Polish For Rims?

rockfordrunner · 03-30-2003, 10:10 PM

what kind of polish are you guys using on your mickey thompson rims? i have the classic 1. It has a rough texture to it. what can i use to polish it up. oh and will my stock lugs be ok to use with those rims?

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L33T35T 4Runner · 03-30-2003, 10:15 PM

lately?

dirt and mud

rimpainter.com · 03-31-2003, 07:00 AM

Mothers Mag and Aluminum wheel polish. That's the best stuff you can get.

www.mothers.com

Seems like the site is down right now...

Kerry · 03-31-2003, 09:55 PM

I have used most of the popular metal polishes at one time or another, and have found Happich's Simichrome polish to work the best on aluminum. It's a little more expensive than the others,and can be harder to find, but I think it works slightly better than the others. Harley dealers are a good place to buy it. Polishing aluminum is like a paint job-the finished product is dependent on the prep work. If your rims are chipped and scratched to start with, they will be shiny, chipped and scratched when you're done. I just refinished a set of 15x10's, and you cannot tell the difference between the rim and the chrome center cap, and that is not an exaggeration. The bad news is that I spent 15-20 hours per rim to get them to look like that. Start dry sanding with 220 wet/dry, then 320 wet/dry to get the flaws out. Then wet sand with 400,800,1000,2000 wet/dry in alternating directions to remove all of the previous directional scratches. Then do the final polish. I do everything by hand,no power. The only difference between finely polished aluminum and chrome is that aluminum does not have the bluish tint that chrome has. Additionally, the alloy has some effect on the final outcome. Alcoa rims are not only strong, but the alloy will polish brilliantly and will hold the shine much better than cast rims. You have to be kind of masochistic, bored, financially challenged, and/or hitting on only 5 cylinders to even contemplate rebuilding aluminum rims, but the end result is that you have a set of rims that are as good as, if not better in some cases, than a new set.

Victor · 04-01-2003, 06:35 AM

I use Mother's also but let me warn you that if your wheels are severly oxidized you need to removed the clearcoat (if it has it) and then polish. My clearcoat is shot so I think I will strip and buff mine up before I put them up for sale.

03-30-2003, 10:15 PM	#2 (permalink)
L33T35T 4Runner Contributing Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Fountain Valley, CA (so cali) Posts: 2,005	lately? dirt and mud __________________ 95 4Runner SR5 3.0l. V6 2 wheel drive baby! 31" Bridgeston Dueler A/T Revos. Downey 1.5 Coils. Doetsch MV-12 Shocks. Brembo Rotors. Performance Friction Pads. Pioneer head unit with 1 12" Pioneer woofer. XM Radio. RB Headlight Harness w/ Sylvania SilverStars New to the family: 85 4Runner 22RE, 4x4, 5 spd, SFA. 31" BFG All Terrain T/A KOs, genuine Walmart seat covers, "Dual" stereo, XM Radio, RB Headlight Harness w/ Sylvania SilverStars. Onboard air. Has been seafoamed to hell

03-31-2003, 07:00 AM	#3 (permalink)
rimpainter.com Contributing Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 10,797	Mothers Mag and Aluminum wheel polish. That's the best stuff you can get. www.mothers.com Seems like the site is down right now... __________________ www.rimpainter.com Get your O Gasket Mod Here! My SC'd 4Runner's Profile My YouTube vids

04-01-2003, 06:35 AM	#5 (permalink)
Victor Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: El Paso, TX Posts: 1,711	I use Mother's also but let me warn you that if your wheels are severly oxidized you need to removed the clearcoat (if it has it) and then polish. My clearcoat is shot so I think I will strip and buff mine up before I put them up for sale. __________________ "Turtle" - Green 94 4Runner Looks like one and about as fast JDM altimeter/clinometer, 2002 Sport wheels, 265/75r16 MT/R, , OME stabilizer, BJ Spacers, Cruiser Coils, removed sway bars, rattle can paint for all that peeling clearcoat! Lockright front and rear.

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03-31-2003, 09:55 PM	#4 (permalink)
Kerry Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Lake Powell, UT Posts: 5	I have used most of the popular metal polishes at one time or another, and have found Happich's Simichrome polish to work the best on aluminum. It's a little more expensive than the others,and can be harder to find, but I think it works slightly better than the others. Harley dealers are a good place to buy it. Polishing aluminum is like a paint job-the finished product is dependent on the prep work. If your rims are chipped and scratched to start with, they will be shiny, chipped and scratched when you're done. I just refinished a set of 15x10's, and you cannot tell the difference between the rim and the chrome center cap, and that is not an exaggeration. The bad news is that I spent 15-20 hours per rim to get them to look like that. Start dry sanding with 220 wet/dry, then 320 wet/dry to get the flaws out. Then wet sand with 400,800,1000,2000 wet/dry in alternating directions to remove all of the previous directional scratches. Then do the final polish. I do everything by hand,no power. The only difference between finely polished aluminum and chrome is that aluminum does not have the bluish tint that chrome has. Additionally, the alloy has some effect on the final outcome. Alcoa rims are not only strong, but the alloy will polish brilliantly and will hold the shine much better than cast rims. You have to be kind of masochistic, bored, financially challenged, and/or hitting on only 5 cylinders to even contemplate rebuilding aluminum rims, but the end result is that you have a set of rims that are as good as, if not better in some cases, than a new set.