Wheel polishing

[max 02]

Anyone want to give me some advice on polishing aluminum wheels.
I did them last year and they turned out OK,but the salt in the winter made them look like crap again,

What do you guys put on them to keep them from getting all dull and pitted?

 

[big pappa b]

After polishing you can just keep them well waxed. Should be ok to keep most of the bad stuff out

 

[max 02]

Just any kind of wax?

 

[ryoken]

as said, stay on top of your waxing... I use to get pretty long lasting results with Zoop's back in the day on my Welds....

 

[ryoken]

Just any kind of wax?

a pure carnuba is always the best... mother's makes a nice one...

 

[ryoken]

http://www.zoops.com/index.php/zoopseal.html

 

[max 02]

Thanks guys!

Any tips on using a mothers powerball, I read somewere that you should get it wet with water first then ring it out befor using it.

Also just sand with 400 and then polish, that is what I did to them before.

Paul hope your back gets better soon.

 

[rampage]

I've heard that rubbing a little baking flour on after you polish really brings out the shine.

 

[496truck]

Clear powdercoating. Not cheap or easy but pretty much permanent if done right.

 

[jekquistk5]

I need to do this on my Dmax, before it gets too bad.

 

[Deuling]

After polishing and when the winter nastyness comes around I heard from a guy that chain lube (the real thick stuff) will stay on the wheels really good, and then just rince it off every once and a while over winter an reapply, but it kept the salt off the metal and kept them nice and SHINY!!!

 

[k20]

Thanks guys!

Any tips on using a mothers powerball, I read somewere that you should get it wet with water first then ring it out befor using it.

Also just sand with 400 and then polish, that is what I did to them before.

Paul hope your back gets better soon.

I never did like the powerball. Couldnt get a good shine and the polish that was meant for it sucked IMO.

If my classic II's were really bad I did a 3 step buffing/polishing on mine, starting with a sisal, then a spiral sewn, and finally a loose cotton wheel. For the final buff I used the mothers billet, the other 2 steps....I dont remember what I used. IIRC it was a brown & white brick. Hell its been awhile since Ive polished em (or even driven that truck ).

Anyway, when I did it, to do all 4, was an all day job of sitting holding the air drill. But, it was WELL worth it, pretty much looking like chrome. Without any coating, the rear wheels (behind the exhaust) would start tarnishing in 2-3 weeks. Waxing would get me from the first week of good weather in spring til near the end of summer. That would be a new coat of wax everytime I washed it (about once a week). Zaino would last from spring, until sometime in the winter.

 

[sweetk30]

http://www.sharkhide.com/mpinfo.html

 

[British Slave]

Find a truck stop that polishes wheels on eighteen wheelers and ask what they do.