Aluminum Wheels - suggestions

[Bill Davidson]

I have some classic aluminum wheels that I want to practice on. Something has leached out from behind each of the rivets and blemished the finish. It's possible that I was negligent in cleaning them properly around the rivets. I'm not sure.

They don't have a clearcoat, but if you look close you will see that there are lines cut into the surface of the finish so I can't remove material without making them look horrible.

How do you suggest I attempt to remove these blemishes?

I've never used acid based products. Would something like muriatic acid along with a toothbrush do the trick?

p.s. I don't mind if I ruin them practicing, so I'm open to creative suggestions. Maybe I'll have to spend 100's of hour scraping each line with a dental pick :-)

Bill

[TOGWT]

Re: Aluminum Wheels - suggestions

Caswell Buffing sells cones / pads that would help along with metal polishes

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Aluminum Wheels - suggestions

If there really is no clear coat then any decent aluminum polish, like Meguiar's Hot Rims Mag & Aluminum Polish, and some elbow grease will bring the finish back. If you start working on the surface and your applicator does NOT come up black as soot almost instantly, then you actually do have a clear coat, and a whole different problem.

[Paint-Shield.ca]

Re: Aluminum Wheels - suggestions

Try smoothing them out with a Scotchbrite pad and mildly abrasive metal cleaner, followed by a cutting wheel and some jewelers rouge.

You'll need a angle grinder for the cutting wheel or a air drill with the right attachment.

With such a small area you could also use a dremel tool with the right bit as well.

You should be able to buy the rouge at most truck stops or truck accessory stores. I know Peterbilt over here in the west end carries everything but the cutting wheel. Fastenal over here in the west end carries generic scotchbrit pads. Gregg Dis carries the cutting wheels, rouge, dremel bits, etc.

[bmrfan]

Re: Aluminum Wheels - suggestions

Assuming there is NO clear coat...

I would be very careful about using Muriatic Acid (aka Hydrochloric Acid) on the wheels. If the rivets are Chrome plated steel, the muriatic acid can damage (even strip) the chrome plating.

If you're trying to remove the "oxidation" next to the rivets, I would try an aluminum polish on cotton q-tips.