Polishing Wheels

[Neilp]

Here are a few tips with polishing rims. Items needed : zero zero steel wool, Paint stripper, A polishing buff of some sort, Autosol or equivalent metal polish, A good quality masking tape I have found 3M to be the best, as wide as you can get it. Mask up wheels and use paint stripper, apply liberally (make sure it is safe to use on Alloy) wash off, reapply as necessary. Use some 00 grade steel wool, most h/ware stores will have some, I got mine from Bunnings. Now the hard part, lots of elbow grease needed here, use steel wool and water to remove any left over bits of paint, etch primer etc. Apply Autosol fairly liberally and attack with buff.
As a personel choice I removed all the casting stamps and marks with a file and dremmel (looks much cleaner) There are currently no clear finish coats that do not yellow or deteriorate with age, so you will need to keep up the polish to keep them looking good.
A tip when washing your bike, make sure the whhels are completely dry when you are finished, otherwise you can get water marks.
If you intend to repaint the wheels you will need some Etch primer and top coat paint. I just use spray packs to good effect.
Hope this helps.

[Phil]

thanks for that neil, i've virtually done exactly as you said except for the fact i did some 800 and 1200 wet and dry before the autosol step.

i've just started on the autosol and they are comming up a treat.

What sort of polishing attachement did you use on the dremel, i've got several different variations so far i've been doing it by hand

[Nanna10r]

Saw Neils Rims last night they look better then my $400 job on the "tiggr". Great Post Neil. Jas can this be put in the how to section please.
Cheers Brett

[greenmeanie]

What a mate does when he cleans his polished wheels is just uses water then uses a blowvac(thing you use for blowing leaves away) to blow the water off/dry so you don't get water marks.

[Rossi]

mate,
the best thing I have found instead of steel wool is to use valve seat cutting paste on a rag.
Wash the wheels, dry off with the mrs's best kitchen towels then chamois leather. Grab a clean rag and spray some WD40 on it and wipe it around the polished wheels.....next time they need cleaning, just hose the shit off.
The WD40 thing works wonders on painted wheels, at shifting chain grease off of your wheels before you wash them

[Smitty]

mate,
the best thing I have found instead of steel wool is to use valve seat cutting paste on a rag.

fine..of course.....

[mrmina]

The WD40 thing works wonders on painted wheels, at shifting chain grease off of your wheels before you wash them

thanks for the tip. my rear wheel is filthy due to chain lube.