http://www.detailcity.org/forums/de...hing-machine-and-hand.html?highlight=aluminum
Here is a link to the post i'm following up on that I started about this project earlier.
This project started because one of the aluminum rims on a semi had a crack and needed to be replaced. The other rims weren't too far gone but they needed a polish to not look rediculous next to the shinny new alcoa rim.
Starting off with a pic of the new and another of the old- both with fresh rubber.
Ok now to start off with the process. The rims were cleaned up with Truck and Trailer wash by Zep. Its a strong soap that WILL dull aluminum some but it does a good job of cleaning it up to prep for polishing. These rims had tar, and some road stripe paint on them but the pics are after it was all removed.
When rims are farther gone than these I hit them with Zep alum. Its a strong acid that will dull the metal good. It workes at getting out all the grime from the pits and pores of rough aluminum.
Since these wheels weren't too bad i was able to use the yellow wheel with the green stainless steel specialized compound. As you can tell from many trial and error runs i've come up with some different combos than the manufacture advertises.
These pics show how the polish is applied to the wheel and the general way this type of polishing wheel is used. Its a two hand project once you get going so i don't have any in action. Its also quite dirty so i didn't take the gloves off and get in there with the camera in between steps. I finished up with a white (no cut wheel) and white rouge. They were cleanedup with the Long Haul polish by hand by a terry towel as pictured in the post linked at the begining of this post.
Here is a before of the old rim
This is the after- Notice the alcoa decal got the color polished off of it.
Here is one of a similar angle for the fresh out of box Rim.
A couple more befores- trying to show clarity
Afters of the one I did first then the New one
Finally there are two outside ones. The rim that is mounted on the truck is the new alcoa and the one leaning next is one being followed from start to finish.
Here is a link to the post i'm following up on that I started about this project earlier.
This project started because one of the aluminum rims on a semi had a crack and needed to be replaced. The other rims weren't too far gone but they needed a polish to not look rediculous next to the shinny new alcoa rim.
Starting off with a pic of the new and another of the old- both with fresh rubber.
Ok now to start off with the process. The rims were cleaned up with Truck and Trailer wash by Zep. Its a strong soap that WILL dull aluminum some but it does a good job of cleaning it up to prep for polishing. These rims had tar, and some road stripe paint on them but the pics are after it was all removed.
When rims are farther gone than these I hit them with Zep alum. Its a strong acid that will dull the metal good. It workes at getting out all the grime from the pits and pores of rough aluminum.
Since these wheels weren't too bad i was able to use the yellow wheel with the green stainless steel specialized compound. As you can tell from many trial and error runs i've come up with some different combos than the manufacture advertises.
These pics show how the polish is applied to the wheel and the general way this type of polishing wheel is used. Its a two hand project once you get going so i don't have any in action. Its also quite dirty so i didn't take the gloves off and get in there with the camera in between steps. I finished up with a white (no cut wheel) and white rouge. They were cleanedup with the Long Haul polish by hand by a terry towel as pictured in the post linked at the begining of this post.
Here is a before of the old rim
This is the after- Notice the alcoa decal got the color polished off of it.
Here is one of a similar angle for the fresh out of box Rim.
A couple more befores- trying to show clarity
Afters of the one I did first then the New one
Finally there are two outside ones. The rim that is mounted on the truck is the new alcoa and the one leaning next is one being followed from start to finish.
