BADSZ28

iTrader: (39)

OK, I have a set of Prostars that are stained and pitted and just don't shine like they should. I tried everything. Wheel polish, alluminum polish, wax, car polish, buffing compound, buffing wheel, car buffer, Power Ball...Nothing gave me the desired finish. So last night I was cleaning up the car for tomorrow and desided to try rubbing compound (a bit harsher than buffing compound. Used for scratches) and I was amazed! It took out all the stains and even most pits and fine scratches! I spent 15min on one wheel on the car and it looks better than any of the other attempts by FAR! I will try to do the rest tonight. But I really want to try doing them off the car with stems removed and a buffer. So if you have polished wheels, give this a try before giving up on them. Don't attempt if you have clear coat or painted wheels. I will try and take a before and after pic to post.

Havok2

iTrader: (118)

yeah, post pics.

i had a friend repolish mine (sand paper grit by grit) to get them like new.

BADSZ28

iTrader: (39)

I am probably going to do that too since I have some scratches that are too deep for the compound. But for now I will just do a quick buff with the compound, on the car.

ArcticZ28

iTrader: (14)

You should try some #0000 steel wool and aluminum polish.

99zman

iTrader: (23)

heavy metal polish the best ive ever used... http://www.heavymetalpolish.com/

04ctsvfl

iTrader: (4)

what about for BLACK CHROME?

ArcticZ28

iTrader: (14)

Just use chrome polish instead of metal polish with the #0000 steel wool.

Z28/2002

iTrader: (27)

Gonna be using this on my TTIIs whenever I get off my lazy ***

jays97 t/a

iTrader: (2)

Maguires hot wheels aluminum polish is some pretty good stuff thats what i use on my tt2's

mycamaroSS

iTrader: (4)

yea ive used some of this stuff and it worked out pretty well

Mr. Luos

iTrader: (9)

I did this on my extremely dirty used ProStars. The barrels were nasty.
Wasn't a big deal for me...not using the ProStars for looks, but wanted to clean them as well as I could.
Steel wool...polish (mother's mag and aluminum)...RejeX.
That was just the barrels.

I use nothing but Mother's Billet on the exposed spokes and lip. No RejeX on the parts facing out.

They look fairly decent to me...
http://www.arbybean.com/ar/images/May01.JPG

Blknight6989

iTrader: (2)

Are my 17 in Ws6 wheels polished or is there clear coat? i never really read anything that said it an would like to get them shiny again since they're lookin kinda bad.

colby72olds

iTrader: (7)

^ Yeah, they are clearcoated. Anyways, I remember a write up not too long ago about stripping and polishing stock ws6 wheels and they turned out great. Here's the link https://ls1tech.com/forums/showthrea...ing+ws6+wheels but the damn pics are gone

Edit: that link isn't the one I was thinking of, but it's still good!

2000_SS

iTrader: (24)

so by "rubbing compound" do you mean like the 3M stuff you'd use on paint?

MeentSS02

iTrader: (11)

If you think about it, it makes perfect sense that you need to use something a little more abrasive to get the results you want (like removing stains and such). I'm a huge fan of using wet sanding/micromesh to get the desired results followed by some English custom polishes and Mother's billet polish.

Polishing aluminum is no different than polishing paint...you need a perfectly smooth surface to get the reflection you want. It just takes different products, and sacking up and taking sandpaper to things every once in a while.

BADSZ28

iTrader: (39)

Yes, same stuff as for paint.

MeentSS: Exactly. That and elbow grease.

2000_SS

iTrader: (24)

just wanted to double check, thanks.

you want to talk about sacking up? how about my new 19/20" CCW's + 220-1500grit? enough sack for ya?

MeentSS02

iTrader: (11)

That's what I'm talking about...I've only taken mine down to 400, but they polish right back up.

2000_SS

iTrader: (24)

mine had some pretty rough rash on them when i got 'em. they look immaculate now, or will soon, i'm still working on them. i only had trouble with one spot, it looked like a black smudge and would buff off, so i sanded and sanded and sanded then buffed the hell out of it....ended up putting a small flat spot on the lip of the rim and it's STILL THERE. i dunno if it's a flaw in the forging or what...but i gotta leave it i guess.

i'll post up some pics in a new thread here in a few days hopefully when they're done.

Predator

WD-40 gets most of that stuff off, it's not abrasive either.