Chrome wheels + soap and water.... You might not belive your eyes

[Nappers]

Re: Chrome wheels + soap and water.... You might not belive your eyes

Awesome results.

[MDetail]

Re: Chrome wheels + soap and water.... You might not belive your eyes

Thats pretty amazing.

[Raymond]

Re: Chrome wheels + soap and water.... You might not belive your eyes

That's unbelievable! Awesome job man.

[ozSS]

Re: Chrome wheels + soap and water.... You might not belive your eyes

thats incredible! looking at that first pic i would have said they were done for!

[TKDDAD]

Re: Chrome wheels + soap and water.... You might not belive your eyes

Yikes !...that's what "detailing" is all about !!...4 hours is huge....

great results and that's what true detailing is all about !

[cnfowler]

Re: Chrome wheels + soap and water.... You might not belive your eyes

Wow, Brett, awesome results! I seriously didn't think anything would save that wheel after seeing the first picture. You lucky son of a gun! Looks like you'll be investing in a PowerBall and some chrome polish!

Colin

[Daniel Kinder]

Re: Chrome wheels + soap and water.... You might not belive your eyes

hey brett
try some blue magic on the one rim that was pretty bad.
it's pretty aggressive,so go easy (you can install scratches in chrome by rubbing to hard)and start out using a micro fiber towel.If that's not bringing the results try a terry cloth towel or even a red shop rag that's pretty rough for a towel.
I do the same thing when I have extra time to kill. You learn different things by trying what to do and what not to do.What to use and what not to use. Again great job on your rims. Makes you more proud of yourself fixing something old to look as good as new or better then just going out and buying it!

[97 Supra]

Re: Chrome wheels + soap and water.... You might not belive your eyes

4 hours!!!!!! Your a nut! -

Rims look awesome!

haha

If the guy who gave me the wheels had any idea they could clean up so nicely, he would probably never have given them to me in the first place. But fair is fair I asked him 4 times, he kept saying yes take them so I did.

When I sell them I will be sure not to mention it to anybody who knows him

[97 Supra]

Re: Chrome wheels + soap and water.... You might not belive your eyes

Well, basically I didn't have any chrome polish here and I just wanted to see how far soap and water could go. I got so into the results after a while that I just kept at it. I was bored too, so it helped me stay busy and got me a free workout haha.

I would not recommend this over a power tool and some chrome polish of course, but just for the sake of "could it be done" I had to find out - yes it can be done.

I tried the worst of the 4 wheels, it came out good, but not as good as the first wheel.

[Superior Shine]

Re: Chrome wheels + soap and water.... You might not belive your eyes

4 hours!!!!!! Your a nut! -

Rims look awesome!

[Daniel Kinder]

Re: Chrome wheels + soap and water.... You might not belive your eyes

great job brett!
wheels look fantastic but why didn't you use the chrome polish with the wash cloth first and saved at least half that time?

[stealth]

Re: Chrome wheels + soap and water.... You might not belive your eyes

WOW! Outstanding results & write up.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: Chrome wheels + soap and water.... You might not belive your eyes

What a simple solution. I thought they were hopeless. Great save way to go.

[97 Supra]

Miracle Solution:

1.) 1 bucket of warm water
2.) 1 cup of Meguiars deep crystal car wash liquid soap
3.) 1 every day small wash cloth
4.) Patients, and determination

I got a set of pitted rusted chrome wheels today. After asking everyone what to do about refinishing them I decided that the best approach to any job is start with the simple things.. "don't fix it if it isn't broken." I could see visually the wheels needed more than a little TLC, but I was determined to find a less expensive alternative to having them re-chromed.



In this next photo, I had rubbed a test area with my car wash water mix to see if there was even shine to be found under the corrosion. That is what inspired me to keep at it.



I did some research on rust, and how it forms on the surface of metal. I used some basic knowledge of how sand paper and abrasive materials work on removing small bits of material at a time. I decided that since household wash clothes are normally too rough for the surface of a car, that would be my scrubbing medium for the chrome. Rags are soft enough to not hurt the surface of metal, yet course enough to abrade certain materials.

I scrubbed the same wheel by hand, for a little over 4 hours. Back and fourth, side to side.. etc. It was tedious, and my fingers are quite wrinkly and sore but there is nothing cheaper than your own labor. I'm all about saving money when it comes to DIY projects. Aren't we all?





I'm not done yet, but I just wanted to share this with you all because although some tasks appear to be hopeless, auto detail is all about second chances.

After I hit them with chrome polish, I'm sure they will be about as good as new.

Thanks for looking, go buy Meguiars Deep Crystal Car Wash Liquid! It is what miracles are made of.

- Brett