Polishing/Wetsanding Stock Wheels

[mike8705]

I have some 90's era 5 star 15 inch rims off a Suburban and they look like crap. Tonight I tried using some mag/chrome/aluminum wheel polish and it worked ok, but not very well. Then I broke out the buffing wheel on the end of an electric drill and i got it polished, but I dont know if i like it. Does anyone know how to get these wheels to look like a dull, clean aluminum finish?

Before I start wet sanding or using something else, I want to know if these have a clear on them and what the best bet to go would be? I dont want them polished like chrome or anything, but i do want them to be clean and proper. Let me know what you guys think.

[BuckMaster9]

Sandblast?

[mike8705]

Possibly... I want something I can do in my driveway though. Has anybody sanded or aircraft stripped these before? How did they turn out?

[LS1GMCTruck]

There is no shortcuts to good results. The only way to do them right, is to remove the tires, glassbead or hand sand them, prime them(yes, aluminum requires a catylized primer), and spray them with a good quality catylized silver(or whatever color you like) paint. Then put the tires back on & balanced. Anything less, will always look like "less".

[Eric_7810]

Yeah, this is a bummer. I want to revive my stockers, but the labor involved is way too intensive.

[La 90sierra]

actually you can use aircraft paint remover. remove the top film on the rims. it will get more of a mirror look. you can sand them down if you'd like or just polish them with the polishing wheel and your set. it should look more shiny. i paid to do them to mine. looked awesome.

http://i816.photobucket.com/albums/zz82/gsalinas88/utf-8BSU1HMDAzOTQtMjAxMDAxMjktMjIwN.jpg

http://i816.photobucket.com/albums/zz82/gsalinas88/utf-8BSU1HMDAzOTUtMjAxMDAxMjktMjIwN.jpg

http://i816.photobucket.com/albums/zz82/gsalinas88/utf-8BSU1HMDAzOTgtMjAxMDAyMDItMTEzM.jpg

http://i816.photobucket.com/albums/zz82/gsalinas88/utf-8BSU1HMDAzOTktMjAxMDAyMDItMTEzN.jpg

[Z71Sierra]

Whoa whoa, before you start stripping or blasting try this first; take 0000 steel wool and any kind of window cleaner. Keep the steel wool wet and scrub the rims. You can also do this with a polish.

Give that a try before you start taking more drastic measures.

[giallo sv]

use 000 steel wool with a cutting compound that you normally use with a wool pad on the buffer. put the compond directly on the wool and scrub til you cant anymore. wash with dish soap and dry. come back with 0000 and polishing compund and go to town.. after that get a powerball and polish it from there...looks better than new

[Clockwood844]

i would just buy new ones seems like a ton of work, look on ebay i bet you can find some cheap ones