INFO - Cleaning/Polishing Billet Rims (56k beware)

[Dallas@2020Kustoms]

WASHING - As with most detailing work the very first thing you want to do is to make sure you get everything clean. Washing the wheels is usually a seperate step from washing the rest of the vehicle because wheels tend to have a lot of dirt and contaminates that you don't want associated with the paint. So when your ready to clean your wheels get a bucket of clean water, and a soft brush or sponge.

CLEANING - It's important to get a wheel cleaner that will safely clean your wheels. Many wheel cleaners are harsh with a high acid content that may be great for getting the dirt off, but is awful on your wheel's surface. I prefer to use Four Star Ultimate Wheel Cleaner Gel because it is PH balanced and will not cause any spotting or problems. It is safe to use on all wheels. All you need to do is spray it on and waiting 30sec, then washing it off with clean water and sponge.

Below are a few pictures after cleaning. The rim appears to be in decent shape but are dull with a haze and lacks shine:


A close up of surface reveals tiny surface scratches and marring.


POLISHING - Polishing can be far from fun or even easy but without it billet aluminum wheels just doesn't look that great. There's no real science behind polishing but I highly recommend using a soft towel or applicator preferably made out of microfiber. Apply a small amount of product to the applicator then rub on in a tight rotating motion. I've tried numerous products for polishing my wheels but so far my favorite is from a company named Adam's Polishes. Adam's Polishes are unique because they use a chemical cut instead of abrasives. This is great because there's less mess, and less effort required to get a great shine.

The polish leaves a haze after polishing that is easily wiped clean. The darker black areas of the haze is reminents of the polish at work. Your towel/applicator will become black from polishing.


Here is the rim after using Adam's Polish #1


A close-up of the rim shows how the surface has become noticeabley smoother.


Here is the rim after using Adam's Polish #2. In general if your wheels are kept up you could probably get away with just using Adam's Polish #2 to help maintain the shine.


SEALING - I like to take an extra step to seal the work.. The problem with most rim sealants is that they are wax based and are not designed to withstand the elements a wheel will see. They also have problems with the heat being generated from brakes. So even though applying a coat of wax to a freshly polished wheel was a great idea ultimately the benefits were short lived.
Recently a Wheel Sealing product from Poorboys was introduced that is designed specifically for use on wheels and will help protect the polished finish and prevent road contaminates and brake dust from embedding themselves in the wheel, making them much easier to clean.

Here's a final picture with wheel sealant applied:


Poorboys wheel sealant can be layered. Simply apply it with an applicator of your choice then let haze and wipe off. 2-3 layers is good and provides extra protection. I swear the wheel shines even more.


TIRE DRESSING - As a final step a dressing of choice should be applied to your tires. There are different products available but I personally find a gel based product to be the best. Also be aware that some products give a glossy finish while others are a more natural look. I like gel with a natural look because you can apply it to a sponge and then rub over the wheel without making a mess and the shine on the tire doesn't distract from the shine of the rims.

The Final picture. Rim detailed with Adam's Polishes #1,#2 and 2 coats Poorboys Wheel Sealant:

[5918MIKE]

Great write-up, another great sealant that works well is Klasse AIO / SG

[s10blaza]

Wow, what a change. How long does it last?

[Dallas@2020Kustoms]

Using Klasse AIO/SG isn't a bad idea if you have some kicking around but actually Poorboys Wheel Sealant was designed specifically for wheels where as Klasse is designed for paint. Don't get me wrong Klasse is a great product and is far better than nothing but Steve@Poorboys has done direct comparisons and has found his product to be easier maintain and has stayed cleaner over time.

You might actually want to try polishing your wheels, using Klasse AIO to clean and prep surface, then apply Poorboys Wheel Sealant over top.

The wheel sealant has no set amount of time it lasts because conditons vary so much. In general if you just drive on the streets (no offroading etc.) then the application will last longer some have reported around 3-4 months. Other considerations are how you clean your wheels. If you use a harsh chemical cleaner it will strip off the sealant, that's why I recommended the use of Four Star Ultimate Wheel Cleaner as it is PH balanced. Also be sure to wash your wheels with a soft pad, no brushes or anthing else that might be even the slightest abrasive.

[s10ls]

hmmm i'm gonna have to look into that poorboys stuff. i still wanna get my hands on that zoop sealer though. good write up man thanks for the info

[5918MIKE]

Yeah i'm a big fan of Poorboy's polishes so i'll definately give their wheel sealant a try.

[sdizzlemanizzle]

I havent seen those products at AutoZone, where do yal shop?

[Waynestowels]

Nice work on the polishing

Have you guys tried Zaino on wheels? It is a very long lasting sealant (longest durability on the market as tested by many including the "Guru reports")
I like long durability as I hate doing the wheels...

One "trick" is to use ceramic brake pads. They do not create as much dust as "traditional" brakes and the dust in lighter, so it is not as noticable.

Michelin has also come out with a new product- a Brake Dust Repellent that helps keep the dust off the wheels.

With the Zaino protecting, ceramic pads with less dust and Michelin repelling, I have nice looking wheels much longer.

You can find Zaino on line or at a local dealer and Autozone will have the Michelin spray and ceramic brakes...

I would rather detail the whole truck than do tires and wheels, so I make it last as long as possible

Hope this helps...

[Derek@2020Kustoms]

Quote: Originally Posted by sdizzlemanizzle

I havent seen those products at AutoZone, where do yal shop?

All the products used (Poorboy's & Adam's Polishes) can be found on our website at http://www.2020kustoms.com/?products

[96blazer]

Quote: Originally Posted by Dallas@2020Kustoms

The Final picture. Rim detailed with Adam's Polishes #1,#2 and 2 coats Poorboys Wheel Sealant:

The face looks really dull/flat. Maybe it's the way you took the pic (try a angle & have it reflect
different colors), but it should look deeper & have more of a clear mirrored look, like the
lip is giving.

See my half-assed polishing job, the face looks like a mirror.
And below it is the before finish for comparision.

[Dallas@2020Kustoms]

Yeah I didn't have the best lighting conditons because I was in my garage at the time. It was crappy outside so I couldn't take any decent pics in some natural light.

Trust me the shine is there.
One of the progress pics I took actually more resembles the shine you might get from natural light because at that time the door was open. I got cold and closed it later though... hahaha....

Nice job on your rims btw. I know almost all billet rims will shine like chrome given enough polishing I was just trying to introduce the results of a chemical cut product instead of the usual abrasive cut polishes. Much easier to use, same shine.

Here's the pic with the door open and some natural light, it's still reflecting junk in my garage but that's life...