i cleaned one of my wheels i thought were epilsons but i was informed i was wrong. well here is what i did.

wet sanded it with 600 grit then with 1000 grit. then with 600 and with 1000 again, and then again with both. after that i used mothers aluminum polish and polished theheck out of them. i plan to use more mothers to see if i can make them look better.

what else can i do to make them shine like crazy or is this the bets they are going to get?

also, the black paint seems to have some mold or something on it(can maybe see in one of the pics) and i plan to detail the wheels with a toothbrush but how can i bring back the shine in the black paint? i thought about repainting it with high gloss high heat paint and then with clear coat. what do you guys think?

another thing, where should i look for center caps? the whole is a little over 3"

thanks

 

Did you ever think of stripping the paint off and powdercoating?

 

^ditto^

 

Try going with an even finer sandpaper. I used 2000 grit before moving onto the polishing. I can see my reflection with my intake manifold, ableit with some swirls. It's hard to see in your pictures but I've seen wheels where it's literally a perfect mirror surface. There should be quite a few tutorials on the net.

 

i thought about this, but i need to find a place locally that will powder coat. also, i have stripped a set of wheels before, and man is it a bitch. i couldnt even get all the paint off. i used airplane paint stripper. if you know a way to get all the paint off let me know and ill start looking into finding someone to powder coat them

 

thats what i want, to be able to see my reflection. i think im going to go get some 1500 and 2000 grit and wet sand the heck out of this thing some more and see what i can get.

 

You can also use different grit polishing compunds, and even different hardness polishing buffs.

 

Easiest way is to put the rear of your car on jack stands put the wheel on. Start the car, put it thought the gears till the wheel spins at a rate your comfortable with. Take your 1000 grit sand paper and let the wheel sand itself. Then get that polish and let it polish itself with you just moving the paper and the polish along the rim. You will get alot more done that just rubbing it.

 

As long as the valve stems are removed.

 

hmm, i might have to look into that.

 

and hell with that method you can even get high off your exhaust fumes at the same time as you make your rims sexy... Have fun but remember a well ventalated area will help, but with my car you would still have tears rolling down your cheeks anyways lol... Nice rims by the way!

 

They are i saw them missing in the pictures

 

man i used mothers on my rims and they came out great....but i did a **** load of "coats" of mothers. I applied it .... wiped off many many many times....i used 800 grit wet sand paper first to get all te old crude off then i hand polished them. I think i put in about 50 to 60 hours total of polishing on these rims and they are still not 100% perfect..but ill like em they way they are..... ( im getting tires for them next week...i can't wait!!!)

Before!!



After!!