How To: Refinish aluminum wheels

Discussion in 'How-To' started by Hooligan, Feb 17, 2011.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. Hooligan

    Hooligan Rangerholic!!

    This is a "How To" on refinishing oxidized and pitted aluminum wheels.

    [​IMG]

    Required items:

    -Aluminum wheels (of course)
    -Hose or water tank
    -Liquid soap
    -Bucket
    -Aluminum polish
    -800 grit wet sand paper
    -1500 grit wet sand paper
    -2000 grit wet sand paper
    -Towels/rags (alot)
    -Squirt bottle
    -Electric drill (optional)
    -Powerball (optional)
    -Simple green

    Step 1:

    - Wash your wheels using Simple green, then rinse with water, your wheel will pretty much look the same but the simple green will clean dirt,grime and brake dust off.

    This is what they will look like after washing and prior to wet sanding
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Step 2:

    - Add water and soap in the bucket, and fill your squirt bottle with some of that water.

    Step 3:

    - Spray the wheel with your squirt bottle, start sanding it with the 800 grit wet sand paper. Do not let the paper or wheel get dry, keep it wet using the squirt bottle while sanding. The longer you sand the wheel the better the appearance will be.

    This is after 800 grit wet sanding
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Step 4:

    - Start sanding the wheel with 1500 grit wet sandpaper, again keeping it wet with the squirt bottle. The longer you sand, the better the appearance will be.

    This is after 1500 grit wet sanding
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Step 5:

    - Start sanding the wheel using 2000 grit wet sand paper, again keeping it wet using your squirt bottle. The longer you sand, the better the appearance will be.

    This is after 2000 grit wet sanding
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Step 6:

    - Polish your aluminum wheel with a good aluminum polish. You can polish by hand, I chose to use a power ball with and electric drill. I polished these with the power ball about three times and this is the finish:
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    After thorough polishing, use rags to wipe the polish off, and continue until you reach your desired finish. Word of caution: When using the power ball with an electric drill the power ball may blow apart due to high speed, so watch your speed.

    Wheels before:
    [​IMG]

    Wheels after:
    [​IMG]
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.

Share This Page