White94Bird

iTrader: (21)

i have already stripped the clear coat off and am in the process of polishing but I can't get the chrome shine like I want..

pics..
polished left, stripped only right



polishing equipment

White94Bird

iTrader: (21)

the stripped ones look like chrome in person..

wysemunky

iTrader: (2)

I bought one of those powerballs and the powermetal polish and, I could never get the shine I wanted. I had MUCH better results just using the normal mothers mag and aluminum polish with a lot of elbow grease and a clean soft cloth.

RedHotG8

iTrader: (1)

You might have to do some sanding first with very fine sandpaper if there's any imperfections in the surface, then use a cloth buffing wheel and jeweler's rouge to get them to shine. They have large buffing wheels to use with a hand drill and small ones that fit a dremel for getting in the corners.

J-Train

Yes, I would go for the wetsanding first, finish with like 2000K grit, then I would go with jsut the regular mothers a few time snad finsish them off with the mothers "Billet" polish, its much better than the regular mothers, its like 9$ for jsut a small jar though, but it will let you get all the fine scrathes and swirls out.

White94Bird

iTrader: (21)

I already handed them with 1000, 1500, and 2000

67goatman455

iTrader: (14)

once you sand them its a PITA to bring them back. i have 2 stripped wheels that look like chrome, and 2 that look a bit better than your sanded ones. I think im going to try the aluminum polishing wheels that you would get from eastwood.

White94Bird

iTrader: (21)

I'm going to try a faster spinning wheel and more agressive pad, hope it works..

Alex41

iTrader: (14)

When it comes to polishing aluminum you have to do it by hand and go back and forth instead of circular polishing. The idea is to lessen the look of scratches and by going one direction it fools the eye.

sjsingle1

iTrader: (1)

polish.....polish..and polish some more

DopdBrd

iTrader: (25)

Just wondering, what did you use to strip them? I have a set I bought to put on my car and on some places the clear coat is stained so I was thinking about just stripping them down to metal and polishing them.

HAte

they need to be polished with a buffing wheel and ruge, coarse pad then fine, you would be surprised how the buffer will take scratches out when actually buffed correct

HavATampa

iTrader: (49)

If the stripped ones looks like chrome, why are you polishing them and making it worse? I stripped mine a few years ago and was amazed how shiney they were without sanding them. You have to know what you are doing before breaking out the sandpaper on aluminum.

White94Bird

iTrader: (21)

There is still oxzdization on the wheels thats why im sanding them...

SVTTHIS

iTrader: (2)

you need to sand them over and over again lastly with 12-1500grit to get all the marks out then use a super high speed buffer with rubbing and polishing compound and this stuff its called tapila or tipala something like that lol hope this helps mine always turned out good...

DopeFedZ

iTrader: (34)

http://www.eastwood.com/ew-wheel-buffing-kit.html

That will take care of your problem. If you have a bench top buffer/grinder buy a 6" spiral sewn buff wheel from eastwood along with some tripoli buffing compound. Once you're done with that switch to a loose buff and some simichrome and they should look awesome. If you want to protect your hardworking from waterspots coat them in sharkhide which you can also get from eastwood.

White94Bird

iTrader: (21)

Sorry didn't see your post a first, I did 3 coats on each wheel jjust to make sure I got it all off.

Got it at walmart.

White94Bird

iTrader: (21)

I seem to have found a nice polishing system, buffing wheels that are used for buffing paint, cheap form harbor frieght, and my mothers polish then hit it with some blue magic

JJsQwuik

iTrader: (17)

Would this work on my GM zr1 wheel, I mean stripping them so I can polish them???

carlos64030

iTrader: (5)

No. It only works on WS6 wheels. Sowwyz.