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  #1  
Old 03-01-2010, 09:49 PM
Redneckstone Redneckstone is offline
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Default How-to: Polish heavily oxidized and pitted aluminum wheels

How-to: Polish heavily oxidized and pitted aluminum wheels

In this how-to I will be showing you one method on bringing back the shine of a heavily pitted and oxidized aluminum wheel.

Materials needed:
  • Garden hose
  • Bucket
  • Soap
  • Rags
  • Alum Polish
  • 800 grit wet sand paper
  • 1500 grit wet sand paper
  • 2000 grit wet sand paper
  • Spray Bottle


Procedure:

First clean your wheels, I like to use Simple Green because it does not hurt the alum wheel

here is the pitted and oxidized wheel(sadly thats even washed):





Next put some water in your bucket and spray bottle you can add a couple drops of dish soap for lubrication if desired

now keeping your wheel wet constantly, wet sand your wheel starting with 800 then 1500 then 2000. how anal you are about getting a good surface the better the wheel will look when its done...

here is the paper i used...






here is the wheel finished wet sanded after the final 2000 grit.





here is pitted oxidized, wet sanded, polished (in that order)





now your ready to polish the wheel with alum polish. you can use little buffer wheels or by hand. how much time you spend here will determine how "chrome" like your finish will be.. (HIGHLY recommend a Powerball and Cone Power ball for the holes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

here is the polish i used




now enjoy your NOT pitted and very well polished wheel....






Time per wheel can range from 1 hour-12 hours depending on how bad the wheel is or how picky you are..
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Last edited by Redneckstone; 03-01-2010 at 09:51 PM.
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  #2  
Old 03-01-2010, 10:14 PM
edgeman4.0 edgeman4.0 is offline
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now where's the "put truck on jackstands and throw it in gear" wheel polishing write-up?
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Old 03-01-2010, 10:21 PM
878ranger878 878ranger878 is offline
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hey thanks alot for the "HOW TO". it works great.
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Old 03-02-2010, 03:21 AM
TrePaul86 TrePaul86 is offline
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Another great write up Stone. I bet if you wanted to go a lil deeper with removing the pitting, you could start with 600, then 800, then 1500 then 2000... Might get a lil deeper into the wheel. Just a suggestion though.
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Old 03-02-2010, 05:58 AM
Redneckstone Redneckstone is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TrePaul86 View Post
Another great write up Stone. I bet if you wanted to go a lil deeper with removing the pitting, you could start with 600, then 800, then 1500 then 2000... Might get a lil deeper into the wheel. Just a suggestion though.
Thank you. Actually I did use lower on those wheels Tre, I spent over 8 hours each on those wheels they where that severly pited. Just like you can go higher grit to get even better finish like my 15x10 I have look like glass there so smooth. I actually sanded out a 8" long gouge in the metal in my 15x10 by doing the jack stand style polishing lol
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Few mods
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  #6  
Old 03-02-2010, 09:11 AM
RangerLuc RangerLuc is offline
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on my wheels theres some oxidizing going on under the clear coat. can i sand my rims or will i rip all the clear coat off?
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Old 03-02-2010, 09:22 AM
Redneckstone Redneckstone is offline
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You have to have the clear coat removed this is for only raw wheels
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Few mods
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Old 03-02-2010, 10:28 AM
RangerLuc RangerLuc is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Redneckstone View Post
You have to have the clear coat removed this is for only raw wheels
oh ok, should i just sand it off? and can i re-clear coat it?
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  #9  
Old 03-02-2010, 01:12 PM
Redneckstone Redneckstone is offline
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I wouldn't is it your stock wheels
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Few mods
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Old 03-02-2010, 03:48 PM
Redrocket Redrocket is offline
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sweet right up stone im glade to see you move it over here too. any way im so going to have to do this when it gets warm my wheels are horrbale
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  #11  
Old 03-02-2010, 03:50 PM
olfordtruck olfordtruck is offline
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This is actually occuring on the inner pat of the rim behind the main face. I try to clean it when i take the rims off but ill try this process on it. I hate looking the spokes on my alloy rims and all i see is oxidation.
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  #12  
Old 07-02-2011, 07:52 AM
Centrarchid 4x4 Centrarchid 4x4 is offline
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Default Re: How-to: Polish heavily oxidized and pitted aluminum wheels

I'm running stock rims on my '01, the 5-spoke wheels with the charcoal-ish pockets. Can I use this same method on these stock alloy wheels? Mine are heavily pitted and something needs to be done (other than new rims, that is!).
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  #13  
Old 07-02-2011, 08:30 AM
Redneckstone Redneckstone is offline
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Default Re: How-to: Polish heavily oxidized and pitted aluminum wheels

Stock wheel has clear coat it has to be stripped first
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2000 Ford Ranger XLT 4x4 Offroad, 4.0L ext cab, Converted to Manual M5OD-R1HD.
_____________
33x13.50 Toyo M/T, 15x10, Body Lift, Rebuilt OHV, JBA headers, Hurst shifter, Warn VR10000-s, Class 1 bars, Belltech Shackles, Mustang GT rear disc, Level II hooks, Modded rear hitch, Custom front hitch, Level II Blue seats and black console, Explorer IRS rear cover, Extang fulltilt, Leer Cap Yakima Roof Rack, Cobra 29 with firestik stake mount, Scangauge II
Few mods
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  #14  
Old 07-02-2011, 09:27 AM
Christianguy Christianguy is offline
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Default Re: How-to: Polish heavily oxidized and pitted aluminum wheels

Awesome write-up!
Your rims look Awesome!
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  #15  
Old 07-02-2011, 09:28 AM
djfllmn djfllmn is offline
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Default Re: How-to: Polish heavily oxidized and pitted aluminum wheels

def going to be using this to wetsand mine...they need a little attention...job for next weekend
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