How to polish mag wheels

[75wagon]

This is how I polish mag wheels, or any alloy...
The mag wheel before I started.....


The tools needed for the job


Rub with wet & dry to remove pitting. File off Gutter rash (easier when tyre and wheel weights are not fitted).


After cutting compound and sisal wheel (the small grey wheel and grey polish stick)


After polishing with polishing compund and cloth wheel (large wheel and with polish stick)


Wheel fitted to my car


Obviously I haven't spent much time on prepping the wheel. The better the wheel the better the result. If more time was spent removing marks and scratches from the wheels then the result would be a lot better. But I did this to prove a point. Wheels/ alloy can be polished in your garage at home. If they are knocked about, that is when you may need a professional or just not bother. These rims, when and if I use them will have the tyres and wheel weights removed. I would then remove all signs of gutter rash, and fully paint the centre, leaving only the polished outer.

To anyone who is going to attempt this, the more prep you put in the better the result.

These rims were in average condition for age, and very little prep put in.

Here's the difference

[karl_2ltgc]

I did it to sigma turbo wheels years ago for my galant...all by hand started with rough sandpaper (like 80 grit) slowly worked all the way to 1200, then used polish and a rag.

I had to start wearing gloves after the first wheel because my fingers were actually bleeding through the skin.

[75wagon]

That wheel took me about half an hour.

To be honest, I probably should have spent double that. Nut I think the results speak for themselves. I only used 320 grit wet & dry. Put bugger all prep in. It works and it does a good job. The polishing kits are available at real tool stores and auto paint outlets. The cost about $40 i think from memory.

[77galantv6]

the old datto rims haha.

nice work dave....

paint the centres white and they would look mint

[karl_2ltgc]

My opinion is do it properly and then clear coat them when your done...otherwise every time the wheel gets wet it will lose its shine. Will save lots of time and they will look good for years.

[75wagon]

This polish is like a waxy type of stuff. They last for ages after you do it. I redo mine every 6 months, and it only takes about 5 minutes a wheel.

[75wagon]

Here is the link for the kit.
http://www.josco.com.au/newsite/jia/pro ... ing_pk.htm

I've bought an extra arbor and a larger cloth wheel.

[13bsigma]

would you do mine turbo rims for $100? lol. seriously. i'v attempted a bit of one. but am clearly not getting around to finnishing them lol.

[75wagon]

Got a photo of them?

[13bsigma]

i can do. they at home. i get a photo in a day or so when i go back there

[amgis_obrut]

i buffed all the shine off my turbo wheels with a scotchbrite and gumption, look sooooooooo much better than shiny

[mooey1232003]

75wagon do you have anymore pics of your car with the same wheels that are in your post?

[75wagon]

75wagon do you have anymore pics of your car with the same wheels that are in your post?

These ones? No, but what are you after? You might just inspire me to take some. I've only got one of them polished so far. They are Globe 'Bathurst Mk1's' (MK'2's have wheel centre caps that cover the nuts). Gaphil is coming over 2moro, I want to take some pics of his car with them on.


Dave...

[mooey1232003]

75wagon do you have anymore pics of your car with the same wheels that are in your post?

These ones? No, but what are you after? You might just inspire me to take some. I've only got one of them polished so far. They are Globe 'Bathurst Mk1's' (MK'2's have wheel centre caps that cover the nuts). Gaphil is coming over 2moro, I want to take some pics of his car with them on.


Dave...

O ok thanks. was just wondering because i saw an ad for wheels like these and wanted to know how it looks on a old skool car before i make a trip to go see them.

[75wagon]

How's this?

[mooey1232003]

Thanks... Looks good

[DanTurboLancer]

Found this new Polishing tool for wheels and the hard to get into spots, thought it might be handy

Its a Mothers Product called a Power Cone.
Its been advertised in all the latest Car mags.
Looks great for getting into hard to reach spots...

[shuggy]

I did it to sigma turbo wheels years ago for my galant...all by hand started with rough sandpaper (like 80 grit) slowly worked all the way to 1200, then used polish and a rag.

I had to start wearing gloves after the first wheel because my fingers were actually bleeding through the skin.

i experienced this yesterday.. spend 2.5 hours sanding one wherrit from 120 grit wet n dry, through 240, 400, 600 and finally 1200
this was after sandblasting them all on a low pressure like 100psi
and just then i spent an hour n a half repainting the red and cleaning it up with petrol
a hell of a job but well worth it in the end - i think anyways.

heres the progress / final product - still have to polish them but i have to wait for the paint to dry first..

before


after sandblasting (i got the paint off with stripper later)


after sanding for hours and repainting




cheers

[shuggy]

here is final product of 1(ONE) mag PWS Globe Montego haha





cheers

[mrd]

Awesome thread, I think I'll move this one into the interior/exterior tutorials section.

[dvsfin]

where would i get one of those powercone things...i went loking for it today...but nobody knew what i was talking about

[75wagon]

Going by the pic, Autoone, AutObarn or Autopro...

DanTurboLancer told me the add was in StreetMachine I think?

[colta51]

that wheel looks sweet

[GC75]

they look mad andrew ...

[shuggy]

yeh, the second one i didnt spend quite as much time on, then i just wanted to see what they looked like on my car, and havnt taken them off since haah`

[kenvv]

damn those sigma turbo rims look sweet. if i can ever be bothered i will revert back to this thread and clean my set up. cant beleive how many times in the last 3 months ive seen sigma turbo rims for sale.

[75wagon]

damn those sigma turbo rims look sweet. if i can ever be bothered i will revert back to this thread and clean my set up. cant beleive how many times in the last 3 months ive seen sigma turbo rims for sale.

Yep, they look good polished up.
Here is a set I did a couple of weeks back.


Dave...

[kenvv]

yeah i was looking at mine today when went to the mechanic to see the car. if i get bored enough i will give it a go. otherwise i will just pay someone to do it as im lazy

[75wagon]

if i get bored enough i will give it a go. otherwise i will just pay someone to do it as im lazy

Be prepared to put at least 20 hours of time into them (including painting).
So either you'll be really bored or really broke

Dave...

[ddt]

the turbo rims and pepperpots have fine grooves on the surface- are these completely polished out to get them that shiny?
Also what kind of clear-coat or wax have people tried on their rims?

I have a set of turbo rims that were quite corroded and are taking a lot of time even with 180 grit wet/dry to clean up- the corrosion in the fine grooves takes a lot of time to get out -esp in the spoked sections.