keith_AE2010

iTrader: (9)

I recently bought a set of polished draglites. They are obviously used and need to be shined up again and have little dings in them. I searched but couldn't really find much. I am scared to take a piece of sandpaper to them and scuff them up, but I want to do that and them polish them up to really shine. I will be doing it all by hand except when I polish I will use a powerball. What grit steps should I go through? I have been using mothers billet on them and it isn't helping a ton, they shine a little more, but no where near what I want them to do. Can you reccomend what grits to do it with? I just need to know how rough to start and how fine to stop before I can polish out the scratches. Thanks.

keith_AE2010

iTrader: (9)

I wanted to add that I will be doing the backs too. They are just plain metal right now and I want to clean them and polish.

kyles2000z

iTrader: (8)

steel wool combined with polish works great, not sure if its ooo or oo steel wool tho. i used it with mothers mag and alumnium polish and it did great.

keith_AE2010

iTrader: (9)

Do you sand it all down and then polish or use it like the hard water spot writeup?

kyles2000z

iTrader: (8)

use it with the poliosh....research it first though, im not sure what grade you would need ot use

keith_AE2010

iTrader: (9)

Ok, I tried that a while ago and it didn't do much. I am going to go get a drill and mini powerball in the morning and use with my mothers billet I already tried. I know they prob need sanding, they have little nicks in them everywhere. Not sure if they will shine up with the problems everywhere.

keith_AE2010

iTrader: (9)

Fixin to run to town. Anybody know what I should get besides the powerball? I was thinking about trying another kind of polish too.

383ysi

Any kind of jewelers rouge compound (white in color) is good for aluminum. If your wanting to sand on them alittle get 800 grit or 1000. Dont know if you can hand rub that out...I use a milwaukee straight grinder with a polish wheel, works awesome.

keith_AE2010

iTrader: (9)

I just finished trying with a drill and powerball, it basically did nothing. I may have to strip them, previous owner must have put a clear coat on them.

383ysi

Did your powerball turn black...if not id say there coated.

keith_AE2010

iTrader: (9)

Yes, it did and the polish eventually did. I can't post a pic that would really help, since it would be a phone pic.
I guess they need to be taken to a wheel repair shop to be resanded down and polished. I really want the nicks out and them to shine. Also, I couldn't get some rust off of them.

383ysi

Umm aluminum doesnt rust...you sure you dont have chrome

keith_AE2010

iTrader: (9)

I didn't think it did either, but there is some stuff on it, may be dirt, but it looks almost like rust. The aluminum polish worked a little and turned black too, so I think they are aluminum. I am fixing to go try and strip one and see what happens. I may just end up painting or powder coating them.

Unstang

iTrader: (26)

Mibro polishing wheel that you can put on your drill & polish. I got it at Lowes, I saw it at a few other stores too.

Check this thread for some good info.
https://ls1tech.com/forums/appearance-detailing/740149-fikse-fm5-complete-make-over.html

keith_AE2010

iTrader: (9)

Thank you very very much, I searched with every term I could think of for a thread with pics and that is a good one.
Will that take off really bad stuff? I tried a powerball and mothers billet and mothers powermetal and neither is doing what I want.

SilverGhost

iTrader: (53)

Can you post pictures? Hard to recommend fixes without seeing the extent of the damage and condition of the metal currently.

Could be as simple as wet sanding out the problems with 2000 grit and then going back at it with the mothers billet.

If you want them powder coated, I'd be glad to take care of that.

keith_AE2010

iTrader: (9)

I will try and find my camera so I can take pics actually worth showing. How do I attach that mibro wheel to my drill? I almost got it this morning but was worried about attaching it to my drill.

keith_AE2010

iTrader: (9)

Heres the stuff that looks like rust


Heres a few random shots to show that it is kinda shiny, but I want mirror


They are peeling on the hub part, making me think they may be chrome


I am having bs issues too


Heres how bad the back is, making me believe they may be chrome and were only coated on the front.

That is with it partially cleaned.

Camaro396

iTrader: (14)

They are draglites..they are not going to have a mirror shine, they are a polished aluminum wheel, not chrome.

keith_AE2010

iTrader: (9)

I know they won't look like a ccw or anything. But, I just figured they could look a little better.