polishing aluminum wheels

[chevy_z71]

what should i use to polish aluminum wheels on a semi. I did some a month ago and i used mothers polish with a powerball. the wheels where shiny but not like i expected. what else can i use to get them to shine really good. is there any kind of buffers to use. any help is appriciated.

[Murr1525]

First, I assume you are sure they are bare aluminum, cause I have no idea.

Meguiars Nxt Metal Polysh is a really great product to use.

As far as machines, check out the thread
"Blinded by the Shine" by 2hotford. I think he uses a rotary however on the boat. There is another thread by someone restoring a diamond plate tool chest with Nxt Metal Polysh.

[jeen]

a terry cloth towel, and the nxt metal polish really works wonders on polished metals. if the wheels are bad, it may take a few towels, but the results are astounding. i too used a powerball, and it seemed good for an initial pass, but i went back over the wheel by hand, and the towel still had plenty of sut and whatnot on it.

i had a laugh when my sister was polishing silver from the early 1900s with some "silver polish". i told her i had something that she might want to try. i went out and got a terry cloth with some nxt polish, and gave it a shot. this stuff is incredible. ill try to get a few pictures in the future. great product

[MotorcycleDetailing]

Nxt gene all metal polish is very good and all but have you ever tried to do a semi by hand......there has to be a product(s) to you spray on....leave for a little while and wipe or spray of with applying a spray wax or protectant over the top.

From detailing motorcycles it takes me about 2 hours to do the painted surfaces from wash to wax and another 4 to 6 to polish the metal sufaces by hand with nxt gene all metal polish....

Any hints.....Mike?

[Murr1525]

The only way to polish is to actualy polish the surface.

But, you could always use a wheel cleaner first, esp if you have them polished already. I use the Multi-Piece wheel cleaner on my muffler/tips for washes after having polished them.

[Tim Lingor]

Hey,

I have done a lot of metal polishing and I have yet to find a liquid spray on type of cleaner than will bring aluminum to a bright shine. Yes, you can use an aluminum safe wheel cleaner to clean the wheels, but as the others have said, polishing is required for a high gloss. Do NOT use Meg's Wheel Brigthener or other wheel acids unless it says that it aluminum safe.

Tim