New or old asked again

These are some of those new wheels after a year
Before after 10 to 15 min of polishing with buffs, no sandpaper. If you zoom in you will not see any pitting.

 

What do you need?

If you just starting out and your truck doesn’t see much salt or is less than 5 years old I would start with:

Harbor freight buffer you will need this black flange (you can get anywhere you get polishing stuff) and a nut (I use the one off me dewalt 4” grinder) The buffer doesn’t come with these items.

I would start with a white buff. Any brand works. You don’t want a flannel. They are too soft. You want one like this with white polishing compound. You also want to get a rake to clean the wheel. ( photo later)

This is a good way to practice your technique and can’t really do to much damage. The results will be stunning even if the wheels are nasty.

Once your done buffing there will be compound left on the wheel. WHipe this off with acetone and a clean microfiber towel.

Once the residual compound is all whipped off (there will still be some haze left) hit it with this stuff on a little hand pad then polish off by hand with a clean micro fiber towel.

This will be the best bang for the buck and a great way to bring back the luster to anything polished aluminum. You will love the results.

You can do front wheels while still on the truck with tires on no problem.

Drives and trailer wheels , you can get most of it but is tough around the lug nuts. For best results dismount the wheel off the truck ( you can leave the tires on). If you can’t get the wheels off the truck you can use the pro 40 by hand around the lugs. You can also use the pro 40 around the valve stem by hand.

Make sure you polish in the same direction of the wheel.

Round and round!!!!

Not in and out!!!!

If that makes since?

 

Ok let’s get a little more serious:

Acid clean the wheels. Don’t use any of that citrus or biodegradable crap. This stuff is serous. You may have to do them 3 or 4 times. Once you spray it on agitate it with a scotchbrite pad ( green) round and round , not in and out!!! rinse and repeat until aluminum is white with no streaks. If there is streaks keep going and scub a little harder and let it sit a little longer. The streaks are hard to sand out.

I use a 5 in harbor freight da sander. I’ve been using it for 3 years.
I keep all my sandpaper in a cooler to help keep the moisture away.

60, 80, 100, 150, 220, 320, 600 and 800. You won’t find the 320, 600 or 800 at the store. Must order on line.

I usualy start with the 150 grit and work my way up to the 600. If you have really bad spots use the rougher stuff. You’ll see it when you are done with the 150 because you can’t sand out the pits or scratches. Don’t use anything rougher than the 150 in corners or edges. You will never get it out no matter how much you sand!!!

The 800 was not a good purchase. You will actually be polishing once you start using the 320 and 600. The 800 would be great for a show truck but we are working on working trucks.

Sand, sand, sand some more.

Try not to gouge with the edge of the paper, keep the sander moving and, again try not to gouge the aluminum!!!!!

Then sand some more and keep sanding!!!!

The more you sand the better the polish job will be.


Did I mention sand some more!

 

More later....

Time to eat and go to bed

 

Ha, ha, ha!!!!

I got like 70+ hours in it and I’m sore as ###& from polishing alone. For 10 wheels, 2 tanks, 2 steps, front bumper and the headache rack. I put another 15 or so hours into other stuff too. 10 days worth total.

wish I could just wash the shine on?!?!

Lol. I thought you were asking me my process for polishing?

 

Since I quit smoking I bought myself a present. A new set of low Ryder Hogebuilt fenders. I made my own blind mounts for fun!!( haha)

 

Lost an airbag on my cab suspension. The ld unit came out as handfuls of rust. New unit showed up in 3 days as a complete unit for $750. Money well spent in my world. Last new tool box instaled. generator installed in the new box and old box is gone. cut up two of the old boxes and made a donnage rack