wheels, my proccedure is as follows.

Take the wheels off

Take the wheel to a pro wheel polisher

Give him 125.00 to do the job

[NCLarry]

Are you suggesting you've paid 125 for a set of four? If I even thought I could find that pricing to 'fix mine up' I'd be headed over tonight.

Searches on the net seemed to indicate closer to 125 per wheel...for that, I'll give a shot first.

Thoughts?

[v12horse]

Hmmmm... I am wondering if sanding and then using the cheapo kit from MSA would give me the results I am looking for. Does anyone think that polishing kit from MSA would do the trick? The one kit from eastwood looks good, but a little high on price. Thanks for all of your suggestions.

-Ben

[hls30.com]

I have used the wheel polishing kit from POR15.com. It comes with everything needed except a motor! It has all of the supplies for 4 wheels, and comes with a "we'll send you more at no charge if you run out before the four wheels are done" guarantee!

Will

[v12horse]

I am planning to use a drill for the buffing with the wheels after sanding. Is this going to be adequate because I do not have a bench grinder?

Thanks civ104 for the eastwood link, if I don't have to get a bench grinder I am going to buy the 13105 kit.

http://eastwood.com/itemdy00.asp?T1=13105&Dep_Key1=

Thanks for all your guys help,

Ben:classic: