Need help polishing my polished aluminum wheels

[suparida]

i have a set of 4 polished aluminum wheels with no clear coat, and i want to make them shine like chrome. i already tried to wet sand them with 180, 240, 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1500, then finally 2000 grit sandpaper. i did that wet sanding in that order. after that i used eagle one mag and aluminum polish with a soft cotton cloth. they are shinnier but not chrome or mirror shiny. what should i do please help me

[saiyan7]

Re: Need help polishing my polished aluminum wheels

If you have sanded thoroughly all the way up to 2000grit wet, you will then have to get a highspeed (and I mean high speed) drill and a spiral sewn cotton wheel small enough to get into the tight spots. Apply the brown tripoli compound and start polishing. Attention to detail at this phase is very important. Once you have finished with that you should have a gleaming finish, but don't stop there. Follow it up with a generous rubbing of Mother's metal polish. Other people on this forum suggest Flitz but I do not have that much experience with that product. Your wheels should look chrome by now.
layduh

[suparida]

Re: Need help polishing my polished aluminum wheels

Where can i get a highspeed (and I mean high speed) drill and a spiral sewn cotton wheel small enough to get into the tight spots? I'm new in this field, what is brown tripoli compound? where can i get it? thanks a lot.....

[mcaswell]

Re: Need help polishing my polished aluminum wheels

Hello:

The web site you're on belongs to a fine company called Caswell Inc. that sells everything you're looking for. Just go to http://www.caswellplating.com

You might also want to look at some felt bobs. They do an excellent job of getting into small places.

Regards

[suparida]

Re: Need help polishing my polished aluminum wheels

ok thanks i found the brown tripoli compound, but i am still confused on what a "felt bobs" is and where can i buy the spiral cotton wheel to polish my rims, i have a drill but thats it. any help would be appreciated. thanks

[mcaswell]

Re: Need help polishing my polished aluminum wheels

We also have a kit that incorporates all this - http://www.caswellplating.com/alpolkit.htm

[saiyan7]

Re: Need help polishing my polished aluminum wheels

GO GET 'EM CASWELL!

[crazieabe]

Re: Need help polishing my polished aluminum wheels

I still say that mothers polish sucks big time!

[chromeboy]

Re: Need help polishing my polished aluminum wheels

I personally recommend the FLITZ brand polishes. They work very well with little or no residue.My motto is "anything you can buy at WalMart is probably ****"(that includes Mothers, mequires etc).. Stick with Flitz and it will all come out much nicer.

[jrow]

Re: Need help polishing my polished aluminum wheels

I would suggest a clear spray for bare metal, or clear powder coat. I have used ZOOP SEAL and it will stain when exposed to the elements. If your going to clear spray make sure that you clean the aluminum with brake cleaner of lacquer thinner, wear rubber gloves so that you don't leave your finger prints on the raw aluminum, then spray.

John

[customandsound]

Re: Need help polishing my polished aluminum wheels

Caswell's wheel kit will give you the results you want. As for keeping them shiney .. Powder coat them with a high gloss clear.. I am trying to get caswell to sell the super mirror clear 500+ gloss rating i use it on every thing and they look great for years to come ...

[aliga]

Re: Need help polishing my polished aluminum wheels

the super mirror clear you are referring to is it powder or spray in a can?

thanks.

[jrow]

Re: Need help polishing my polished aluminum wheels

Suparida,

What I have done to get into smaller areas that I buff is to get 1", 1 1/2" and 2" buffs and double stack them on their mandrels. I use the spiral sewn either the plane or hard ones (yellow). You can also use a Dremel type felt buff and sand it down with 80 grit sandpaper to make it fit in the smaller areas.

John