Help with cleaning machined aluminum wheel!

[chrylaser]

I'll give that a shot. Thanks!

[subboz]

If my links are not withing forum policy rules I am sorry and feel free to edit them out as needed.


Bit of info I found. These were NOT clear coated and very badly anodized, almost looked like galvanized fence post. You notice below I used Mothers Mag and Wheel Polish mostly. After every step I did a soapy wash and rinse just to see progress and start with new product. Hell it might have been a waste?
Through trial and error I tried

Blue Corral Metal Polish- I was not at all impressed with the results on Alum, but I was very impressed with the cleaning and polish ability on really rusted chrome wheel caps. Kinda chemically but hey old school nasty smells just seem to work better. (old carb clean, old brake clean, degreaser, metal cleaners.....worked great before the EPA got in and made stuff skin friendly and kid drinkable)

http://bluemagicusa.com/index.php/bl...ish_cream_jar/

Turtle Wax Chrome polish- I remember a day when this product rocked. Now it totally under impressed me.Maybe polish great but lacking cleaning ability.

http://www.turtlewax.com/detail-Chro...ish-47-81.aspx

Eagle One Nevr-DULL Now this was just to much surface area for this. From my navy days there is nothing better on copper or brass stuffy thingy. Just you go through lots of wadding for large project. Not bad product though.

http://www.eagleone.com/nevr-dull-wadding-polish

Mothers Mag and Alum Polish- Now for cleaning ability this stuff is the bomb. Seems you can use to little and more seems to work better in my application..However this stuff does not bring out the shine like the MEGS. Still phenomenal product for retail/over-the counter.

http://www.mothers.com/02_products/05100-05101.html

Megs All Metal Polish now this stuff has pop when it comes to chrome and alum shine. I figured it came with the kit so I tried it after the mothers and like the finish product better. Lacking same cleaning power as Mothers but you notice its my final polish product. Powercone is a rockstar in its own right on ANY polishing job. Nice job on plastic spin handle.
http://www.meguiars.com/en/automotiv...l-metal-polish
http://www.meguiars.com/en/automotiv...-polishing-kit

3M headlight resto Foam Pad and drill adapter. Just helpful polishing flat surface with any polish.
http://www.autogeek.net/3m-headlight...FcldTAodiicAxQ


This was the applicator style I used to slap the goo on from the can. Very good to use in my opinion.


Cleaning Alum (my severe ones) less severe might be different. Just my opinion
1. Mothers
2. Megs
Cleaning Chrome (I know they may have chrome specific)
1.Blue Coral
1A.Megs
2. Mothers
Polish Pop and Bang
1. Megs
2. Mothers

I could have gone to more perfection but what you see is better part of 6 hours for the 4 wheels in my garage on a 100 degree night. I was done and though I could have worked out every nick the reality is these are PEP Boys Proline Rims that are just not high dollar rims. I was just trying to stretch the $100 dollars I paid for them to look nice on the car is all.

Polished and on the car.

















IF I remember I used like 600 grit and worked down a bit on crappy areas but mostly just red SB


Started middle with red scotchbrite stuck to Foam attachment for 3m headlight kit. Basically just put it between foam and wheel with liberally applied Mothers Mag and Wheel polish then ran drill.



Then ran just the foam thingy with MMW again.


Started working by hand with Red SB and MMW


This stage leaves a no shine flashed like surface.Dont worry it will polish out

Do whole wheel by hand or with some attachment and Red SB. Note how liberally I applied the MMW. At this stage I might have done an extra step but went over whole wheel with foam 3m applicator on electric drill and MMW


Final Product
After all the REDSB and Foam MMW I then finally went to the MEGS powercone with the All metal polish.

[subboz]

That's pitting and anodized. Try products with steel wool but I think at that level you will sand with greater and greater grits then final polish.