Aluminum Wheel issue

lowrdsdime27 · 07-21-2009, 11:29 PM

I have read the how to on polishing my wheels written by s10cyncrvr and it was very helpful however my wheels are in pretty bad shape. the polishing shines them up but i still have scratches and what appear to be tiny pits which I believe is known as pitting. what can I do about this? I have heard about sanding progressing to finer grits but dont want to try it until I know if it will work, any suggestions?

***Wicked Mayhem*** · 07-21-2009, 11:59 PM

im by no means a wheel guru or anything..

but if the wheels are pitted, i cant really think of any other way to make them non pitted unless you sand them out.. IMO unless you are just absolutely in love with the wheels, id buy another set..

im also a big fan of swapping wheels often lol

lowrdsdime27 · 07-22-2009, 12:51 AM

lol ok well unfortunately I am by no means able to financially afford new wheels, just want to make them look the best possible for Carlisle in a few weeks. I have an extra rim i may try sanding once.

Rhotpursuit · 07-22-2009, 09:47 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by lowrdsdime27

lol ok well unfortunately I am by no means able to financially afford new wheels, just want to make them look the best possible for Carlisle in a few weeks. I have an extra rim i may try sanding once.

My Boyds had several years worth of pitting and I don't really have the time (or patience) to do what it takes to make them look good. I took mine to a professional polisher and he made them look 10 times better than new. He even polished the back side of the wheel. The down side is it cost $375

but he threw in a bottle of Flash Billet polish. All in all, it was worth every penny.

chips · 07-23-2009, 01:30 AM

yea theres no reason you cant sand them out and repolish them. just start with a medium grit and work your way up then start polishing.takes alot of work but it'll look good.

southernrock20 · 07-23-2009, 01:50 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Rhotpursuit

My Boyds had several years worth of pitting and I don't really have the time (or patience) to do what it takes to make them look good. I took mine to a professional polisher and he made them look 10 times better than new. He even polished the back side of the wheel. The down side is it cost $375 but he threw in a bottle of Flash Billet polish. All in all, it was worth every penny.

that dont seem to bad, $375, considering all the labor that is involved and that the boyds where prob $2-3k rims

Rhotpursuit · 07-23-2009, 09:05 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by southernrock20

that dont seem to bad, $375, considering all the labor that is involved and that the boyds where prob $2-3k rims

They were about $1600-1700 new. This is the guy that polished them..

www.alloypolishing.com

Up0n0ne · 07-24-2009, 12:43 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by lowrdsdime27

I have read the how to on polishing my wheels written by s10cyncrvr and it was very helpful however my wheels are in pretty bad shape. the polishing shines them up but i still have scratches and what appear to be tiny pits which I believe is known as pitting. what can I do about this? I have heard about sanding progressing to finer grits but dont want to try it until I know if it will work, any suggestions?

Yes it will work. With out seeing the wheels, I'd say wetsand starting with 400 grit and work your way up to 1,500-2,000 grit. Always keep the wheel and paper wet and clean.
Then buff it out with some compound.

If you were closer I'd show and help you do them, I've been a wheel repair tech for over 7 years and a self taught polisher. I don't polish much any more cause it sucks. LOL

Marc

Rhotpursuit · 07-24-2009, 01:04 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Up0n0ne

I don't polish much any more cause it sucks. LOL

Marc

After seeing the guy that polished mine, I can see why. When he came to the front counter, he was wearing a white Tyvek coverall. It was almost black. He was wearing a respirator and his face was black everywhere the mask didn't cover. He said that at the end of the day he just cuts the suit off. He earned every penny..

Up0n0ne · 07-24-2009, 11:39 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Rhotpursuit

After seeing the guy that polished mine, I can see why. When he came to the front counter, he was wearing a white Tyvek coverall. It was almost black. He was wearing a respirator and his face was black everywhere the mask didn't cover. He said that at the end of the day he just cuts the suit off. He earned every penny..

Yeah, even the professional polishers with the good equipment put in a lot of time. IMO the labor to pay ratio just isn't there, either way you have to sand and whether by hand or sander, still takes a toll on the body. If I ever wanted something polished again, I would take it somewhere now. haha

lowrdsdime27 · 07-25-2009, 12:52 PM

Thanks for the info, I will see how this goes. I will probably do my best without sanding since I leave for Carlisle on the 6th of Aug. and the truck wont be put back together until the 1st

Johnbear · 07-31-2009, 04:36 AM

Thank you for sharing.

..

07-21-2009, 11:29 PM	#1
lowrdsdime27 Registered User Age: 22 Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 357 Location: St.Cloud MN User is: OffLine	Aluminum Wheel issue I have read the how to on polishing my wheels written by s10cyncrvr and it was very helpful however my wheels are in pretty bad shape. the polishing shines them up but i still have scratches and what appear to be tiny pits which I believe is known as pitting. what can I do about this? I have heard about sanding progressing to finer grits but dont want to try it until I know if it will work, any suggestions?
	[Reply w/Quote]

07-21-2009, 11:59 PM	#2
*Wicked Mayhem* Moderator Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 16,351 Location: :noitacoL User is: OffLine	Re: Aluminum Wheel issue im by no means a wheel guru or anything.. but if the wheels are pitted, i cant really think of any other way to make them non pitted unless you sand them out.. IMO unless you are just absolutely in love with the wheels, id buy another set.. im also a big fan of swapping wheels often lol
	[Reply w/Quote]

07-22-2009, 12:51 AM	#3
lowrdsdime27 Registered User Age: 22 Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 357 Location: St.Cloud MN User is: OffLine	Re: Aluminum Wheel issue lol ok well unfortunately I am by no means able to financially afford new wheels, just want to make them look the best possible for Carlisle in a few weeks. I have an extra rim i may try sanding once.
	[Reply w/Quote]

07-22-2009, 09:47 AM	#4
Rhotpursuit Ticket Magnet Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 4,284 Location: Spanaway, Wa User is: OffLine	Re: Aluminum Wheel issue Quote: Originally Posted by lowrdsdime27 lol ok well unfortunately I am by no means able to financially afford new wheels, just want to make them look the best possible for Carlisle in a few weeks. I have an extra rim i may try sanding once. My Boyds had several years worth of pitting and I don't really have the time (or patience) to do what it takes to make them look good. I took mine to a professional polisher and he made them look 10 times better than new. He even polished the back side of the wheel. The down side is it cost $375 but he threw in a bottle of Flash Billet polish. All in all, it was worth every penny.
	[Reply w/Quote]

07-23-2009, 01:30 AM	#5
chips Registered User Age: 20 Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 527 Location: Michigan User is: OffLine	Re: Aluminum Wheel issue yea theres no reason you cant sand them out and repolish them. just start with a medium grit and work your way up then start polishing.takes alot of work but it'll look good.
	[Reply w/Quote]

07-23-2009, 01:50 PM	#6
southernrock20 one of a kind Age: 23 Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 873 Location: HG alabama User is: OffLine	Re: Aluminum Wheel issue Quote: Originally Posted by Rhotpursuit My Boyds had several years worth of pitting and I don't really have the time (or patience) to do what it takes to make them look good. I took mine to a professional polisher and he made them look 10 times better than new. He even polished the back side of the wheel. The down side is it cost $375 but he threw in a bottle of Flash Billet polish. All in all, it was worth every penny. that dont seem to bad, $375, considering all the labor that is involved and that the boyds where prob $2-3k rims Last edited by southernrock20 : 07-23-2009 at 01:52 PM.
	[Reply w/Quote]

07-23-2009, 09:05 PM	#7
Rhotpursuit Ticket Magnet Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 4,284 Location: Spanaway, Wa User is: OffLine	Re: Aluminum Wheel issue Quote: Originally Posted by southernrock20 that dont seem to bad, $375, considering all the labor that is involved and that the boyds where prob $2-3k rims They were about $1600-1700 new. This is the guy that polished them.. www.alloypolishing.com
	[Reply w/Quote]

07-24-2009, 12:43 AM	#8
Up0n0ne Kingdom Mini's Age: 36 Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 142 Location: Carrollton, Tx. User is: OffLine	Re: Aluminum Wheel issue Quote: Originally Posted by lowrdsdime27 I have read the how to on polishing my wheels written by s10cyncrvr and it was very helpful however my wheels are in pretty bad shape. the polishing shines them up but i still have scratches and what appear to be tiny pits which I believe is known as pitting. what can I do about this? I have heard about sanding progressing to finer grits but dont want to try it until I know if it will work, any suggestions? Yes it will work. With out seeing the wheels, I'd say wetsand starting with 400 grit and work your way up to 1,500-2,000 grit. Always keep the wheel and paper wet and clean. Then buff it out with some compound. If you were closer I'd show and help you do them, I've been a wheel repair tech for over 7 years and a self taught polisher. I don't polish much any more cause it sucks. LOL Marc
	[Reply w/Quote]

07-24-2009, 01:04 AM	#9
Rhotpursuit Ticket Magnet Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 4,284 Location: Spanaway, Wa User is: OffLine	Re: Aluminum Wheel issue Quote: Originally Posted by Up0n0ne I don't polish much any more cause it sucks. LOL Marc After seeing the guy that polished mine, I can see why. When he came to the front counter, he was wearing a white Tyvek coverall. It was almost black. He was wearing a respirator and his face was black everywhere the mask didn't cover. He said that at the end of the day he just cuts the suit off. He earned every penny..
	[Reply w/Quote]

07-24-2009, 11:39 AM	#10
Up0n0ne Kingdom Mini's Age: 36 Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 142 Location: Carrollton, Tx. User is: OffLine	Re: Aluminum Wheel issue Quote: Originally Posted by Rhotpursuit After seeing the guy that polished mine, I can see why. When he came to the front counter, he was wearing a white Tyvek coverall. It was almost black. He was wearing a respirator and his face was black everywhere the mask didn't cover. He said that at the end of the day he just cuts the suit off. He earned every penny.. Yeah, even the professional polishers with the good equipment put in a lot of time. IMO the labor to pay ratio just isn't there, either way you have to sand and whether by hand or sander, still takes a toll on the body. If I ever wanted something polished again, I would take it somewhere now. haha
	[Reply w/Quote]

07-25-2009, 12:52 PM	#11
lowrdsdime27 Registered User Age: 22 Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 357 Location: St.Cloud MN User is: OffLine	Re: Aluminum Wheel issue Thanks for the info, I will see how this goes. I will probably do my best without sanding since I leave for Carlisle on the 6th of Aug. and the truck wont be put back together until the 1st
	[Reply w/Quote]

07-31-2009, 04:36 AM	#12
Johnbear Registered User Age: 21 Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 5 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Aluminum Wheel issue Thank you for sharing. ..
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