Aluminum Wheel Finishing?

[regalrocket]

I have stripped my stock wheels of the gold anodizing, and have bare aluminum that needs some mild abrasive work before polishing. What is a good product that uses a die grinder that can lightly sand with 120 grit or finer that I can use to get these wheels in better shape? Thanks.

[regalrocket]

Ok, I will reply to myself for those that might want the information.

 

HOW TO REMOVE GOLD ANODIZING AND POLISH STOCK WHEELS:

 

Needed:

degrease

easy-off oven cleaner (Heavy Duty)

paint stripper

41/2 angle grinder

die grinder

polishing disk for grinder

polishing ball for die grinder

extra heavy duty polishing rouge

wire wheel (fine) for die grinder

120 grit or finer padle wheel for die grinder

Fine scotch brite pads

time

 

1. degrease wheels

2. if painted, strip paint by applying stipper, let sit for 10 mins, wash with warm water and repeat if needed

3. apply thick coat of easy-off and let sit for 30 min or more (you can let sit over night if you like)

4. remove with warm water and scrub brush

5. remove anodizing with die grinder and wire wheel (the gold color will remain after the cleaner, but the wire wheel will remove it very very fast)

6. Sand entire wheel surface with the die grinder and paddle wheel

7. smooth surface with the scotch brite pad

8. use angle grinder, buffing wheel and rouge to polish the wheel to a nice shine

9. use the die grinder and polishing ball for those hard to reach areas

10. drink a beer cause that was alot of work, but man, do they look good

 

Pictures fo follow.

[wednot5]

Ok, I will reply to myself for those that might want the information.

 

HOW TO REMOVE GOLD ANODIZING AND POLISH STOCK WHEELS:

 

Needed:

degrease

easy-off oven cleaner (Heavy Duty)

paint stripper

41/2 angle grinder

die grinder

polishing disk for grinder

polishing ball for die grinder

extra heavy duty polishing rouge

wire wheel (fine) for die grinder

120 grit or finer padle wheel for die grinder

Fine scotch brite pads

time

 

1. degrease wheels

2. if painted, strip paint by applying stipper, let sit for 10 mins, wash with warm water and repeat if needed

3. apply thick coat of easy-off and let sit for 30 min or more (you can let sit over night if you like)

4. remove with warm water and scrub brush

5. remove anodizing with die grinder and wire wheel (the gold color will remain after the cleaner, but the wire wheel will remove it very very fast)

6. Sand entire wheel surface with the die grinder and paddle wheel

7. smooth surface with the scotch brite pad

8. use angle grinder, buffing wheel and rouge to polish the wheel to a nice shine

9. use the die grinder and polishing ball for those hard to reach areas

10. drink a beer cause that was alot of work, but man, do they look good

 

Pictures fo follow.

why not just bead blast them

[regalrocket]

I could, but I think the wire wheel does less damage, so that the polishing goes easier.

[regalrocket]

Here is the finished product. I didn't go nuts with the wheels. I did what I would call a "trail polish". No sense going nuts just to beat it off of trees and rocks. But it looks much better than crappy rattle canned wheels, that it was when I bought it.

 

Edited November 22, 2008 by regalrocket

[T_Shee]

looks really good. so someone spray painted them gold before?

[regalrocket]

They were the factory gold anodized, that was then spray painted black by the previous owner. So i removed the paint, the anodizing, then polished. I am happy, looks way better than rattle canned black, or the factory gold.