Polishing Wheels

[2fs2ns]

The finish on my wheels is pretty rough.  I think the bike spent some time outdoors, and not cared for as it should have been.  There are marks on the wheels, and the best way to describe it is permanent water marks.  Scrubbing with soap/water does nothing.

I got some polish and a terry cloth and got after the front wheel, with some improvement.  Would a fabric polishing/buffing wheel on my drill/cutoff tool be a bad idea?  I can see how it might mark up the wheel?  Maybe not?

The polish I have is Mothers Aluminum and Mag Polish.

Before:


After a little scrubbing:

[Greg Cothern]

Ahh fun fun!  Get some wet sandpaper in 320, 400, 600, 800 sand till ya dont want to sand anymore then sand some more LoL.  Working with plenty of water and in a uniform direction, then get some metal polish such as Mothers, Blue Magic, or Metal Gloss (metalgloss.com) and follow instructions.
With patience and lots of work you can achieve very good results that get better each time you polish, only have to sand the one time.

[2fs2ns]

Ok.
Never really used wet sand paper.  Do you need to apply a lot of pressure?  You said lots of water...really soak it good?
I don't want to ruin or make my wheels worse than they are...

Thanks!

[Greg Cothern]

Use pretty good pressure, these wheels are tougher than you think!!!!  Dont have to soak it but keep the paper and area wet, it will be messsy!

[Curtis_Valk]

As Greg said, keep it plenty wet if you decide to go the wet sanding route.  The water is to wash away the fines so your sand paper doesn't clog.

Curtis

[2fs2ns]

As Greg said, keep it plenty wet if you decide to go the wet sanding route.  The water is to wash away the fines so your sand paper doesn't clog.

Curtis

Other good options?

[MagnaMan]

Sanding
Make sure you get some "wet sanding"paper. It has to be made for it, otherwise it will fall apart.

Scotchbrite
Instead of, or along with, the wet sandpaper, I would suggest going by a store that sells auto paint and body supplies. Get 3M Scotchbrite in the various grits Greg mentioned. Scotchbrite is basically an industrial scouring pad used instead of wet sanding paper. Although it may not last as long, it doesn't get clogged as easily and it folds around curves and fine lines of metal much easier.

My wheels look very similar to yours, but the main reason I haven't sanded them is because it will be a lot of work. If you look at the alloy up close you'll see very fine grooves in parts of it. In order to sand all the spots out you'll basically have to sand the grooves flat... That's a lot of sanding. Some areas are smooth and won't take as long.

Polishing
One alternative is to send them out for polishing. Here's a place that's somewhat reasonable but you have to consider the down time and shipping and pulling your tires off the bike, etc.
http://www.billski182.com/polishing.htm

Perhaps you can find a local place.

[Gloveberg]

My strategy was always to just leave my bike (slighty dirty of course) parked at Greg's long enough for Devin to get restless and start polishing stuff  

Now that he's in school it kind screws that little plan up though  

[Greg Cothern]

Jimmy just ride down to Austin for a Central get together and make sure he is present and accounted for LoL!!!  Of course you will have to have the polish and towels waiting hehehehehehe.

[rjb/AKA Bob Barram]

I would polish with the Mothers and if the shine did not come back go the sanding route as Greg mentioned.
Bob

[Greg Cothern]

Mothers works good but sanding will help the entire process along greatly.  This is the method we used on the 96 and the super.

[crash]

just my input

i had a huge amount of brake dust that had stained my wheels on my truck and i used one of those magic erasers with soap n water and it came off believe it or not