Instructions for polishing rims - For Info

[Rayman4449]

I've polished the 6 rims (2 extra) I own and have come up with a good process of removing the clear coat without damaging the gray painted area's finish.  See the following:

 

- First clean the rim good with soap and water.  Here are some pics of the rim before I started.  Anyone with the original clearcoat will recognize the appearance...

 

http://home.kc.rr.com/rayman4449/dsc00830a.jpg

http://home.kc.rr.com/rayman4449/dsc00831a.jpg

http://home.kc.rr.com/rayman4449/dsc00832a.jpg

http://home.kc.rr.com/rayman4449/dsc00833a.jpg

 

 

Here is what I used in the way of tools.  I did use a flat razor blade after the clear coat was removed to carefully remove any remaining clear coat still on the aluminum edge of the spokes.

 

http://home.kc.rr.com/rayman4449/dsc00834a.jpg

 

 

I then took the masking tape and carefully taped the gray painted areas.  Note, make sure the tape fully adhears to the paint, any air spaces will allow the clear coat remover spray to get in and damage the finish.  This part takes a little while, but it is worth it if you take your time to do it right.  I applied two layers of tape to ensure the remover didn't soak through the tape and damage the gray finish.  I left only a small part of the tape above the ridge.

 

http://home.kc.rr.com/rayman4449/dsc00835a.jpg

http://home.kc.rr.com/rayman4449/dsc00837a.jpg

 

 

Then spray the aluminum surfaces down with the remover.  This remover is the best stuff, better than other removers I tried.  Get this stuff!!  You can see how the clear coat has wrinkled and come off in the center.  I have already scubbed the outer rim with the tooth brush to make sure all the old clear coat was removed.  Be sure to spray all the surfaces, the tape edges that remain can block the spray from reaching some surfaces.  Also, WEAR EYE PROTECTION, RUBBER GLOVES, AND BREATHING PROTECTION!!!  This is REALLY NASTY STUFF!!!  DO NOT SPRAY THIS STUFF WITHOUT IT!!  Don't let it sit.  Spray, scrub, and rinse.  Don't let it dry.  If you do, you will never get the clear coat that re-adheres to the surface back off.

 

http://home.kc.rr.com/rayman4449/dsc00838a.jpg

 

 

Here the rim is fully rinsed off with all the old clear coat gone.  You can already see a big difference.

 

http://home.kc.rr.com/rayman4449/dsc00839a.jpg

 

 

Now, using Mother's aluminum mag polish (don't waste your time with anything else) and facial cotton pads or a soft towel, polish the aluminum areas.   The more you polish, the better it will look.  This will take ALOT of time and elbow grease.   These pics are only after about 10 mins.  They really need alot more time.  All of the pitting will come out with enough buffing.  Note, this second picture is the same spot as the third one above.  

 

http://home.kc.rr.com/rayman4449/dsc00840a.jpg

http://home.kc.rr.com/rayman4449/dsc00841a.jpg

 

 

Finally, here is a spot I did on another rim, after alot of polishing.  Picutres don't do the real finish justice.

 

http://home.kc.rr.com/rayman4449/dsc00465a.jpg

 

 

I hope this helps someone along the line!  Good luck and enjoy!  

 

 

Raymond

[Rayman4449]

I did also want to say that if you don't want to take the time to do this and have a little extra cash, Mark V at www.starquestrims.com does excellent work.  My brother bought a set of polished rims from him and they looked excellent!  With the process that Mark uses, he gets all the dings and nics out of the aluminum so all you have is a perfectly smooth surface.  Mark is a great guy and can get you hooked up.    If you can't afford that, then you can get excellent results with what I posted.  Good luck!

 

Raymond

[Guest]

Thanks for the excellent post Raymond.

 

 

Andrew

[Rayman4449]

Thanks.  Just trying to give something back to the group.  The Starquest community here and in the past has been so key in me being able to get my quest running.  I will be forever grateful!  

 

 

Raymond

[ConquestTSi]

Yea my rims have this terrible dark look to them.  I'll add this as another job to do to my car.  Thanks!

[blue_crush]

i tried the air plane stripper stuff and i didnt do a damn thing, but you said to use a razor blade on them? and where do i pick up a can of the same stuff you used?? cause the method that you use and im usin is almost the same, except i cant get the clear off!!!!!!!!!!! grrrrrrrr

[mquester]

what do you think of these rims?

http://www.tristarion.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=5836#5836

[Rayman4449]

Did you try to use polish to see if the clear coat is still there.  (I'm sure you can tell though)  Its been awhile, but I got that stuff at either advanced auto, autozone, or Oriellys.

[Rayman4449]

Mquester, how did you get that look on your rims?  Are they totally stripped of everything, chromed, or painted?

 

Raymond

[mquester]

I had an extra set on my parts car that the previous owner had stripped and painted green (UGLY) So, I bought the aircraft paint stripper, taped off the tire and valve stem and sprayed it.  Let it sit for 30 minutes and then used a stainless steel pad and Cameo.  Well, the previous owner had messed up the center, so it would have to be repainted.  So, I sanded the whole rim with 400 grit and painted them!  Its just chrome paint.  I put on four layers and it looks great!  Everyone thinks I had them chromed.  And the best part is, if I get bored of them, I'm just going to strip them again and paint the center.  Im thinking about sanding the center down now and painting the inside black, I just cant decide.

What do you think?  

[MyRed88TSI]

Raman where did you get the "peeler" stuff?  also if to make things easier you could take your wheels to a tire shop and have them demounted and then when you are done remoounted and balanced.  that would save some tape.  also that way they can take off the balance weights.  mine look like his.  my back wheels are worse than the fronts.  just a thought  

 

JB

[mquester]

I got the aircraft stripper at wal-mart and autozone carries it also.  I sprayed it on and let it sit for 30 minutes and it took of all the old paint and clearcoat.  Some scrubbing was required, but not once.  Oh, and use rubber gloves cus this stuff BURNS. ;D

[Guest]

I got that brand of stripper at Oreilly's.  On the tire dismounting, it only took 3 mins to tape the tire and about 50 cents worth of tape.  Not worth paying or taking the time to dismount IMHO.  I also had sticky weights used on my rims the last time I bought tires so I don't have the lead weights on the edge of the rim.  Appreciate the idea though.

 

Raymond

[kev]

Raman where did you get the "peeler" stuff?  also if to make things easier you could take your wheels to a tire shop and have them demounted and then when you are done remoounted and balanced.  that would save some tape.  also that way they can take off the balance weights.  mine look like his.  my back wheels are worse than the fronts.  just a thought  

 

JB

 

My back wheels were worse than the fronts too.  I stripped the clearcoat with aircraft stripper last week and the fronts came out great with only a strip and quick polish with Mothers.  The backs aren't the best though.   They need a really detailed sanding and polishing.   I left my tires on and didn't even tape them off.  It didn't hurt the rubber at all but I also tried not to spray the stripper right on them.  

 

I painted the center sections of my wheels a silver color instead of the factory grey.  Looks real nice, you almost mistake the wheels for chrome.  When I get the rears fully shined up, people probably WILL mistake them for chrome hehe.

 

kev

[racer_amx]

Now, using Mother's aluminum mag polish (don't waste your time with anything else) and facial cotton pads or a soft towel, polish the aluminum areas.   The more you polish, the better it will look.  This will take ALOT of time and elbow grease.

Why are you guys doing this the hard way?

Just go to home depot and pick up a polishing kit in the tool section for ten bucks! You get three buffing wheels and three blocks of polishing compound. Just mount the buffing wheel on your power drill (the kit comes with adapters) then just run it over the buffing compound(i use the red block as it seems to be the best on aluminum) and polish away without wearing out your arm. This way the drill is doing the work and you can cut your project time way down. OH by the way make sure you pick up a decent dust mask while your at the store as it is dangerous to breathe aluminum dust.

[86blackstar]

wouldnt vaseline be an easier aproch than the masking tape  :

[Rayman4449]

I never thought about Vasaline, but that sounds like a MUCH easier way than the taping.  Thanks for the good advice!

 

Raymond

[rickyturboic]

;D  hey you could also use Simichrome  just after Mothers`  that thing polishes really damn good!

[MontyTSI]

what is "simichrome"....ive been polishing eberything in site for the past week...waiting for my engine to return from builder. My eip ovcp (stainless) is like a mirror now except for the scratches i cant get out.....how would i get those out?

 

cool info on this thread im off to the store to get that peeler stuff....polishing metal is addictive and it is a great forearm tricep endurance work out.

 

BTW i like your suggestion about the polishing kit from home depot but using the elbow grease method is good for the soul...

 

Monty

[Rayman4449]

Too true....  haha... love the rearview mirror pic.  hahaha...    I don't know about he stainless scratches as I've never polished stainless.  My experience has been that like you said hand polished is the best method.  Perhaps you should try a cotton squares pads in your polishing or somthing or a very very soft towel.  

[1quikquest]

i was just curious if removing the clear coat and the polishing process makes the rims any more likely to rust or rot.  anybody know?

[Rayman4449]

The rim is aluminum so it won't rust.  So, there's one less thing you have to worry about.    You will need to repolish every now and then as the aluminum will reoxidize.  Keeping them away from water is the #1 thing.  If you get them wet they oxidize pretty fast.

 

Raymond

[1quikquest]

is there a way to avoid that? maybe putting clear coat over the polished metal?

[Rayman4449]

Yes, you can reclear coat the rim after polishing.  I think there have been some discussions on the types to get that are good quality.  The downside is that the clear coat supposedly dulls the shine a bit, but you don't have to mess with them.  Kinda one of those whatever is more important to you.

 

Raymond

[kev]

I polished my rims via this procedure last fall.   I drove the car all through the winter and everything and the rims kept their shine.   When I wash them, I have a spray bottle with a mix of simple green and water.   I spray them down really good before I even wet the car or rims, let sit for a minute or two and then wash the car and rims with the normal soapy water.   They look just as good as the day I polished them with no elbow greese whatsoever.  The rims have not degraded one bit.    If you wash your car regularly and rid the rims of dirt, they will stay nice and polished.    Only a slight rub down with Mothers Mag Cleaner once a year or even less is really necessary.  

 

kev