Polishing Clear Coated Chrome Wheels

J

jw

New member
I have some clear coated chrome rims that appear to have rust spots on them. I've tried claying and applying some chrome polish by hand with no luck. I guess I need to step it up to either pc or rotary. What products and pad should I use? Would I be better to use a mothers powerball type of product?
 
 
BigJimZ28 said:
O.M.G. they do not clear coat chrome!



this is like you 10th post about these rims............ :confused:



http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing-product-discussion/107471-help-chrome-wheels.html



http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing/107825-scared-polish-chrome-rims.html



http://www.autopia.org/forum/machine-polishing/107982-help-chrome-rims.html



http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-de...ion/108218-chrome-rim-help-pics-included.html



http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing-product-discussion/108295-steel-wool.html



http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-detailing/108603-clear-coated-chrome-rims.html



http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-de.../108869-steel-wool-turned-my-rims-yellow.html



i am not sure what else we can tell you:closed:
Click to expand...



Well, let's continue out chat here then ;)



Why does metal polish have no effect then (i.e., no black residue)? The only explanation is that they're coated with something.



Now, here's an email from GMPartsDirect about the CK997 style chrome wheel. I emailed them asking about the wheel:



Hi,



The wheel in question is a chrome plated aluminum wheel. The current GM part catalog does not indicate that the wheel is coated, although I believe it is coated with some type of protectant.



You can go to GM Parts Direct: Your direct source for Genuine GM Parts on our home page you will have to enter your part number into the SEARCH space provided on our homepage. You will then have to add this number to your shopping cart and click check out to see total charges with shipping and handling delivered to your door.



If you have a question regarding this email please include all contents of this email, including the original email you sent, so we can keep track of the conversation. Please keep in mind gmpartsdirect.com cannot be held responsible for incorrect part numbers. Please feel free to validate the accuracy with your local dealer. As a note, special order and electrical parts are non-returnable so please verify your part numbers are correct.



Email response hours are from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm est, Mon to Fri. Orders and emails after 3 pm Friday est. will not be processed until Monday.



Thanks Floyd,

GmpartsDirect.com

When replying to emails please include all previous email correspondences so we can better assist you.
 
Because its chrome, chrome isn't metal its a coating. Once there's rust I believe they're done, someone please correct me if Im wrong.
 
FordFan2009 said:
Because its chrome, chrome isn't metal its a coating. Once there's rust I believe they're done, someone please correct me if Im wrong.
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Yes, it's a coating, but it's thick enough (at least on my wheels) that a magnet sticks to it.
 
FordFan2009 said:
Because its chrome, chrome isn't metal its a coating. Once there's rust I believe they're done, someone please correct me if Im wrong.
Click to expand...



Um...chrome is a metal, deposited through an electroplating process.
 
Bostonsfavson said:
So it's chrome/nickel/aluminum? Why no black residue then?
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No copper, and then nickel, then the chromium plating

over the base metal





the no black reside is how you tell it's chrome & not polished

sorry I'am tired of this try a google search:nervous2:
 
These are chrome plated aluminum wheels, right?



Rust comes from the oxidation of something ferrous, not from aluminum, nickel, or chromium.



So I'd think that the rust spots are from ferrous contamination that's stuck to/embedded in the wheels.



So I'd approach it like rust-blooms on paint- clay and/or some kind of acid.



Bostonsfavson said:
So it's chrome/nickel/aluminum? Why no black residue then?
Click to expand...



The black residue comes from oxidation/tarnish being cleaned off certain soft metals (like aluminum or silver).



So in this case, a black residue would tell you it's bare aluminum, that black stuff is the oxidized aluminum being polished off (or, for another example, the oxidized/tarnished silver when you polish that).



Chrome's so hard that polishes generally just take off contamination that's on top of the chrome; it's not like you see "polished off chromium" on your buffing medium. My polishing cloths don't turn black when I polish chrome, they just get dirty.
 
I've been having issues with my chrome wheels as well. I'm not sure if the chome is clearcoated or not, it is from an 04 cobra. Anyways, I tried cleaning it with ONR, then I used mothers chrome polish. There are specs that have some black and also white with a rough surface when you touch it. It doesn't look corroded, but just dirty and really baked on with the stuff that it's rough.



If mothers chrome polish could not take this stuff out, will a wheel cleaner like eagle one a2z be stronger than the chrome polish? I'm just wondering if I've been pretty mild with my cleaning so far and I can still get these wheels clean with stronger solutions.



Another product I wonder if it might help without damaging the wheel is Mr Clean Magic Eraser. Do you guys think that could help on stuff chrome polish could not take out and not scratch the wheel?
 
Irkie500 said:
my pontiac g6 wheels are chromed with a plastic coating on the top i believe...
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This can't be a serious thread....





Chrome is a plating



GM also coats some of there wheels in a clear coat and others are actually coated in plastic, and/or partially made out of other components other than metal and chrome.



Ex. Pontiac Grand Am wheels are plastic covered i believe



DG
 
BigJimZ28 said:
sorry I'am tired of this try a google search:nervous2:
Click to expand...



I have. And, as you can see in my earlier post, I've also sent out a bunch of emails. Most had no clue, but the gentleman in the email agreed with me.
 
Bostonsfavson said:
The current GM part catalog does not indicate that the wheel is coated
Click to expand...



that is a fact:secret



now find yourself a polished alloy wheel

in that same GM part catalog and you will see

it has a acrylic Clear Coat



now can you stop?
 
BigJimZ28 said:
that is a fact:secret



now find yourself a polished alloy wheel

in that same GM part catalog and you will see

it has a acrylic Clear Coat



now can you stop?
Click to expand...



Your posts are bordering on rude, Jim. You've made your point very clear--you don't believe that the rims are coated. However, I'm not convinced. If you're sure that you're right and that I'm wrong, that's fine. Please don't ask me to "stop" though. I'd like to look in to this further. If you think I'm wasting my time, then you can choose to no longer participate in this thread.



Setec, thanks for the link. Very informative!
 
1.) I sorry if you find me rude



2.) my point is not that I don't think they are clear coated

it's that clear coating real chrome is a stupid idea and a waste of money





3.) please keep looking because all of YOUR links & post PROVE thay are

chrome with no clear coated with some "tech" or some "e-mail help person"

giving you bad info



4.) good idea, I am done with this thread:bestwish
 
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