Aluminum Polishing

**Beemerboy** · 01-23-2012, 12:28 PM

Over the weekend the Harley shop I detail for, asked me to detail this bike and polish the aluminum rims. The bike was in for some motor work, new tires and paint. The fenders came in the day I was there, the tank is coming in on Tuesday. Cool part is I was able to work on the rims without the tires.

I used a Mothers Power ball cone shaped, attached to a pneumatic drill that spun at 3000 RPMs on high, the polishes are use where semi-chrome and PB PP2. The before shots are only of the front rim.

I started with APC to clean the rims, then Stoner tarmantor to clean the grit in the small holes, using 0000 steel wool. Then polished then like a mad man, to clean the residue I used baking soda on a MFT and then QD to wipe it all off.

These pics are OK but do not really show the mirror finished I achieved. One thing that came of this is I fell in love with the pneumatic drill and I`m thinking of converting to that for this years detail season for paint buffing.

**mjlinane** · 01-23-2012, 12:41 PM

Nice work. I haven`t had to do this yet and, honestly, am hoping stays that way. Looks/sounds like a lot of work.

**jtford95** · 01-23-2012, 12:49 PM

They came out very good. that is alot of work. It takes a lot to get them to have a mirror finish.

**Beemerboy** · 01-23-2012, 12:52 PM

Originally Posted by mjlinane

Nice work. I haven`t had to do this yet and, honestly, am hoping stays that way. Looks/sounds like a lot of work.

Originally Posted by jtford95

They came out very good. that is alot of work. It takes a lot to get them to have a mirror finish.

Thanks the work wasn`t all that hard the air drill really made short order of it. I passed over them twice with the drill then the last time was by hand each rim took me about an hour guessing.

**CT3** · 01-23-2012, 01:44 PM

Nice job, it looks like you put in some work for those results.

**classofshine** · 01-23-2012, 03:01 PM

Results speak of itself, how long did it take you to do 1 wheel? Im sure the owner will be very happy with the new look.

**Pockets** · 01-23-2012, 03:16 PM

Awesome job Dave! Got to love the fast cut the PP2 does on aluminum!

**Rocket** · 01-23-2012, 03:23 PM

Looks like they turned out great. Does the baking soda do a good job cleaning up? Never seen it used

This may sound strange but I enjoy polishing aluminum. I hate the clean up but that`s all I dislike.

**Beemerboy** · 01-23-2012, 05:09 PM

Originally Posted by Rocket

Looks like they turned out great. Does the baking soda do a good job cleaning up? Never seen it used

This may sound strange but I enjoy polishing aluminum. I hate the clean up but that`s all I dislike.

The BS is to remove the residue and it works like a charm. You could also use baby power or flour, its an absorbent and it leaves the metal streak-less

**holland_patrick** · 01-23-2012, 05:29 PM

Did you know Blackfire has an Aluminum Polish??????

I know that PB is my go to for metal but i would wonder how that new Blackfire Aluminum Polish would work???

Great job on the rims...
Did you seal them up after????

maybe you could have used

BLACKFIRE Wet Diamond All Metal Sealant

????

**Beemerboy** · 01-23-2012, 06:12 PM

Originally Posted by holland_patrick

Did you know Blackfire has an Aluminum Polish??????

I know that PB is my go to for metal but i would wonder how that new Blackfire Aluminum Polish would work???

Great job on the rims...
Did you seal them up after????

maybe you could have used

BLACKFIRE Wet Diamond All Metal Sealant

????

The PB PP2 is a real good metal polish, but IMO Semi-Chrome works better, but expensive.

I did not seal the rims