Help: Wheel Identification

[VonLego]

I recently purchased 01 mustang cobra wheels off a buddy's dad. They are stock, and for all the world look like polished alluminum. When I tried to clean them up using metal polish, no black residue was observed.

To my understanding this means that they are painted, not bare metal. Searching around I found that 01 offered a polished aluminum AND a powder coated wheel, while the 99 only offered the powder coated wheel.

Can powder coat mimic polished metal? Can powder coat be clear, and show through to the metal?

My whole word turned upside down when no black residue was observed. Unsure what to do now. Guess I'll go test other spots of the wheel, and throw some scratchX in the mix.

[VonLego]

Re: Help: Wheel Identification

Ok there is clearly some sort of interior coating, orange peel and everything. Still, it doesn't look quite the same on the surface of the wheel (facing outwards). ScratchX has no immediate effect after several applications, but I think I can do better. I'm leaning towards this being coated in some way.

I did get the black residue from the very interior of the wheel closest to the middle of the car. Visually, it is obviously not coated.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Help: Wheel Identification

Odds are they are coated and not just a bare, high polished aluminum. You mentioned that these are a factory wheel - car companies don't like bare, polished aluminum wheels because they're too hard to keep clean and shiny without damaging them by using harsh cleaners. Car companies don't like their customers calling with complaints that their expensive wheels no longer look nice or are too delicate.

As you've discovered, a metal polish does not turn your applicator black as it would had been dealing with bare metal. We've spoken with several people lately who have used ScratchX with great success to clean up fine scratches on wheels that fit a similar description, and since they are clear coated you could most likely use M105 as an option.

[Murr1525]

Re: Help: Wheel Identification

I dont think a powder coat would be clear?

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Help: Wheel Identification

I dont think a powder coat would be clear?

Nope, never heard of such a thing.

[southpactire]

Re: Help: Wheel Identification

Nope, never heard of such a thing.

Powder coat can be applied in any number of colors, including metallic look and clear. I have had two pieces of "yard art" powder coated clear by our local powder coat company. You get the look of metal without the rust....kind of reminds me the birdbath needs to be done next!

[roushstage2]

Re: Help: Wheel Identification

What metal polish did you use? When my polished wheels were super bad, NXT didn't turn black, which is ultimately led me to believe they were chrome. The Mag and Aluminum Polish showed me differently. BTW, the '01 Cobra had either polished wheels or silver powdercoated wheels.

[Kevin Brown]

Re: Help: Wheel Identification

I dont think a powder coat would be clear?

Gotta back up southpactire...

Clear powder-coat has been around for at least 18 years.
I know because I had a customer that had his wheels polished and then clear powder-coated that many years ago.

Nowadays, some cars are utilizing powder-coat technology as the final coating on the exterior body of a car (as opposed to paint)...!!!

[VonLego]

Re: Help: Wheel Identification

What metal polish did you use? When my polished wheels were super bad, NXT didn't turn black, which is ultimately led me to believe they were chrome. The Mag and Aluminum Polish showed me differently. BTW, the '01 Cobra had either polished wheels or silver powdercoated wheels.

aye looked that up on wiki. Pretty sure they're powdercoated by the looks (in retrospect)

Guess I'll get some good ol' paint polishing action going on.

[VonLego]

Re: Help: Wheel Identification

Argh 1 min on edit.

How hard is clear coat vs powder coat?

Assuming powder coat is tougher.

[VonLego]

Re: Help: Wheel Identification

Oh Rousch (tyler right?) -- Do you know if the powder coated paint looks any different than polished?

[VonLego]

Re: Help: Wheel Identification

While I'm here-- Anyone know a great place to pick up stock used wheels? Please PM me if you do.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Help: Wheel Identification

ScratchX has no immediate effect after several applications, but I think I can do better.

And that's the experience I've had when working on powder coated components... powder coatings don't seem to like to be cleaned, (abraded), or polished by hand or machine. You can wash powder coatings which will remove loose surface dirt and wax these coatings which will adds some shine, but to date, trying to remove swirls, scratches or stains doesn't seem to work when using traditional paint care products.

Maybe someone else who's had luck with working on powder coatings can someday post what they've used?

[roushstage2]

Re: Help: Wheel Identification

Oh Rousch (tyler right?) -- Do you know if the powder coated paint looks any different than polished?

Honestly, I haven't seen a clear powdercoated wheel before so I am not sure.

[VonLego]

Re: Help: Wheel Identification

All good, thanks guys. They don't look bad, but the OCD in me is crying.

btw, new forum is much more managable.