Help with cleaning machined aluminum wheel!

[chrylaser]

Hi,

I just stripped 27 year old clearcoat off my car's machined aluminum rims. There isnt any pitting, but there are a lot of white marks (aluminum oxide?) and some dark spots. I sprayed and scrubbed with aluminum wheel cleaner. Rubbing compound and aluminum polish (both by hand) havent removed the imperfections. I dotn want to sand the rim because I like the original machined look (many times circular lines). I do get a lot of black soot off when I polish. Any suggestions? Thanks!

[Murr1525]

Re: Help with cleaning machined aluminum wheel!

What were you polishing with? Terry cloth?

[chrylaser]

Re: Help with cleaning machined aluminum wheel!

Diaper like polishing cloths. I even tried to use a scotchbrite pad in one spot-didnt do anything.

[Murr1525]

Re: Help with cleaning machined aluminum wheel!

Well, terry cloth would be the usual applicator. Need something with a little bite to it.

I use #0000 steel wool with the Hot Rims M&A Polish for my mufflers/tips.

And there is always the Powerball type things.

[chrylaser]

Re: Help with cleaning machined aluminum wheel!

Do you think the #0000 steel wool will remove the machined finish? Thanks for the tip.

[subboz]

Here is what I did. Red scotchbrite pad with mother's mag and wheel Polish. Will leave chalky residue then Polish with same Polish and use megs powercone on corded drill. Lots of black residue. Final Polish with megs all metal Polish with powercone. Far easier to take wheels off and do standing up with wheel flat.

[chrylaser]

Re: Help with cleaning machined aluminum wheel!

Here is what I did. Red scotchbrite pad with mother's mag and wheel Polish. Will leave chalky residue then Polish with same Polish and use megs powercone on corded drill. Lots of black residue. Final Polish with megs all metal Polish with powercone. Far easier to take wheels off and do standing up with wheel flat.

Was that on a machined finish?

[Murr1525]

Re: Help with cleaning machined aluminum wheel!

Do you think the #0000 steel wool will remove the machined finish? Thanks for the tip.

Hmm... I guess it depends how fine the machining marks are... I dont think it would be too aggressive, but a test spot would be best. Or maybe kind of work along the marks, not across them.

[chrylaser]

Re: Help with cleaning machined aluminum wheel!

Here is a more up-close view.



Does the steel wool lead to rusting?

[Murr1525]

Re: Help with cleaning machined aluminum wheel!

I do mine once a year... no more rust shows up than on anything else.

You could try a spot with the white stuff in one of the holes maybe.. kind of out of the way to test it. If the white stuff is etched in though, you would lose the machining marks in the area removing it.

[chrylaser]

Re: Help with cleaning machined aluminum wheel!

I'll give that a shot. Thanks!

[subboz]

Re: Help with cleaning machined aluminum wheel!

If my links are not withing forum policy rules I am sorry and feel free to edit them out as needed.


Bit of info I found. These were NOT clear coated and very badly anodized, almost looked like galvanized fence post. You notice below I used Mothers Mag and Wheel Polish mostly. After every step I did a soapy wash and rinse just to see progress and start with new product. Hell it might have been a waste?
Through trial and error I tried

Blue Corral Metal Polish- I was not at all impressed with the results on Alum, but I was very impressed with the cleaning and polish ability on really rusted chrome wheel caps. Kinda chemically but hey old school nasty smells just seem to work better. (old carb clean, old brake clean, degreaser, metal cleaners.....worked great before the EPA got in and made stuff skin friendly and kid drinkable)

http://bluemagicusa.com/index.php/blue_magic/products/210/blue_magic_metal_polish_cream_jar/

Turtle Wax Chrome polish- I remember a day when this product rocked. Now it totally under impressed me.Maybe polish great but lacking cleaning ability.

http://www.turtlewax.com/detail-Chrome%20&%20Metal%20Polish-47-81.aspx

Eagle One Nevr-DULL Now this was just to much surface area for this. From my navy days there is nothing better on copper or brass stuffy thingy. Just you go through lots of wadding for large project. Not bad product though.

http://www.eagleone.com/nevr-dull-wadding-polish

Mothers Mag and Alum Polish- Now for cleaning ability this stuff is the bomb. Seems you can use to little and more seems to work better in my application..However this stuff does not bring out the shine like the MEGS. Still phenomenal product for retail/over-the counter.

http://www.mothers.com/02_products/05100-05101.html

Megs All Metal Polish now this stuff has pop when it comes to chrome and alum shine. I figured it came with the kit so I tried it after the mothers and like the finish product better. Lacking same cleaning power as Mothers but you notice its my final polish product. Powercone is a rockstar in its own right on ANY polishing job. Nice job on plastic spin handle.

http://www.meguiars.com/en/automotive/products/g15308-hot-rims-all-metal-polish

http://www.meguiars.com/en/automotive/products/g3400-brilliant-solutions-wheel-polishing-kit

3M headlight resto Foam Pad and drill adapter. Just helpful polishing flat surface with any polish.

http://www.autogeek.net/3m-headlight-restoration-kit.html?productid=3m-headlight-restoration-kit&channelid=FROOG&utm_source=CSEs&utm_medium=GoogleProductSearch&utm_campaign=CSE&gclid=CMbc1cf3uLECFcldTAodiicAxQ

This was the applicator style I used to slap the goo on from the can. Very good to use in my opinion.


Cleaning Alum (my severe ones) less severe might be different. Just my opinion
1. Mothers
2. Megs
Cleaning Chrome (I know they may have chrome specific)
1.Blue Coral
1A.Megs
2. Mothers
Polish Pop and Bang
1. Megs
2. Mothers

I could have gone to more perfection but what you see is better part of 6 hours for the 4 wheels in my garage on a 100 degree night. I was done and though I could have worked out every nick the reality is these are PEP Boys Proline Rims that are just not high dollar rims. I was just trying to stretch the $100 dollars I paid for them to look nice on the car is all.

Polished and on the car.

















IF I remember I used like 600 grit and worked down a bit on crappy areas but mostly just red SB


Started middle with red scotchbrite stuck to Foam attachment for 3m headlight kit. Basically just put it between foam and wheel with liberally applied Mothers Mag and Wheel polish then ran drill.



Then ran just the foam thingy with MMW again.


Started working by hand with Red SB and MMW


This stage leaves a no shine flashed like surface.Dont worry it will polish out

Do whole wheel by hand or with some attachment and Red SB. Note how liberally I applied the MMW. At this stage I might have done an extra step but went over whole wheel with foam 3m applicator on electric drill and MMW


Final Product
After all the REDSB and Foam MMW I then finally went to the MEGS powercone with the All metal polish.

[subboz]

Re: Help with cleaning machined aluminum wheel!

That's pitting and anodized. Try products with steel wool but I think at that level you will sand with greater and greater grits then final polish.