[Kowsk]

I have a set of 2 piece wheels that im looking to get the lips repolished. They are already polished but kind of scuffed and dull. I was just wondering if anyone knew of a shop that does metal polishing? Im actually rebuilding these wheels as a project but had no idea where to begin. any help would be appreciated.

[DBR007]

If you have a few tools you can do them yourself. DA sander, sand paper, and a buffer. I did my set of BBS's with only those tools.
Started with 220 grit to get the old clear off, then 440, 1000, wet sanded with 1500, 2000, 2500, and finally 3000. Buffed them with a wool pad and Norton a very abrassive compound, then polished with a foam pad and another Norton finishing compound. Clearcoated them afterwards. This was the first time I tried this, and I was very happy with how they turned out.

If you have any Q's post up or PM me. I'm sure there are plenty of others that have done this too.

[Kowsk]

thanks man, I've read up on it for a while now I'm just kinda scared. maybe ill just suck it up and go for it. I dont have a DA sander but ive read that you can do it all by hand, its just WORK!

[Paul B]

Ive done some great buffing and polsihing with a Mother's Powerball and a good compound.

I know theres great wheel polishes and chrome polishes out there, jsut cant think of any names right now.

granted, all this might be useful after you get the scuffs out using the already suggested method.

[eurotrsh]

I had about 40hrs of labor into doing all 4 lips on Kait's Zaubers.

I used as low as 320 working up to 2000 grit. All wetsanding, then Mothers aluminum polish twice over by hand on both wheels.

I was doing it in our living room at the apt. so I couldnt use a powerball.

Best of luck. I hope your arms are in good shape.

[Matt Danger]

Polishing by hand sucks. Get a powerball or something. Your arms will thank you.

[artie325]

I agree that you should try to polish them yourself. I polished a set of Porsche Fuchs myself which was a lot of work, I bead blasted them and then wet sanded them with different grits as well starting with 320 and went up to 2000 grit. I then buffed them with a sisal wheel and wax-less polish. I then finished them off with Mothers which came out pretty good. I wouldn't clear coat them because I think that it will eventually peel.

The picture on the right is after bead blasting them. The left picture is after 2000 grit sandpaper.

This picture is after polishing them with Mothers. (poor pic)


Not too bad considering I started with this. Anodizing on Porsche rims are a pita to get off! I started with stripper.

[DBR007]

Go out a buy a DA, doing them by hand surely can be done, but
I would never. Some tight areas need to be done by hand other
than that DA all the way. I bought a nice Ingersoll Rand DA, but
you can get cheap ones at Harbor Frieght.

[Kowsk]

hmm, I think I'm going to attempt to do this my self. i just need to get the centers out so its just the barrel/lips.

This is what I've read on other forums:

use aircraft paint stripper to remove the factory clear, then wet sand working up from 350grit up to ~2000 grit. Compound & Polish

people have also mentioned using fine steel wool(people claimed it gets out the tiny scratches?), but i have no idea why or at what step they were using that. Regardless this weekend ill probably start breaking the wheels down to work on them.

[Mike.Mike.]

This thread is perfect.. Iw as thinking about polishing my falken wheels.. But getting new rollers means those will be winter wheels. so now i need to find something else to polish