|
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 17,234
Campfire Ranger
|
OP
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 17,234 |
Any of you guys done any work on trying to bring old alloys back to life? I'm talking uncoated, previously-polished, high-end wheels from the late 1990's that have just been sitting. They are dull and there is a bit of white pitting (light) in some areas. Doing a little Googling shows that many people wet-sand with progressively lighter grits to even out any pitting before working with polishing compounds. I'm not familiar with the process or the tools. There is a Harbor Freight store nearby though. I'd not object to spending $100-150 on supplies to get these wheels back in shape. Anybody have any insight to offer?
Now with even more aplomb
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 22,907
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 22,907 |
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 8,923
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 8,923 |
Mother's Mag Wheel polish works for me, I spent no more than 10 minutes knocking the oxidation off this Jeep wheel to prove the point back in 2008. Using a Power Ball or similar tool works even better.
Dave
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 17,234
Campfire Ranger
|
OP
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 17,234 |
That looks pretty good. Some more research reveals that many are using a 6-7" multi-speed polisher with 2-3 different wheels and 2-3 compounds to get most of the oxidation and pits smoothed out, then going with something like the mag polish to finish it off. I think I'll try that. Mine are some old Centerline Jeep wheels that are thankfully uncoated.
Now with even more aplomb
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 8,923
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 8,923 |
Yep, if you have pits or scratches you can feel with a fingernail, Mother's won't cut it. The factory alloy was rough to the touch, very oxidized but for a polish, it's a good product.
I did a test on the inside (not back) of the wheel, sanding machining marks down with 220, 320, 400 and 600 and followed with Mother's and it looked like a mirror.
Dave
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 5,279
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 5,279 |
Yep, if you have pits or scratches you can feel with a fingernail, Mother's won't cut it. The factory alloy was rough to the touch, very oxidized but for a polish, it's a good product.
I did a test on the inside (not back) of the wheel, sanding machining marks down with 220, 320, 400 and 600 and followed with Mother's and it looked like a mirror. How long does that job take? Steve.
"I was a deerhunter long before I was a man." ~Gene Wensel's Come November (2000) "A vote is like a rifle; its usefulness depends upon the character of the user." ~Theodore Roosevelt
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 5,567
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 5,567 |
It takes awhile to do right, kinda like fixing hazy headlights.
Most wheels today are clearcoated, so be sure to re-clearcoat them or the shine won't last long.
If you live where salt or liquid deicers are used in the winter, it makes a lot of sense to put your winter tires on a set of steel wheels and run them in the winter.
Alloy wheels are like having a beautiful girlfriend .... look very nice but a lot more upkeep.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 17,234
Campfire Ranger
|
OP
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 17,234 |
I read that a person might spend a couple hours to get a wheel looking really good, provided they are using power tools and washing the wheel between applications of different grit compounds. Longer if you have to take off a clearcoat or clean up dings or curb rash.
Now with even more aplomb
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 8,923
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 8,923 |
Steve, it took a few hours sanding by hand, and it was a small section. My CJ's wheels needed a full restoration, I sold the CJ after the restoration to put the money towards a house, I am glad I did because those wheels were rough!
My Cherokee has the same wheels and they are in much better shape so the job should be easier.
I would guess it would take me 40 hours a wheel, mostly due to the care needed not to round over sharp edges.
I would clearcoat after polishing as suggested.
Dave
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,813
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,813 |
I read that a person might spend a couple hours to get a wheel looking really good, provided they are using power tools and washing the wheel between applications of different grit compounds. Longer if you have to take off a clearcoat or clean up dings or curb rash. This is correct. HOW GOOD DO U WANT IT TO LOOK? A friend of mine has a side business polishing show trucks (semi's). He gets paid by the hour and sometimes it takes him 2 weeks to polish a truck. He does not come cheap and has more work come his way than he wants. But u can shave off any polished surface on the truck. Polishing properly is a multi step process of multiple grits of rough. If u get a green bar of polish and some mothers polish and a good yellow wheel I'm sure just that alone will be shiny enough for what u want. If u want mirror polish your gonna need a few more grits and wheels and a whole lot of time. Green bar. (I know it says stainless steel polish but its the best all around polish) http://www.lehighvalleyabrasives.co...G0adSsihTFmyZwblMbTeNNn4qixByhoCFKrw_wcBYellow wheel. I use it on my 4.5 inch grinder and it makes a mess but does the job. An actual polisher is a much better option http://www.raneystruckparts.com/zep...MBoCES2mcagR4LZUOmMSVVRYLAMPLxoCPRrw_wcBWhite bar optional. Will give the best final mirror polish but a mothers aluminum polish will work well too. http://www.jmstoolsupply.com/en14whdirpoc.html?ref=lexity&_vs=google&_vm=productsearchHe also uses these quite a bit for hard to reach places in wheels and such on an air drill type polisher http://www.pjtool.com/cylinder-buffs.aspxI wish I still had the picture of a fuel tank he did on a mid 80's 359 Peterbilt a guy was redoing. The tank had NEVER been polished. When my buddy was done it was a literal mirror. Took him many many hours.
Last edited by k20350; 04/25/16.
|
|
|
|
190 members (1eyedmule, 12344mag, 257 mag, 338rcm, 2UP, 300jimmy, 12 invisible),
1,380
guests, and
884
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
Forums81
Topics1,191,061
Posts18,463,286
Members73,923
|
Most Online11,491 Jul 7th, 2023
|
|
|
|