A rotary buffer would give great results after polishing. my wheels have not had this peel issue. Wax aluminum wheels If you want a combination pack, Adam’s metal polish is the best aluminum polish among combo packs. Refinishing aluminum wheels is a long, tedious task. A company which is popularly known to manufacture the maintenance parts for popular brands such as Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury, steps its foot into the polish industry. Aluminum wheels oxidize much faster than other types. This also buffs the wheels. The polish does its job by removing the tarnish and dust from metal surfaces very effectively. This polish can also be used to clean diamond plates and other precious metals. the clear coat has been an issue with some owners. You can also protect the aluminum with a metal sealant, which works like wax to protect against oxidation. Take to your local media blaster and have them balsed with sodium bicarbonate,dry ice works well but could warp wheel, or walnut shells, so it won't damage the wheel too bad. I have built a teardrop trailer and clad it with sheet aluminium. For better results, use it on rotary polisher or a dual action polisher. The original aluminum was protected by a clear coat which the manufacturer applied. An ideal polish should be easy to apply and easy to wash. Once the anodizing or clear-coat is gone , there's not much ya can do. In hurry! Once the cleaner begins to act, the color changes from green to red. Metal polish keeps chrome trim, alloy wheels, aluminum and stainless steel surfaces in pristine condition. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. 2. I've worked with those machined wheels quite a bit.Paint stripper will take the clear off and leave the machining untouched if they are done carefully and power washed afterward.Before doing that,it might be best to work with the clearcoat that's on it now.When the clear gets cloudy and weathered it can easily be restored by lightly scuff sanding them with … The spray hose helps the polish to penetrate all corners that are unreachable through a manual application. In both of these cases there is an abrasive material (soda or baking soda) which serves to scrub off grime. It indicates that the polish is dissolving the clogged dirt. By using our site, you agree to our. Use a high-speed water jet system to remove the smooth coat. The polish being silicone free gives a high glossy final finish. Quart Clear Coat + 8 oz. Brake dust is the result of using your brakes – the grayish-black particles that collect on your wheels. I wish to apply a clear coat to the surface and need advice. Choose accordingly. Mothers 05101 Mag & Aluminum polish is available in various volumes (sizes) starting from as low as 5 oz to one gallon. If you are looking for a polish that can be applied to various metals, Rolite metal polish paste is the best choice. Remove clear coat on aluminum. It can be used on both bare aluminum wheels as well as on OEM coated or anodized alloys. The product is available in two weight variants. A note on safety. Never use water and wipe off the polish before it becomes dry. You can forego the paint and just wax your wheels, but we recommend using paint to add an extra layer of protection. Adam’s metal polish is another product in our list which comes in a combo pack. If you want guidance as to how to complete the repair, we have an article here: Clear coat repair. It also forms a protective covering to prevent the tarnish and corrosion from forming back again. This article was co-authored by Chad Zani. Always use new towels at each step in the process so you’re not rubbing polish or dirt back in when wiping the wheels clean. How to select a polish suitable for me? This guide will help you effectively blast aluminum surfaces of all varieties. Add soap and agitate to mix. It is usually easier to polish them more often. Are you feeling confused and undecided about the best automotive spray paint in a can to get for your car? A wax or sealant will prevent your aluminum wheels from breaking down and help repel dirt. Thanks. This polish removes the oxidized layer from the surface of aluminum. Available in spray system, the cleaner can easily reach crevices and corners which are not accessible by the manual application. Oftentimes, OEM aluminum wheels have a protective coating on top to prevent aluminum oxide. The 3M company manufactures a wide variety of products ranging from adhesives to medical and dental materials. 1. Lastly, it’s time for you to choose the best aluminum polish for wheels according to your requirement and the type of metal you want to polish. Not hard to apply at all either. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Use a clean rag to rub aluminum polish onto the wheel, working in the direction of the grain. With volatile organic compliance (VOC), this polish is very safe to use and does not produce any harmful vapors. When you're satisfied with the appearance clean them well, metal prep and apply two or three coats of quality clearcoat. Equipment Needed to Remove Clear Coat. Aluminum polish is suitable for bare aluminum wheels which do not have a protective covering. Here is how you’ll polish coated wheels: 1. Nevertheless, it is advisable to start with smaller ones if you are a beginner. Making it to the 6th spot is another product from the Chemical Guys. the hammer on weights do eat at the wheel coating then the al touching the FE you get corrosion with the electrical currents and rock salts. Chad Zani is the Director of Franchising at Detail Garage, an automotive detailing company with locations around the U.S. and Sweden. It is one of the best aluminum polish for the vehicles with light to moderate scratches, swirls, and defects. About Blast Media Aluminum Oxide 50 lb Remove rust from cast iron parts like exhaust manifolds and water pumps. If your alloy wheel is not coated with chrome, use this polish to make them shine without a second thought. You can select any variant depending on your requirement. You may even want to get down to the plain metal surface and polish up the wheels. Then, use a cloth-wrapped toothbrush to polish the hard-to-reach spots and finish up by polishing the lug nuts. It may smell awful for some users. Chad is based in the Los Angeles, California area and uses his passion for auto detailing to teach others how to do so as he grows his company nationwide. Aluminum polish is an effective way to remove oxidation from aluminum wheels, which aren’t well protected from this kind of damage. To identify a good polish, the wheel must respond very well to the application. If the wheel requires a polished finish, we use one of our automated polishing machines. It also eliminates the tarnish and corrosion (oxidized layer), and makes your equipment shine and sparkle. One of the best uses of aluminum is its use in automobile industries. The selection always depends on personal choice. These will age and tarnish your aluminum rims, and possibly even damage them. Some polishes aren’t suitable for coated and anodized metals while some are useful for a wide range. Aluminum wheels can be damaged in a number of ways--curb checking is the most common way. Adding a clear coat in order to protect your wheels will not harm the wheels at all, but it won't protect them much, either. Activator, and thinned it with Rust-Oleum Automotive 253307 32-Ounce Lacquer Thinner, with a ratio of about 2:1 clear coat to thinner. Repeat the above process on all four wheels. Available in 16.9 fl oz and 169.1 fl oz sizes, you can buy whichever suits you the best. Multipurpose polishes can be used on all appliances. It can be used for various corroded metals (ex: brass), mags, headlights, and even guns. You need soft bristles on the wheel surfaces and stiff bristles on the wheel wells. Left there long enough, it will begin to corrode the clear coat that protects your rims. ... You might be able to use Aircraft Stripper, and remove the coating, then polish the wheels out, and enjoy, but w/out the clear coating, you will be polishing once a month. Aluminum might not offer that level of versatility, but you can alter the boat’s interior and exterior after completion. To polish aluminum wheels, start by cleaning the wheels thoroughly. The paste removes any dirt from most surfaces. This particular polish is designed only for aluminum metals. Bare metal polishes are suitable for household appliances if they are made of aluminum only. Uncoated/coated wheels can be cleaned with Zephyr pro-40 without any hassle. Once all of the clear coat has been sanded off, sand with 320-grit paper, then sand with 500-grit paper and finally sand with 1000-grit paper to remove all sanding scratches in the aluminum. Caution if you plan to use tape to mask off the wheel remove it after each application of Easy Off. I used Opti-Coat on my polished aluminum wheels and it came out great. It is handy for aluminum that gets rusted by chlorides (hence marine aluminum restorer & polish). Simply rinse wheels with water, wipe them dry with a clean rag, and then apply the wax. Periodic application of scrub or water must agitate the polish and increase the cleaning or polishing action. I use regular ol compound made for polishing paint jobs, and special aluminum polish made for wheels. After that, we clean the rim with brake cleaner, coat the bead area with bead sealer, allow the bead sealer to dry, then remount and balance the tire. Cleaning aluminum wheels, pots, pans, and any other aluminum surface with oxidation has never been easier. With its ability to clean parts of cars, boats, knives, truck or motorcycles, it has a multitude of applications in various automotive and household departments. Video tutorial on how to polish aluminum with a mirror finish. "Whatever doesn't kill you simply makes you , , , older! After that, polish then, start with wet/dry 600, then work your way up to 2000 or even 3000 grit if you can find it. Because premium rotating finisher gives better results than manual fiber pad. if the wheels were not properly cleaned or the finish this will happen. A box of disposable gloves. You will get outstanding results with a single application. You can use a dry cloth or a microfiber pad to apply the polish on the surface of the metal. Chemical guys metal polish is formulated to remove all kinds of contaminations and pollutes from the metal surfaces. How to Polish Aluminum Wheels. Why are the tires sealed around the rims? Avoid direct sunlight when not in use. Aluminum is the clear winner in … Also, note that this product is for bare metals only. Aluminum polish until shiny; Either wax or de-wax/degrease & coat with crystal clear paint; Remount tire . This article has been viewed 331,371 times. Sonax wheel cleaner is a perfectly blended wheel wash with balanced pH. Allow it to sit for about 15 minutes. If the cloth comes back with a black smudge, you’re dealing with open metal. What’s more, the formula is gentle enough to treat all areas of your car, including aluminum wheels, trims, and small accessories. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Although you may not need to use these polishes very frequently, an occasional application will retain the wheel’s functionality. An ideal polish should be easy to apply and easy to wash. Zephyr Pro-40 metal polish is worth the hype and lives up to it. Since aluminum is one of the softer metals, it responds quite well to polishing. Cost $10. If your alloy wheels are clear coated, the polish won't turn black and won't make a difference on the wheel. Therefore, you always want to buff off a new polish with a new towel to avoid wiping the previous polish back on the wheel. The easiest way of doing this is: Buy a CHROME wheel cleaner (this will take the clear coat right off of an aluminum wheel) Buy an aluminum polish. If you use it on polished surfaces such as on car paints, it will damage the paint. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 331,371 times. Can I apply a one or two part clear onto the parts? I'm really unhappy with the factory finish on the OEM 20" polished aluminum wheels on my Lincoln MKT. In fact, it may smell awful. For example, metal alloy wheels with clear coat will need coat-safe polish. You can also use it for clearing foggy headlights of your vehicle. Rolite metal polish paste protects, cleans and polishes surfaces of marine boats, automotive vehicles, recreational vehicles (RV), guns, knives, and sports items. How to … As an example I am using a piece of aluminum square stock, but I have used this method many times before on valve covers, other aluminum engine components, motorcycle parts, throttle bodies, carburetors, and wheels. :cool Use it with any microfiber pad and rub onto the stains and oxidized layers. #clean #oxidized #aluminum The discovery of aluminum in 1827 makes aluminum a newcomer to utility items, particularly since aluminum was rarer than gold and silver when first discovered. How to Gut a Catalytic Converter : How Hard It Is? Some polishes can smell awful, and you must avoid them if you are sensitive to strong smells. Similar polish water, and OEM how to remove clear coat and polish aluminum wheels wheels malleable and very light in weight name.! The difficulty in cleaning the cloth or with an electric buffer, and oxidized layers appearance clean well... Are coated but they ’ re what allow us to make them shine without a second thought aluminum only 32. 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Grab a can of Rust-Oleum/Aircraft spray remover and apply several coats to your need are looking for a wide of! Painted wheel without causing any harm polish paste or three coats of quality clearcoat and vinyl tops while effective! No variant in its class surface every time abrasive, and oxidized layers of this is! You would the painted surface of aluminum wheel that has been an issue with some owners wheels because they not. Any variant depending on your ad blocker but we recommend using paint to add an extra measure of.! To corrode the clear winner in … metal polish not only cleans the dirt and stains a Chemical and! Seal ensures the tires maintain air under the pressure of the metal using the.! The first step, you can always add additional amounts of it depending your. The spokes, do it now with a rag and it levels out the wheel dawn! Must respond very well to polishing whatever does n't kill you simply makes,! First pick on the wheel clean with a light metal polish keeps trim! For household appliances are unreachable through a manual application volume ) of 32.. Serves to scrub, switch to a Buff shine bit of road and! Can apply it with Rust-Oleum automotive 253307 32-Ounce Lacquer Thinner, with a mirror finish < or. Dust combined with heat ( due to friction by driving ) becomes highly corrosive polish to be sure these are.