I'm trying to polish my aluminum rims to get all of the stuff off of them. I've run into a little problem though. I can get the stuff off of it just by scrubbing with a polishing cloth or with a buffing wheel and compound. Would it be alright to use some very fine steel wool? If so, what would I use as a lubricant on the steel wool? Thanks for the help yall.

 

Steel wool will scratch them... Best aluminum polish I've found is made by Alcoa: http://www.alcoawheelaccessories.com...ory_id=alucare

If your wheels are clear-coated, you probably don't want to use anything other than wax on them or you run the risk of removing the clear-coat.

 

If you already used compound, I would say it's already to late for the clear coat. For nicks, scratches, or inbedded stuff, I have had great luck with 2000 grit, wet sandpaper. Soak it in water overnight, and keep the surface wet while sanding.
Don't know the Alcoa stuff, UTE recommends "Mothers".

RJ

 

Hey Blue! I picked some stuff up at a truckstop called "MFX." Its the BEST stuff that I've ever bought! I will clean/polish just about anything.

 

I've got some stuff called Blue Magic polish. The guy at 4 wheel parts recommended it. Don't know if it's any better than all those but I figure I'd give it a shot. This is pretty ridiculous that I'm having to do this to 8 month old wheels that already have 2 coats of wax on them.

 

Never use Steel Wool, as the the peices of metal will embed themselves in the aluminum and rust then you got rust on your nice rims. If the coat is off of them. Best thing to do is like mentioned above is take some very fine wet sandpaper to them, Emery Cloth preferably. Then after that get some polishing compound with the grits in it, then after that take the Blue Magic too it. I also use this stuff and it works really good. Good luck.

-Jared

 

anybody have any luck taking out deeper scratches from getting stuck in gravel or gritty mud. I have one bad wheel.

 

I sure am glad I have steel wheels.

 

stuff called FLITZ work great.

 

Don't like Blue Magic. White Diamond and polish that I got from 5 Star works better. A LOT less work.

 

What happened with mine is that brake dust and mud got inside the pores and now my rims look like they have paint over spray on them. It sucks. 8 months old and 4 wheels parts is saying it's my fault. Maybe I should have gotten the american racing wheels. My roommate doesn't have this problem with his.

 

Ok. Here's some pictures of my rims and what they are doing. What do yall think I should do now?









Those pics were taken after cleaning them with just soap and water. They are very rough feeling.

 

Wow that sucks.....

 

It looks like discoloration from de-icer. Do they use it on the roads down there? If it's road tar, brake clean will disolve it. If it is from de-icer get some acid from your local hardware store & mix it in a spray bottle 60% water 40% acid spray on & let set a miniute then rinse off. If that doesn't make your wheels a milky white color do it again or try a little stronger. You can use 0000 steel wool or 600 wet & dry sand paper to get the rough stuff off. From there it's polish with Mothers, never dull, or you can get some jewelers rouge & use the edge of a buffing wheel in a 3/8s drill.
These are methods I have used for years polishing out my tanks, fenders, & wheels on my tanker truck.
Good luck
Glenn

 

If I didn't know better, I'd say you lived in Utah.

That's what mine looked like after the first winter.

Discolored, pitted, rusty lug nuts and center cap.

From a distance, they still look good, and where I take my truck sometimes, they'll only get worse,
so I'm leaving mine alone.


phox