Let us know about your polishing project or any products you used not mentioned in this video. Here is the Part 2 video of the products you recommended in the comments to try: Polishing Aluminum Wheels: 4 Products Tested 1 Winner🏆 th-cam.com/video/HixZtEO0cTI/w-d-xo.html Comments suggested: White Diamond, a re-try on Zephyr with a 3000rpm grinder, and a new product on the market! Flitz was suggested too, but immediately argued by others to be a waste... 👀 Check it out!
If you ever have an entire week with nothing to do lol, wet sand the wheel with 220, 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1200, 1500 and 2000 grit. Then polish with the Mother's and then the Blue Magic. I did that on a set of wheels back in the day and they looked chrome when I was done. Then I said I'd never do that again.
Lol.. I love your final sentence."Then I said I'd never do it again" I agree with you, the outcome is amazing, but the labor involved! Been there. That's why I now go drill, cutting pads and minimize the labor... sure its 80% of perfection but at least you still have 80% of the weekend left...
Back in '67/'68 I was stationed at a USAF base that had many VIP planes. Needless to say we polished A LOT! We found the easiest way to remove the black after polishing, was to sprinkle flour on the first wiping cloth. It absorbed the black rather than relocating it. Then us another clean cloth ,for final buff.
The wife came home with new rims from junk yard for her g35 infinity,I looked and looked to find best videos to wat by for the best product cause I know aluminum is not resist to polish from expierance!thank you for doing the dirty work and the sequence in which the final product is excellent
After years of polishing aluminum semi wheels for years, I can guarantee you the zephyr is going to give you your very best result. The problem being your drill is not going to work. You can use a 3000 rpm grinder but preferably a 6000 rpm. That alone with some easy prep work could have those polished to near mirror finish in no time flat. The very best prep is aluminum brightener or "acid" pre polish. If they are pitted or have curb rash you will want to sand aswell.
Hi Matthew, good advice. Only for the vast majority of DIYers, having a 6000rpm grinder is unlikely. Also the semi wheels have space to work with, these 15" wheels don't have much space to get all areas.What brand grinder do you recommend? I will post another video for those that have or want to give buy a grinder. Just like in detailing a car, good old fashion elbow grease, is no comparison to an orbital polisher, and especially for aluminum wheels, you want to generate spinning speed and heat.
Ive got a Dewalt 3000 and a makita 6000. There are "arbor bits" you can get to take the wheel out from the body of the grinder. For just cleaning them up nice a 3000 would be sufficient in my opinion. I totally understand where you're at though. I started out polishing my trucks with whatever I could get my hands on when I was a kid starting out.
Same here I'm 16 and been doing it using renegade and matchless for 3 years or so and sanding figured out how to get out white lines on flat surfaces too like boxes and fronts and backs of fuel tanks
Back in the mid 80's when I was in high school and mini trucks were really popular, I had taken the old 1971 Datsun truck dad gave me, and detailed the engine. Those old Datsuns had a lot of polishable parts on the engine. I started with the valve cover and sanded the corrosion and some of the casting imperfections out of it. Then worked my way to finer sandpaper. Being I was new to metal polishing, I tried many different products and techniques. The best I've found to use on your first buffing and even 2nd and 3rd is the Mothers brand aluminum polish. It seems to get the initial polish to the surface the best. The Blue Magic is great for the final to give more of a mirror finish. Its like my auto shop teacher said, there's nothing like the shine that aluminum has compared to chrome. A good polished aluminum engine detailing looks awesome. I eventually polished every piece of aluminum you can see when you opened the hood. People said you could eat off my engine! Lol. 😋 It did take time to get it "perfect". Many times after school and work I would hand polish all of it. Each time looking better and better. Great video of your findings of products and techniques. The key is the sanding working your way up even to 1000/1200 grit. The buffing process is alot easier too. I have revived CD and DVD disks by sanding them and working up to wet sanding with 1200 then use a buffer on a bench grinder. I have a bar of rouge made for acrylic polishing and it makes the disc shiny again. Blue Magic works also. You just need to be careful and use light pressure on buffing wheel or you'll start melting the acrylic/plastic and ruin it. Keep the disc moving, don't hold in one spot on the wheel.
Wd-40 is a good way to get tar/tack oil off of aluminum without scratching them up. Takes awhile but it works. I use it on my uncles dumptrucks then wash them with dawn or some wheel cleaner to get the greasiness off.
i have a lot of alluminum to keep up and something i learned from the best pollisher around....after you pull as much black as you can off starting to shine...but little bit cloudy [ no matter the brand of polish ] finally as shiny as u can rub it.... take regular white cooking flour [ gold seal ] and a new microfibre cloth rub down polished area blow off and notice the shine doubled i also use the flour as a touch up when im lazy....
Look at white diamond metal polish. I polished a 23 year old pontoon. Both sides, it had sat in a carport with the sun shining on out without moving since 2008. I know this becsyse it was my grandparents. I used white diamond Abd was completely finished to a mirrored shine in less than an hour. It was unbelievable.
take a 3/8” longer bolt and cut a 1” slot in one end,from the end, then cut Emory cloth down to that cut length. Put it in the drill and wind the cloth in the same direction as your drill spin. Keep centered at higher speeds. Acts like a honer
So in the part 2 followup video, we tried some suggested products, one of which was White diamond and it performed poorly compared to the others.. That video is pinned to the first comment or in the description. Blue magic was much better, easier and brilliant than white diamond 💎
Being a metal polisher and paint correction professional, this was quite endearing to watch :) that drill DOES not have the guts to manipulate the heat it requires to polish metal.. yes, polishing metal requires heat, that's why theres 3k and 6k buffers. But great job nonetheless !
I notice that most guys that polished all the wheels and brightwork on semi trucks at truckstops would use grinders with different type pads and they would look pretty good afterwards.
Yeah I just attempted to polish a set of deep dish 15x10 Pro Comp Series 69 wheels that came on my truck I bought a couple years ago and just found this out 😅 Used Mother's and their Powerball 2 with my Hitachi cordless (I'm 40, but when I moved about 8yrs ago I literally sold all my good construction tools I obtained throughout the years, so I only have the bare minimum) and while they look a hell of a lot better than what they looked like when I bought the truck (97 GMC k1500 RCSB Z71 with a 6" lift), I still wouldn't consider them to be "polished " lol. I did consider painting them black, but figured polishing would have a longer lasting, and easier to keep look 😅
These rims are American Racing (Gambler) model AR-52. They were designed to have a “Machined finish”, Not a polished rim like let’s say a Weld Super Single 2.
I know a lot of truckers and they keep their aluminum wheels like chrome with some stuff called Wicked and elbow grease. That and a ball is perfect...!
Thanks for the info . I bought all the different supplies about two months ago and have been hesitating on doing the experiment on what works the best thanks for saving me all that time . I am restoring restaurant equipment so I think it will be lot easier than wheels for sure .. By the way it is called Silver Billet not Bullet :)
I have a video on restoring my BBG stainless steel grill. Very different than aluminum wheels. Different products. You should check it out. Its in the channel.
I just finished polishing wheels on my transport truck that had a million miles. I used the mothers mag and aluminum polish. I my case my job was alot easier when I stopped using Microfiber rags, and just used white terrycloths to apply and buff it off. Took me approx 2.5hr to do all 6 wheels by hand.
Nice. Sometimes a good ol Terrycloth will get the job done. Maybe being a little more rough helps when polishing by hand. You are a trooper for doing a transport truck wheels by hand. I deifinitely would have given in to a drill.
I have polished my aluminum wheels to mirror finish using sandpaper but you have to wet sand. I used warm water and just a splash of dawn dish soap for lubrication in a spray bottle and worked all the way up to 3000 grit sandpaper it was alot of work but results were awesome then I taped off the wheels and painted the cut outs which were original gun metal gray with VHT blue anodized spray paint which is unbelievable and BTW if you go for the anodized color coat paint you have to spray with silver base coat first or the anodized effect doesn't come thru I get compliments on them everywhere I go nobody believes that they are the stock wheels on my silvedado. Alot of work but the sense of accomplishment is worth it
That actually sounds awesome. Do you have an Instagram or somewhere we can see pics of the wheels? I may do an update video, just picked up some new Wheels, and try a couple suggestions. May even try the cutout idea like you are talking about. Aluminum wheels are great. You can pick some up that are 50 years old, and bring them back to like new! I buy them for $100 and revitalize them. My 14.5 wide super deep dish ones that came off a K5 Blazer (with Mickey Thompson swampers) i bought for $300, brought them back to life, and enjoyed them for a year.or so, then sold them for $1400 th-cam.com/video/Wul3RLWHKmc/w-d-xo.html
Awesome about enjoying wheels for awhile and turning big profit. And sorry but no I don't have Instagram or Facebook. I also bought the Zephyr polishing kit and I agree that it is alot of work and very dirty I had to wear gloves a respirator and long-sleeved shirt and it was still a mess. I put in many hours and tried multiple methods and the wet sanding worked best and I finished the polishing by using some never dull wadding dipped in mothers aluminum polish and worked that in a bit and then a 6" harbor freight dual action polisher with a finish buffing pad that I pre loaded with some mothers. It is cool to watch videos that others have had the same kind of trials and tribulations that I have. I appreciate you and if I can figure out a way to post some pics I will get back with you
Nothing beats the zephyr polishing. First off youre not using the correct wheel with the emery rouge you should be using a sisal wheel and secondly youre not spinning the drill fast enough. If its done correctly it makes short work out of it with minimal effort.
^^^^^^^This is all true!! You can also use a loose leaf cotton wheel with white diamonds and it will be like a mirror! But you need an actual buffer for sure!!!!
Mothers had a polish called Billet Polish. It's been discontinued probably because it was very pricey. I spoke to a tech last year and I was told they're bringing it back under a different name but it hasn't come out yet. That stuff was gold! I have some Centerlines from the 90s with the allen-bolt bolt-on center caps, some Centerlines I bought around the year 2000, and some 16" dually Alcoas from the 80s. Their billet polish was literally wipe on wipe off no effort done in 5 minutes per wheel.... and I'm talking about taking a foggy/hazy wheel to chrome mirror in minutes. Wipe on wipe off. I loved that stuff. I manage an auto parts store, one day I tried to clean my wheels in the parking lot and everything else I used actually hazed my wheels. I panicked and tried every product in the store until I got to the pricey mothers billet polish, boom instant restore to as new show shine. I've been a believer ever since. I buy up the old product whenever I can to keep my Centerlines looking perfecto with zero effort.
For the zephyrs wheels you really need the better airway kit and a variable rotary polisher with a 2” extender, that would make polishing them easier with better results but you’d still have to get the hard to reach nook and crannys by hand or with something else
This Generation is all about less work better out come I get it but some times well most times you get what you put in to something just like you get what you pay for. I spent close to 12hr Polishing my forks on my bike it was nice seeing the difference when done People still ask me who done this for me when I tell them I get that look haha Hard work always pays off IMO Cruising The Land My comment wasn't pointed at you your doing the hard part finding what works best for you new sub thanks
I used Diet Sprite on my griddles in my college job at the dining center in the early 90s. I would get a pitcher from the soda fountains, turn off the griddles, pour that on the hot surface and hit with a scrubby pad. The combination of steam and whatever the hell is in the diet sprite (no sugar), would get those surfaces clean and shiny. Scrub edge to edge, corner to corner, scrub the back and side splash, and coat with cooking oil to keep the surface fresh. Stuff worked a treat. My wife didn't believe me, so I brought some home and cleaned the bottom of a pan with it, still works fine.
Oh firstly that's an off-road vehicle and secondly clear coat chips and peels from dirt and micro fractures due to regular road damage just to start clear coat is not designed for wheels and only used on wheels with base coat clear coat paint hardener and a few other additives to make the paint or clear coat more durable, and resistant to afore mentioned damages, and then thirdly it's very expensive,
I used to polish my aluminum motorcycle engine side covers with Simichrome on a Turkish towel. It came in a tube like toothpaste. Lotta elbow grease but it came out nice. Now I don't even bother. Have a 1999 Jeep and it's only been washed twice in 20 years.
My part 2 to this video and feedback will feature a product that may require the least amount of elbow grease, with great results... I am excited to apply to a set of aluminum rims I just picked up for $100... going to make them look like $1500. Stay tuned!
The Zepher wheels and compound is a TON of work!! I’m a detailer and I quoted a horse trailer to wheel out for 3000. Bro OMG. It literally took me 3 weeks and went home black from head to toe with aluminum compound dust. It was an easy 5000 dollar job
I've been detailing for over 33 years. The best for aluminum restoration is Barkeeper's Friend. I have a video playlist where I detail a Barrett Jackson Auto Auction Car, and I use Barkeeper's Friend on the aluminum and chrome.
The zephyr is definitely the best product I polished my entire boat with it but you need a good high rpm grinder to get the best result and they also sell a rake to clean those wheels so you don't get dirt and whatnot in the wheel
Must have never tried menzerna. I’ve used keystone, zephyr, renegade, maverick, etc. the best you will get your hands on is menzerna hands down period.
@@CruisingTheLand Mendenhall? If you mean menzerna I use menzerna 439T to cut with, menzerna 480BLF to color with, & p175 to finish with. I use matchless buffs, or Osborn since matchless sold out to them.. hit me up on Instagram @1_wide_obs if you want to see some work I’ve done or want some links to what I use or tips and tricks that will be very helpful to a beginner.
Great work and info on the issues around how to get aluminum rims polished. I used this info to buy the reccomended items and proceeded with polishing my rims on my 73 Vette ...!!! what a difference! thanks for your time taken to build this video!!! GM
I've got a set of those exact Wheels, and I can tell you mine are damaged worse than those it looks like somebody sprayed something on them trying to clean them or something that it shouldn't have and the only thing to even put a dent in it so far is 1000 grit sandpaper I got to do that before I can even think about polishing it for real I'd love for them to look as good as yours turned out
He should’ve put the degreaser on it first to get better grip it makes the metal extra crusty after hit it with that red chock polish and the grinder as you claim 6000 RPMs and have a green chock polish to finish it up once you don’t see any black from finishing using a red chock then you hit with your softest polisher wheel and the green chock are wonderful mirror finish used to work at a truck stop and these truckers are serious about their polish
@@CruisingTheLand I just used it with a green brillo pad. You can order the brightner from orileys auto parts. $17 a gallon. I cut mine 50/50 with water.
I have some aluminum wheels that have been sitting on the side of the house... some 16s Ultra wheels that are oxidized. You are inspiring me to post a video trying the Purple Power and polish these wheels...
@@CruisingTheLand If the 50/50 mix is struggling then go full strength. You know it's working if there is a thin white foam. I started mixing it 1 to 4 and worked my way up in strength. I put it on dry metal. Don't rinse first.
I always use mothers for aluminum , And don’t let mothers dry up the wetter the better just like when you’re buffing a car you don’t wait till the buffing wax dries you’ll get black like you won’t believe yes it would be messy
should have flashed the wheels with zepp aluminum cleaner 5:1 ratio before the polishing. That’s how I do it in my 18 wheeler rims. After that I rub the mother’s aluminum polish with blue shop towels. But even that takes along time because I’m doing it by hand. Good work tho 👍🏼👍🏼
Good advice. I did a followup part 2 video to this one, using some suggested products in the comments. And that 2nd time, used a acid wash to prep the wheels. It didn't make a huge difference, just helped the cleaning process getting grime and debris off the wheels.
I agree with a combination of 1) zephyr and 2) blue magic.. ..yea it takes extra time and awkward with the drill angles with the zephyr but it really pays off.... Your rims would have come out more shiny... I got mine to a mirror finish...
Does it matter how you polish aluminum wheels inside, around a bead, when you change a tire? I cleaned all the dirt around the bead w/120-150 sand paper using oscillating tool and a small (1") metallic wheel on a drill. I planned to go after w/400 and 600 grit, but now think, maybe all that can effect the perfection of the sealing of the tire (I'll use the tire grease of course, when mount a new one back). I would appreciate any opinions on this matter. On the outer face of the wheel I'll definitely follow the procedure described in this wonderful film. Thank you.
@@CruisingTheLand Thanks a lot for a quick replay. This is my first tire I'm changing, so I don't know much about details of this work. I see people on youtube mostly use large wire brushes. I started from the one (cooper, it was very slow and not much removing the dark spots (better to say lines) above the bead). Since it was my first tire I scratched a bit the aluminum rim, when removing the bottom (inner) part of the tire. I found a film how to remove the scratches (like when you hit the curb) and started to polish in the way described before (120, 240, 360, 400, 600) w/oscillating tool and a triangular attachment (small, 2"). It worked really well, so I tried to remove the dark lines above the bead as well with that triangular attachment and a pad 120. All the dark came off in the blink of the eye, though I went above the surface very slightly and accurately. Also 1" small wheel, where the sand paper could not reach. Everything came out sparkling clean after rather easy and quick procedure, but I was in great doubts if all that is correct and how should be done. So I'll follow w/360, 400, and 800 (I don't have 600 currently) and I'll be done. I think it is better not to apply polishing pastes (I have both and Mother and Blue) inside around the bead, since it can interfere somehow w/bead *tire) grease. But maybe it will just polish better? I mean to apply it, polish and then wash out before you apply the tire grease. That is my last question. Thank you very much again.
Watch the 2nd video. White Diamond was already recommended and I tried it. It was actually the worse. If used alone with nothing to compare it to, someone would think it was good. But if you use Blue Magic beside it, it is night and day! Then you'd realize just how bright your wheels can become. Blue Magic creates dark black tarnish on the microfiber, the white diamond was light grey. You can even smell that blue Magic is very pungent and strong, White diamond is not and smells like vanilla. You want Vanilla wheels? th-cam.com/video/HixZtEO0cTI/w-d-xo.html
Hey Glover, but you are a detailer and not a DWYER. The Zephyr kit is pricey, and high speed grinder required. Stay tuned, going to post another product against the Blue Magic and Zephyr with a high speed polisher.
I started out as a do-it-yourselfer having the right equipment is most of the battle you don't need the whole kit to do the job go watch Evans detail and polishing what are the top polishers in the country he will give you the best tips and tricks
The drill doesn't produce enough RPM to polish because the heat created helps to cut and polish the rim and rubbing it directly on from the Rouge compound was really a epic fail , then you need a polishing rake to clean the airway pad , you need a grinder to properly polish and you will be SURPRISED how fast that rim cleans up . That aluminum will look like stainless steel or chrome .
Any suggestions on cleaning up sealed aluminum rims without stripping the clear or is that the only option? If I have to strip them I might just paint them. What your thought on painting aluminum? Thanks
You would have to get through that clear coat layer to the aluminum and polish. I am.not a fan of clear coating.. just maintain the polish, if you let it go too long, then its a big job. If you paint, you will need to do an epoxy layer first.
True dat. If you druve just one, everyday, it could become predictable. So nice for a variety, as they all drive different and you always look forward to driving a different one. But I also have a couple cars of the non-Toyota variety.
The best paste polish I have used is semi-chrome I used to have old Triumph motorcycles that had high polished aluminum covers and it would make them look like chrome with a blue haze maybe more like nickle shined up also flitz worked pretty good but not as good as semi-chrome both of those put mothers mag wheel to shame not even close just for a comparison the never-dull was ok too it just did not go as far and was not able to be worked in like a paste.
You were very close with the WD40. I was recently trying to loosen engine bolts and I over sprayed PB Blaster on to the aluminum valve cover. 90% of the crud came off> Then I found this sanding paper kit 7 Sheet Variety Pack (.3, 1, 3, 9, 12, 30 and 40 microns) Lapping Microfinishing Film Aluminum Oxide (AO) 8-1/2 x 11 Inches. I was able to put a mirror (I mean mirror ) finish on a hardened knife blade.
thanks for the video i am making my grandson a rat rod but with class lol and i have old school alum mags and i restored one it was very time consuming your video helped thanks
Great. Glad to hear.. Polishing wheels is definitely not a wipe on wipe off deal. It takes time, but important to use good products and powered tools to get the the most out of your time.
And a lot of pressure actually does more harm than good polishing is more about speed than just about anything else keep in mind almost every single polishing process you can do removes very miniscule amounts of material
@@CruisingTheLand You may be entirely correct. After all, that method was a very common urban legend in the 80's, and the decade of decadence is known for its love of that drug!
You don't... toss them. They have specials at Pep Boys or other auto stores for new Microfiber towels... Sometimes I take detail spray towels and degrade them down to wheel duty,
Just did my wheels.. They were about as bad as yours. White vinegar really helped get the oxidation off. I used scotch bright pads followed by a power ball and mothers. They look fairly good.
"Aluminum" wheels used to be nicknamed "mags" and "alloy" because they are an alloy of two homogenous metals, aluminum and magnesium. Either metal by itself wouldn't be suitable; aluminum is too soft, magnesium is too brittle- but mixed in the correct ratio, you get a strong, lightweight rim.
I don’t use a buffing wheel at all anymore for anything but the lip of the wheel. Just soap and water and I start with 320 then 400, then 600 and finally 1500. I then use the soap and water with the mothers and 2000 grit. I finish with mothers and cheap paper towels NOT the good stuff. The cheap stuff works better. With a silicone sealer to top it off. I use a combination flat and rounded wood rasp file for severe curb rash and sand out the file marks with 200 grit. To get to a jewelry like, wet looking mirror finish, in one complete process from start to finish without wandering around. It’s a dirty laborious process No matter What that takes about 10+ hours per wheel that’s in rough condition. Just did a set for my Chevelle and they look show quality after thirty years of being beat on. If they weren’t unobtainium I wouldn’t have bothered. Those wheels are good for a truck type finish though. I don’t think I’d go any further either.
@@waynehardy6186 clear is a double edged sword. They look great until they don't. I've had a lot of Clearcoated wheels. Over time the Clear gets hazy and chips. Once they get some age on them, and show it, it's a pain in the rear to make them look decent again.
But they're still not as shiny, mirror finish as the aluminum on big rigs I've seen t the truck-stops. I 've noticed that there the polishing operators used the multi-color wheels and cutting cakes. I've bought those and used them on my Peterbilt 372 and they came out after a week of messaging them no better than your's did with a million$ of chemicals and foam. So, what are they using at the truck stop to achieve those mirror finishes? I was under load so I couldn't stand around to see the entire process. Thanks for the Video and effort! JD
I hear ya. You used the expensive stuff and results aren't as good as a professional shop. I believe they have 6000rpm grinders, so its about the speed. I will be posting a follow up with a high speed grinder, but also a couple polishes recommended by some viewers, so subscribe and stay posted!
JD I could give anyone the same materials I use to get that mirror shine the grinder the rouge bars and airway buffing wheels and they still ain’t gonna get mirror results. It takes practice man all about experience one day it’ll finally click and take off for you.
I don’t understand I grew up polishing many many many aluminum wheels from being almost corroded to a mirror finish / chrome in 30min using a few pieces of denim and mothers only 🤔
Let us know about your polishing project or any products you used not mentioned in this video.
Here is the Part 2 video of the products you recommended in the comments to try:
Polishing Aluminum Wheels: 4 Products Tested 1 Winner🏆
th-cam.com/video/HixZtEO0cTI/w-d-xo.html
Comments suggested: White Diamond, a re-try on Zephyr with a 3000rpm grinder, and a new product on the market!
Flitz was suggested too, but immediately argued by others to be a waste... 👀 Check it out!
Uui😅
Nice looking rim and tire set up. 👌
Flitz
If you ever have an entire week with nothing to do lol, wet sand the wheel with 220, 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1200, 1500 and 2000 grit. Then polish with the Mother's and then the Blue Magic. I did that on a set of wheels back in the day and they looked chrome when I was done. Then I said I'd never do that again.
Lol.. I love your final sentence."Then I said I'd never do it again" I agree with you, the outcome is amazing, but the labor involved! Been there. That's why I now go drill, cutting pads and minimize the labor... sure its 80% of perfection but at least you still have 80% of the weekend left...
Lmao I said the same thing
Just pay someone $1500 lol.
Did you do that all by hand? Or were power tools involved?
@@r32marcus I didn’t have any power tools back then, did all 4 by hand 😵
Back in '67/'68 I was stationed at a USAF base that had many VIP planes. Needless to say we polished A LOT! We found the easiest way to remove the black after polishing, was to sprinkle flour on the first wiping cloth. It absorbed the black rather than relocating it. Then us another clean cloth ,for final buff.
Nice. Ok the flour trick. Will give it a go.
@@CruisingTheLandhow did that work out
The wife came home with new rims from junk yard for her g35 infinity,I looked and looked to find best videos to wat by for the best product cause I know aluminum is not resist to polish from expierance!thank you for doing the dirty work and the sequence in which the final product is excellent
After years of polishing aluminum semi wheels for years, I can guarantee you the zephyr is going to give you your very best result. The problem being your drill is not going to work. You can use a 3000 rpm grinder but preferably a 6000 rpm. That alone with some easy prep work could have those polished to near mirror finish in no time flat. The very best prep is aluminum brightener or "acid" pre polish. If they are pitted or have curb rash you will want to sand aswell.
Hi Matthew, good advice. Only for the vast majority of DIYers, having a 6000rpm grinder is unlikely. Also the semi wheels have space to work with, these 15" wheels don't have much space to get all areas.What brand grinder do you recommend? I will post another video for those that have or want to give buy a grinder. Just like in detailing a car, good old fashion elbow grease, is no comparison to an orbital polisher, and especially for aluminum wheels, you want to generate spinning speed and heat.
Ive got a Dewalt 3000 and a makita 6000. There are "arbor bits" you can get to take the wheel out from the body of the grinder. For just cleaning them up nice a 3000 would be sufficient in my opinion. I totally understand where you're at though. I started out polishing my trucks with whatever I could get my hands on when I was a kid starting out.
Same here I'm 16 and been doing it using renegade and matchless for 3 years or so and sanding figured out how to get out white lines on flat surfaces too like boxes and fronts and backs of fuel tanks
I run 8500 sometimes but usually 3500 need a 6000 grinder
tHANK yOU, Now we know! JD
I have used Blue Magic for years it is the best product for aluminum I have found .
Yep.
Back in the mid 80's when I was in high school and mini trucks were really popular, I had taken the old 1971 Datsun truck dad gave me, and detailed the engine. Those old Datsuns had a lot of polishable parts on the engine. I started with the valve cover and sanded the corrosion and some of the casting imperfections out of it. Then worked my way to finer sandpaper. Being I was new to metal polishing, I tried many different products and techniques. The best I've found to use on your first buffing and even 2nd and 3rd is the Mothers brand aluminum polish. It seems to get the initial polish to the surface the best. The Blue Magic is great for the final to give more of a mirror finish. Its like my auto shop teacher said, there's nothing like the shine that aluminum has compared to chrome. A good polished aluminum engine detailing looks awesome. I eventually polished every piece of aluminum you can see when you opened the hood. People said you could eat off my engine! Lol. 😋
It did take time to get it "perfect". Many times after school and work I would hand polish all of it. Each time looking better and better.
Great video of your findings of products and techniques. The key is the sanding working your way up even to 1000/1200 grit. The buffing process is alot easier too.
I have revived CD and DVD disks by sanding them and working up to wet sanding with 1200 then use a buffer on a bench grinder. I have a bar of rouge made for acrylic polishing and it makes the disc shiny again. Blue Magic works also. You just need to be careful and use light pressure on buffing wheel or you'll start melting the acrylic/plastic and ruin it. Keep the disc moving, don't hold in one spot on the wheel.
Wd-40 is a good way to get tar/tack oil off of aluminum without scratching them up. Takes awhile but it works. I use it on my uncles dumptrucks then wash them with dawn or some wheel cleaner to get the greasiness off.
i have a lot of alluminum to keep up and something i learned from the best pollisher around....after you pull as much black as you can off starting to shine...but little bit cloudy [ no matter the brand of polish ] finally as shiny as u can rub it.... take regular white cooking flour [ gold seal ] and a new microfibre cloth rub down polished area blow off and notice the shine doubled i also use the flour as a touch up when im lazy....
Will try that! Just got another set of aluminium wheels in.
Look at white diamond metal polish. I polished a 23 year old pontoon. Both sides, it had sat in a carport with the sun shining on out without moving since 2008. I know this becsyse it was my grandparents. I used white diamond Abd was completely finished to a mirrored shine in less than an hour. It was unbelievable.
take a 3/8” longer bolt and cut a 1” slot in one end,from the end, then cut Emory cloth down to that cut length. Put it in the drill and wind the cloth in the same direction as your drill spin. Keep centered at higher speeds. Acts like a honer
1. White Diamond it's what most truckers use. 2 Flitz works good too. But my main go-to is white diamond, its great even just by hand.
So in the part 2 followup video, we tried some suggested products, one of which was White diamond and it performed poorly compared to the others..
That video is pinned to the first comment or in the description.
Blue magic was much better, easier and brilliant than white diamond 💎
White diamond for me as well it literally pulls the black out of the aluminum effortlessly and turns to mirror super quick
i run a roll off truck hauling commerical trash and i only use zephyr pro 40 and all my wheels sparkle one of the best i came across so far
Yes the Pro40 is a really great polish. I found the Blue Magic to be same.
Order some Gord's aluminum, chrome & stainless/cleaner, polish and sealer. I used it on a set of 15 year old MT wheels and it worked great.
Being a metal polisher and paint correction professional, this was quite endearing to watch :) that drill DOES not have the guts to manipulate the heat it requires to polish metal.. yes, polishing metal requires heat, that's why theres 3k and 6k buffers. But great job nonetheless !
Thanks. You are right, speed is King for polishing, especially when using the Zephyr.
I notice that most guys that polished all the wheels and brightwork on semi trucks at truckstops would use grinders with different type pads and they would look pretty good afterwards.
Yeah I just attempted to polish a set of deep dish 15x10 Pro Comp Series 69 wheels that came on my truck I bought a couple years ago and just found this out 😅
Used Mother's and their Powerball 2 with my Hitachi cordless (I'm 40, but when I moved about 8yrs ago I literally sold all my good construction tools I obtained throughout the years, so I only have the bare minimum) and while they look a hell of a lot better than what they looked like when I bought the truck (97 GMC k1500 RCSB Z71 with a 6" lift), I still wouldn't consider them to be "polished " lol. I did consider painting them black, but figured polishing would have a longer lasting, and easier to keep look 😅
Hahaha! Power one, Power two... got me laughing out loud with my morning coffee... Thanks.
These rims are American Racing (Gambler) model AR-52. They were designed to have a “Machined finish”, Not a polished rim like let’s say a Weld Super Single 2.
I’ve always used Flitz and a high speed drill and polishing wheel turns out great every time!
I know a lot of truckers and they keep their aluminum wheels like chrome with some stuff called Wicked and elbow grease. That and a ball is perfect...!
I will search for wicked and try that in my next video!
Thanks for the info . I bought all the different supplies about two months ago and have been hesitating on doing the experiment on what works the best thanks for saving me all that time .
I am restoring restaurant equipment so I think it will be lot easier than wheels for sure .. By the way it is called Silver Billet not Bullet :)
I have a video on restoring my BBG stainless steel grill. Very different than aluminum wheels. Different products. You should check it out. Its in the channel.
I just finished polishing wheels on my transport truck that had a million miles. I used the mothers mag and aluminum polish. I my case my job was alot easier when I stopped using Microfiber rags, and just used white terrycloths to apply and buff it off. Took me approx 2.5hr to do all 6 wheels by hand.
Nice.
Sometimes a good ol Terrycloth will get the job done. Maybe being a little more rough helps when polishing by hand. You are a trooper for doing a transport truck wheels by hand. I deifinitely would have given in to a drill.
@@CruisingTheLand my intentions were to do a little spot just to see what it would've looked like, then I got a little carried away lol
I have polished my aluminum wheels to mirror finish using sandpaper but you have to wet sand. I used warm water and just a splash of dawn dish soap for lubrication in a spray bottle and worked all the way up to 3000 grit sandpaper it was alot of work but results were awesome then I taped off the wheels and painted the cut outs which were original gun metal gray with VHT blue anodized spray paint which is unbelievable and BTW if you go for the anodized color coat paint you have to spray with silver base coat first or the anodized effect doesn't come thru I get compliments on them everywhere I go nobody believes that they are the stock wheels on my silvedado. Alot of work but the sense of accomplishment is worth it
That actually sounds awesome. Do you have an Instagram or somewhere we can see pics of the wheels? I may do an update video, just picked up some new Wheels, and try a couple suggestions. May even try the cutout idea like you are talking about. Aluminum wheels are great. You can pick some up that are 50 years old, and bring them back to like new! I buy them for $100 and revitalize them. My 14.5 wide super deep dish ones that came off a K5 Blazer (with Mickey Thompson swampers) i bought for $300, brought them back to life, and enjoyed them for a year.or so, then sold them for $1400
th-cam.com/video/Wul3RLWHKmc/w-d-xo.html
Awesome about enjoying wheels for awhile and turning big profit. And sorry but no I don't have Instagram or Facebook. I also bought the Zephyr polishing kit and I agree that it is alot of work and very dirty I had to wear gloves a respirator and long-sleeved shirt and it was still a mess. I put in many hours and tried multiple methods and the wet sanding worked best and I finished the polishing by using some never dull wadding dipped in mothers aluminum polish and worked that in a bit and then a 6" harbor freight dual action polisher with a finish buffing pad that I pre loaded with some mothers. It is cool to watch videos that others have had the same kind of trials and tribulations that I have. I appreciate you and if I can figure out a way to post some pics I will get back with you
Nothing beats the zephyr polishing. First off youre not using the correct wheel with the emery rouge you should be using a sisal wheel and secondly youre not spinning the drill fast enough. If its done correctly it makes short work out of it with minimal effort.
^^^^^^^This is all true!! You can also use a loose leaf cotton wheel with white diamonds and it will be like a mirror! But you need an actual buffer for sure!!!!
I’ve had really good luck with flitz polish and the power ball.
Flitz is the king of metal polishing, especially aluminum rims or wheels. The secret is in the pre-cleaning.
Silvo on Aluminum throttle body works wonders!
Came for tips on the centerline wheels on my 66 Chevelle, subbed for the land cruisers. I have 3 fj60’s. Quality content. Thanks.
Mothers had a polish called Billet Polish. It's been discontinued probably because it was very pricey. I spoke to a tech last year and I was told they're bringing it back under a different name but it hasn't come out yet. That stuff was gold!
I have some Centerlines from the 90s with the allen-bolt bolt-on center caps, some Centerlines I bought around the year 2000, and some 16" dually Alcoas from the 80s.
Their billet polish was literally wipe on wipe off no effort done in 5 minutes per wheel.... and I'm talking about taking a foggy/hazy wheel to chrome mirror in minutes. Wipe on wipe off. I loved that stuff. I manage an auto parts store, one day I tried to clean my wheels in the parking lot and everything else I used actually hazed my wheels. I panicked and tried every product in the store until I got to the pricey mothers billet polish, boom instant restore to as new show shine. I've been a believer ever since. I buy up the old product whenever I can to keep my Centerlines looking perfecto with zero effort.
For the zephyrs wheels you really need the better airway kit and a variable rotary polisher with a 2” extender, that would make polishing them easier with better results but you’d still have to get the hard to reach nook and crannys by hand or with something else
You DEFINITELY need the full kit , that grinder makes it a night & day difference in effect and effort
This Generation is all about less work better out come I get it but some times well most times you get what you put in to something just like you get what you pay for. I spent close to 12hr Polishing my forks on my bike it was nice seeing the difference when done People still ask me who done this for me when I tell them I get that look haha Hard work always pays off IMO Cruising The Land My comment wasn't pointed at you your doing the hard part finding what works best for you new sub thanks
I used Diet Sprite on my griddles in my college job at the dining center in the early 90s. I would get a pitcher from the soda fountains, turn off the griddles, pour that on the hot surface and hit with a scrubby pad. The combination of steam and whatever the hell is in the diet sprite (no sugar), would get those surfaces clean and shiny. Scrub edge to edge, corner to corner, scrub the back and side splash, and coat with cooking oil to keep the surface fresh. Stuff worked a treat. My wife didn't believe me, so I brought some home and cleaned the bottom of a pan with it, still works fine.
Super interesting.. will give it a try
Audience, I'm going to go with all black wheels on my all black jeep wrangler with a lift kit. You did a good video. Kudos...
I am glad to see you used the Blue Magic, I been using that for years. Great video.
White diamond polish seems to work on my Micky Thompson 2 wheels
Remove the wax and spray clear coat then you won't have to buff all the time just wash and wax every so often.. Great Video..
Oh firstly that's an off-road vehicle and secondly clear coat chips and peels from dirt and micro fractures due to regular road damage just to start clear coat is not designed for wheels and only used on wheels with base coat clear coat paint hardener and a few other additives to make the paint or clear coat more durable, and resistant to afore mentioned damages, and then thirdly it's very expensive,
I used to polish my aluminum motorcycle engine side covers with Simichrome on a Turkish towel. It came in a tube like toothpaste. Lotta elbow grease but it came out nice.
Now I don't even bother. Have a 1999 Jeep and it's only been washed twice in 20 years.
I'm getting kinda too old these days 🥴
My part 2 to this video and feedback will feature a product that may require the least amount of elbow grease, with great results... I am excited to apply to a set of aluminum rims I just picked up for $100... going to make them look like $1500. Stay tuned!
The Zepher wheels and compound is a TON of work!! I’m a detailer and I quoted a horse trailer to wheel out for 3000. Bro OMG. It literally took me 3 weeks and went home black from head to toe with aluminum compound dust. It was an easy 5000 dollar job
I've been detailing for over 33 years. The best for aluminum restoration is Barkeeper's Friend. I have a video playlist where I detail a Barrett Jackson Auto Auction Car, and I use Barkeeper's Friend on the aluminum and chrome.
The zephyr is definitely the best product I polished my entire boat with it but you need a good high rpm grinder to get the best result and they also sell a rake to clean those wheels so you don't get dirt and whatnot in the wheel
Must have never tried menzerna. I’ve used keystone, zephyr, renegade, maverick, etc. the best you will get your hands on is menzerna hands down period.
So what Mendenhall Product? The rouge wheel, or the SP4500?
@@CruisingTheLand Mendenhall? If you mean menzerna I use menzerna 439T to cut with, menzerna 480BLF to color with, & p175 to finish with. I use matchless buffs, or Osborn since matchless sold out to them.. hit me up on Instagram @1_wide_obs if you want to see some work I’ve done or want some links to what I use or tips and tricks that will be very helpful to a beginner.
Great work and info on the issues around how to get aluminum rims polished. I used this info to buy the reccomended items and proceeded with polishing my rims on my 73 Vette ...!!! what a difference! thanks for your time taken to build this video!!! GM
Awesome! Glad it helped!
Time saver, but better yet, great results.
I've got a set of those exact Wheels, and I can tell you mine are damaged worse than those it looks like somebody sprayed something on them trying to clean them or something that it shouldn't have and the only thing to even put a dent in it so far is 1000 grit sandpaper I got to do that before I can even think about polishing it for real I'd love for them to look as good as yours turned out
Thanks for your video. I had a airplane that was polishing aluminum To wipe it og I used flour to pick up the oxidation.
That sounds like a big job!
Did you mix it with water and make paste or how does the flower work?
He should’ve put the degreaser on it first to get better grip it makes the metal extra crusty after hit it with that red chock polish and the grinder as you claim 6000 RPMs and have a green chock polish to finish it up once you don’t see any black from finishing using a red chock then you hit with your softest polisher wheel and the green chock are wonderful mirror finish used to work at a truck stop and these truckers are serious about their polish
The blue magic works amazing. I used it this past weekend.
Glad to hear.. it really does.
It also was the best in a follow up video comparing to white diamond and dura coat.
I love the black nails...absolutely gorgeous set!
Lol! I have learned to wear gloves now!
Purple Power 1 Gallon Aluminum Brightener 4120P. Start with this and it will make things go faster. Use gloves, eye protection and a respirator.
Good tip. Will try
@@CruisingTheLand I just used it with a green brillo pad. You can order the brightner from orileys auto parts. $17 a gallon. I cut mine 50/50 with water.
I have some aluminum wheels that have been sitting on the side of the house... some 16s Ultra wheels that are oxidized. You are inspiring me to post a video trying the Purple Power and polish these wheels...
@@CruisingTheLand If the 50/50 mix is struggling then go full strength. You know it's working if there is a thin white foam. I started mixing it 1 to 4 and worked my way up in strength. I put it on dry metal. Don't rinse first.
@@RisingMoon697 got it. Going to order it tomorrow.
I always use mothers for aluminum , And don’t let mothers dry up the wetter the better just like when you’re buffing a car you don’t wait till the buffing wax dries you’ll get black like you won’t believe yes it would be messy
I found mothers was best on chrome, just like you say, dont let it dry out.
should have flashed the wheels with zepp aluminum cleaner 5:1 ratio before the polishing. That’s how I do it in my 18 wheeler rims. After that I rub the mother’s aluminum polish with blue shop towels. But even that takes along time because I’m doing it by hand. Good work tho 👍🏼👍🏼
Good advice. I did a followup part 2 video to this one, using some suggested products in the comments. And that 2nd time, used a acid wash to prep the wheels. It didn't make a huge difference, just helped the cleaning process getting grime and debris off the wheels.
very clear and articulate, detail where needed, not enough material of such quality found elsewhere, Thank you!
I agree with a combination of 1) zephyr and 2) blue magic.. ..yea it takes extra time and awkward with the drill angles with the zephyr but it really pays off.... Your rims would have come out more shiny... I got mine to a mirror finish...
Bro... great vid...you got me tired just watching
Does it matter how you polish aluminum wheels inside, around a bead, when you change a tire? I cleaned all the dirt around the bead w/120-150 sand paper using oscillating tool and a small (1") metallic wheel on a drill. I planned to go after w/400 and 600 grit, but now think, maybe all that can effect the perfection of the sealing of the tire (I'll use the tire grease of course, when mount a new one back). I would appreciate any opinions on this matter. On the outer face of the wheel I'll definitely follow the procedure described in this wonderful film. Thank you.
The tire will seat to the rim fine. You doneant to sand corrosion, for a better seal.
@@CruisingTheLand Thanks a lot for a quick replay. This is my first tire I'm changing, so I don't know much about details of this work. I see people on youtube mostly use large wire brushes. I started from the one (cooper, it was very slow and not much removing the dark spots (better to say lines) above the bead). Since it was my first tire I scratched a bit the aluminum rim, when removing the bottom (inner) part of the tire. I found a film how to remove the scratches (like when you hit the curb) and started to polish in the way described before (120, 240, 360, 400, 600) w/oscillating tool and a triangular attachment (small, 2"). It worked really well, so I tried to remove the dark lines above the bead as well with that triangular attachment and a pad 120. All the dark came off in the blink of the eye, though I went above the surface very slightly and accurately. Also 1" small wheel, where the sand paper could not reach. Everything came out sparkling clean after rather easy and quick procedure, but I was in great doubts if all that is correct and how should be done. So I'll follow w/360, 400, and 800 (I don't have 600 currently) and I'll be done. I think it is better not to apply polishing pastes (I have both and Mother and Blue) inside around the bead, since it can interfere somehow w/bead *tire) grease. But maybe it will just polish better? I mean to apply it, polish and then wash out before you apply the tire grease. That is my last question. Thank you very much again.
Ok , Try mother’s Billet Metal Polish, it works way better then anything you have tried , Thanks for the video
Sand and keystone or zephyr buffing wheels is where it’s at if you want a mirror finish
I have some of that old product you can have but there's nothing like white diamond metal polish should try and Powerball and cord drill work wonders
Watch the 2nd video. White Diamond was already recommended and I tried it. It was actually the worse. If used alone with nothing to compare it to, someone would think it was good. But if you use Blue Magic beside it, it is night and day! Then you'd realize just how bright your wheels can become. Blue Magic creates dark black tarnish on the microfiber, the white diamond was light grey. You can even smell that blue Magic is very pungent and strong, White diamond is not and smells like vanilla. You want Vanilla wheels?
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Looks great! My wheels have factory clear coat on them . Do yours also? Are you taking that off first?
what is the correct RPM for polishing aluminum? it is different from paint
I could have polished all four of them out in an hour to a show quality shine using the Zephyr and the right grinder Glover's detail and polishing
Hey Glover, but you are a detailer and not a DWYER. The Zephyr kit is pricey, and high speed grinder required. Stay tuned, going to post another product against the Blue Magic and Zephyr with a high speed polisher.
I started out as a do-it-yourselfer having the right equipment is most of the battle you don't need the whole kit to do the job go watch Evans detail and polishing what are the top polishers in the country he will give you the best tips and tricks
My vintage UFO has lost its luster, not sure of which planet its bonnet originated from 🛸🔭
The drill doesn't produce enough RPM to polish because the heat created helps to cut and polish the rim and rubbing it directly on from the Rouge compound was really a epic fail , then you need a polishing rake to clean the airway pad , you need a grinder to properly polish and you will be SURPRISED how fast that rim cleans up . That aluminum will look like stainless steel or chrome .
Great Video Bro , Good Narration. ✌
The clay and polishing wheels putting it on a multi speed grinder it goes pretty quick.
Any suggestions on cleaning up sealed aluminum rims without stripping the clear or is that the only option? If I have to strip them I might just paint them. What your thought on painting aluminum? Thanks
You would have to get through that clear coat layer to the aluminum and polish. I am.not a fan of clear coating.. just maintain the polish, if you let it go too long, then its a big job.
If you paint, you will need to do an epoxy layer first.
Thanks!!
What kind of wheels did you polish? Would like to get some
ALUMINUM Wheels
They are American Racing copy of centerline champ 500.
Great video!!! Took all the guessing out the work. Thanks 🤙🏽
The chrome polish is the best one it has fine grit in it that cuts through the aluminum turning the aluminum rim into a glass light finish
I use Easy Off oven cleaner. Works fantastic!!
Bigger battery does not provide more power it provides longer run time.
I have tested it... the bigger battery give more torque, not speed.
Great video. 💥. I could be wrong but you might have bit of an obsession with land cruisers 😝👍
True dat.
If you druve just one, everyday, it could become predictable. So nice for a variety, as they all drive different and you always look forward to driving a different one.
But I also have a couple cars of the non-Toyota variety.
The best paste polish I have used is semi-chrome I used to have old Triumph motorcycles that had high polished aluminum covers and it would make them look like chrome with a blue haze maybe more like nickle shined up also flitz worked pretty good but not as good as semi-chrome both of those put mothers mag wheel to shame not even close just for a comparison the never-dull was ok too it just did not go as far and was not able to be worked in like a paste.
I will try semi chrome
You were very close with the WD40.
I was recently trying to loosen engine bolts and I over sprayed PB Blaster on to the aluminum valve cover. 90% of the crud came off>
Then I found this sanding paper kit
7 Sheet Variety Pack (.3, 1, 3, 9, 12, 30 and 40 microns) Lapping Microfinishing Film Aluminum Oxide (AO) 8-1/2 x 11 Inches.
I was able to put a mirror (I mean mirror ) finish on a hardened knife blade.
he’s right it won’t be long till you do
That's right, it's the ants, lol! But, take it from an older dude, Coke changed it's formula some yrs. ago ....it's the "old Coke" that ate nails!!
Lol! Old Coke had some bite!
Probably the real cane sugar vs corn fructose.
Real "Coke" ...😜
thanks for the video i am making my grandson a rat rod but with class lol and i have old school alum mags and i restored one it was very time consuming your video helped thanks
Great. Glad to hear..
Polishing wheels is definitely not a wipe on wipe off deal. It takes time, but important to use good products and powered tools to get the the most out of your time.
No matter what or how you go about polishing it is labor intensive
And a lot of pressure actually does more harm than good polishing is more about speed than just about anything else keep in mind almost every single polishing process you can do removes very miniscule amounts of material
@@topchoppers7980 yes true. I just posted a followup polishing to that one, with some other products...
I've always heard the trick to using coke is to couple it aluminum foil as a scrubbing pad. I've never tested it, though.
I think the person who came up with that way, was actually on coke.
@@CruisingTheLand You may be entirely correct. After all, that method was a very common urban legend in the 80's, and the decade of decadence is known for its love of that drug!
Your technique maybe easier , but the zephyr 3 stage kit followed by the 40 series . Will leave a mirror finish on the wheels if done right.
I use white diamond on my semi truck wheels and tanks. It does very well with no much effort.
Thank you for this video. The explanation was very helpful! Excellent pointers.
Thanks!
Good idea on using steel wool with the mothers, I usually cut it wit gasoline.
Thank you so much for your invaluable information, highly appreciate it, keep it up the outstanding job, have a great day.
I used to use coke to clean my Brilliam Copper Goof Clubs. I would soak them over night, with very little work after the soaking
Thanks for putting this on. Massive help.
good video. how do you clean your microfibre towels after you get them so dirty?
You don't... toss them.
They have specials at Pep Boys or other auto stores for new Microfiber towels...
Sometimes I take detail spray towels and degrade them down to wheel duty,
Just did my wheels.. They were about as bad as yours. White vinegar really helped get the oxidation off. I used scotch bright pads followed by a power ball and mothers. They look fairly good.
Beautiful fleet ya got there
Thanks
Thanks! Added a couple diesel JDM landcruisers since this video...
The first cruiser is pretty cool wheels are cool and old school what are they?
The Green FJ40 with the Black wheels, or the Grey/Blue FJ62 with the aluminum wheels?
What brand rims are the ones you polish in the video? I just bought a set identical this morning
They are bullet style, likely many companies made these, most notably Ultra wheel. But if you get Alcoas, then you hit pay dirt.
Thanks for sharing 👍
"Aluminum" wheels used to be nicknamed "mags" and "alloy" because they are
an alloy of two homogenous metals, aluminum and magnesium. Either metal
by itself wouldn't be suitable; aluminum is too soft, magnesium is too brittle-
but mixed in the correct ratio, you get a strong, lightweight rim.
That's is cool! Thanks for sharing. makes sense.
@@CruisingTheLand You're very welcome, young man!
Really enjoyed this, gave me the confidence to buy some products. Thanks so much!
You are so welcome!
I don’t use a buffing wheel at all anymore for anything but the lip of the wheel.
Just soap and water and I start with 320 then 400, then 600 and finally 1500. I then use the soap and water with the mothers and 2000 grit. I finish with mothers and cheap paper towels NOT the good stuff. The cheap stuff works better.
With a silicone sealer to top it off.
I use a combination flat and rounded wood rasp file for severe curb rash and sand out the file marks with 200 grit.
To get to a jewelry like, wet looking mirror finish, in one complete process from start to finish without wandering around.
It’s a dirty laborious process No matter What that takes about 10+ hours per wheel that’s in rough condition.
Just did a set for my Chevelle and they look show quality after thirty years of being beat on. If they weren’t unobtainium I wouldn’t have bothered.
Those wheels are good for a truck type finish though. I don’t think I’d go any further either.
Wow, thats dedication! 10 hrs, x 4 wheels is a full week's work!
Wheels can be the wow factor on a classic ride, so on a valuable car, its worth it.
have you considered using a ceramic coating,? 2 coats will last a year or more.
Thats a good idea, and will keep brake dust off. Inhave ceramic sprsy, which is like a quick detalier and lasts about 3 months.
That ant polish comment was priceless.
ants job :)
Thanks for the video I got some rims I wanna clean up for my 95 4runner
Good info but not the mirror finish I was expecting for the work involved.
How do you clean dirty metal polishing buff pads?
Do somebody know the name of this wheels , I have one set but I’ll like to buy again
Gambler
One question. Are those Rims Clear Coated or Raw? That makes a difference.
They are raw.
@@CruisingTheLand Thanks.
@@SGTJDerek how much harder is it if the wheel has a clear coat
@@waynehardy6186 clear is a double edged sword. They look great until they don't. I've had a lot of Clearcoated wheels. Over time the Clear gets hazy and chips. Once they get some age on them, and show it, it's a pain in the rear to make them look decent again.
Just put non a rag Dry It take of the paste your using
It takes of oxidation
But they're still not as shiny, mirror finish as the aluminum on big rigs I've seen t the truck-stops. I 've noticed that there the polishing operators used the multi-color wheels and cutting cakes. I've bought those and used them on my Peterbilt 372 and they came out after a week of messaging them no better than your's did with a million$ of chemicals and foam. So, what are they using at the truck stop to achieve those mirror finishes? I was under load so I couldn't stand around to see the entire process. Thanks for the Video and effort! JD
I hear ya. You used the expensive stuff and results aren't as good as a professional shop. I believe they have 6000rpm grinders, so its about the speed. I will be posting a follow up with a high speed grinder, but also a couple polishes recommended by some viewers, so subscribe and stay posted!
JD I could give anyone the same materials I use to get that mirror shine the grinder the rouge bars and airway buffing wheels and they still ain’t gonna get mirror results. It takes practice man all about experience one day it’ll finally click and take off for you.
Exactly, hence products that can help make an amateur DIYer do a job, at about 90% of a Pro with all the equipment.
I don’t understand I grew up polishing many many many aluminum wheels from being almost corroded to a mirror finish / chrome in 30min using a few pieces of denim and mothers only 🤔
When your done wiping off the heavy put some corn stack on microfiber cloth and buff it by hand to a glowing luster
ok, good tip. I will try that.