Cleaning Polished Aluminum Rims

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Moparfanatic21

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I took the wheels from this (1st picture)
To this (2nd picture)
But notice the spots and where the inside is pretty bad (3rd & 4th picture)

I used 0000 Steel Wool with Mother's Mag and Aluminum Polish. Those spots aren't pitted they are smooth to the touch, I honestly don't know what they are. Nor the black spots the kind of white spots.

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Do you know if the wheels had a clear coat on them when they were new?
Jay
 

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Looks like you'll need something a bit more aggressive than the Mothers product.
 

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Yeah, you’re going to need to go to 320 grit to remove the pitting and work your way back up to high grit mirror finish.

600-800-1000-1500 rubbing compound-mothers

I’ve done it for wheel lips by hand, i’d Suggest a polishing ball and something electric with a few thousand rpm.
 
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Do you know if the wheels had a clear coat on them when they were new?
Jay
They did not
Yeah, you’re going to need to go to 320 grit to remove the pitting and work your way back up to high grit mirror finish.

600-800-1000-1500 rubbing compound-mothers

I’ve done it for wheel lips by hand, i’d Suggest a polishing ball and something electric with a few thousand rpm.
Damn was hoping to avoid that :D it isn't pitted though its smooth to the touch almost like a water stain
 

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Just try a small area and see if the polish takes it all out and leaves a good finish. You will want something like a power ball, flitz wheel or at least a rotary polisher to do the bulk of it or it'll take a ridiculous amount of time.
 

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Try 1000 and work your way down if it doesn’t clean up, hard to tell from the photos on the depth. Even if you only have to use 320 on certain areas it will blend well with cast aluminum.
 
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Just try a small area and see if the polish takes it all out and leaves a good finish. You will want something like a power ball, flitz wheel or at least a rotary polisher to do the bulk of it or it'll take a ridiculous amount of time.
I will try that first, as I was doing it by hands. Thanks for your help, will follow up! Might nor be for a few days.

Try 1000 and work your way down if it doesn’t clean up, hard to tell from the photos on the depth. Even if you only have to use 320 on certain areas it will blend well with cast aluminum.
I'll give that a shot, thanks for the advice! I'll follow up but it won't be for a few days. I'm going to try and do the polishing first with a drill as I was flying it by hand
 
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It really depends on how thick the clear coat was. You may have just put some small scratches in the finish. You might call the manufacture and talk to them and send them pictures of the wheels and see what they suggest. I'd hate to see you use some product that might ruin your wheels. I think that if you try one of those polish wheels and a light abrasive and see what that does--I think the extra ump from the polish wheel on a drill might help.
Jay
 
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It really depends on how thick the clear coat was. You may have just put some small scratches in the finish. You might call the manufacture and talk to them and send them pictures of the wheels and see what they suggest. I'd hate to see you use some product that might ruin your wheels. I think that if you try one of those polish wheels and a light abrasive and see what that does--I think the extra ump from the polish wheel on a drill might help.
Jay
Thanks for the suggestion. Have any suggestions on polish? Might head to WalMart to get the wheel because I hate waiting for stuff lol
 

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Look for a polish with a little abrasive in it. You can put some of it on your fingers and rub them together and you should be able to "feel" and abrasive. You could also use a "Polishing Compound" which has less abrasive than "Rubbing Compound". The thing your trying to do is prevent any "deep" scratches in the surface that you will have to work out later---you don't want the cure to be worst than the problem.
Jay
 
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Look for a polish with a little abrasive in it. You can put some of it on your fingers and rub them together and you should be able to "feel" and abrasive. You could also use a "Polishing Compound" which has less abrasive than "Rubbing Compound". The thing your trying to do is prevent any "deep" scratches in the surface that you will have to work out later---you don't want the cure to be worst than the problem.
Jay
Use a paint polish or aluminum polish? I have some Meguiars Paint Polish
 

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Use a paint polish or aluminum polish? I have some Meguiars Paint Polish

First of all, get aluminum polish. Those white spots 100% are corrosion. Before you start busting out sandpaper at 320 grit and working your way back up, the first thing I would try is cleaning with dawn dish soap and rinsing off, then get some oven cleaner spray and let it sit for about 20 - 30 minutes. Spray liberally with a hose and then try the aluminum brightener polish followed by car wax.

*MAKE SURE YOU PROTECT YOUR PAINT FROM THE OVEN CLEANER*

You’d be surprised how well this works. The oven cleaner strips the aluminum, so make sure you do a good job waxing with the brightener then the car wax.


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Moparfanatic21

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First of all, get aluminum polish. Those white spots 100% are corrosion. Before you start busting out sandpaper at 320 grit and working your way back up, the first thing I would try is cleaning with dawn dish soap and rinsing off, then get some oven cleaner spray and let it sit for about 20 - 30 minutes. Spray liberally with a hose and then try the aluminum brightener polish followed by car wax.

*MAKE SURE YOU PROTECT YOUR PAINT FROM THE OVEN CLEANER*

You’d be surprised how well this works. The oven cleaner strips the aluminum, so make sure you do a good job waxing with the brightener then the car wax.


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Im give that a shot
 

aidmyaim

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Im give that a shot

Also did I mention protect your paint?

After the oven cleaner sits for about 20minutes I’d scrub with a brush or one of those still attachments. Just to get it extra clean before rinsing it off.


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Welp it's raining here today so no detailing, unless I can get the truck in the garage
 

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The polish I have right now is called "Maas" which I have found to do an excellent job on chrome and my stock aluminum wheels. I also have a bottle of "Blue Away" which is designed to polish and take blue off of chrome and polished exhaust tips. I'm not sure how much better they would be than what you already have. Another suggestion would be is to take your photos and post a question on "autopia" and see if the professional detailers can give you any help. They usually are pretty good at helping people out. Also you might check out some of the products in the autopia store used to polish aluminum wheels.
Jay
 
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