Polishing aluminum wheels- tips/tricks needed

slc6oh

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So I’ve let my wheels go a little long and they look like chit.

Started polishing today. About an hr with a mother’s cone and polish I got the one I did today looking a lot better. But still isn’t perfect.

What tips/tricks y’all got? I feel like there’s gotta be an easier way.

Before
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After
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mandkole

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They look good. I use the power cone as well. I sometimes use some 1500-2000 wet paper to smooth the surface to allow quicker cleaning. I do my 8 spoke 20s twice a year and it takes about 30-40 mins per wheel.
 
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slc6oh

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Would like 0000 steel wool with soapy water be good to get the top rough layer off?


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ckrueg

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I did the power ball with the mothers billet polish. It took about an hour per wheel. I cleaned them good first, then did about a third of the wheel at a time. I was really happy with the results.
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107stroker

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I use a product called white diamond and the power cone. Seems to work better than mothers w less work.
 

mandkole

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Would like 0000 steel wool with soapy water be good to get the top rough layer off?
. The wool doesn't concentrate enough on corrosion and the shallower scratches from the paper are much easier to polish out. I'll just tear a small piece to work the area. My 20s were stripped/raw as well.
 

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Pockets

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Good cleaning, 2k grit wet paper, a power cone with White Diamond. So far so good just a little time...
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junglejoe

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I wet sand mine.. Then get a grinder with a 8 inch polishing wheel and brown bar compound.. MIRROR FINISH. Might be a little over board.. But it works.
 

Joshf250

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What are you guys using to strip the clear coat off of your wheels? I have a set of 5 spoke 20”s that I’m wanting to do this to. And has anybody put clear coat on the wheels after being polished?


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mandkole

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Lots of Kleen Strip jelly, then sanding and polish. That’s a job I won’t be doing again haha. They turned out good but takes maintenance.
 

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RascalMafia

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Best thing I have found is Adam's metal polishes.

Aircraft stripper to remove the clear.
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RascalMafia

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This is probably a dumb question, but why remove the clear?
Just a guess but probably peeling. Best bet is strip, polish to mirror, clear, ceramic coat. Or if you want to skip clear, ceramic coat.

Polishing metal sucks ballz.

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