Today is the first time I have had a chance to clean and polish the wheel rims so I got out the D Alum I got from Amazon like it was suggested and wow, they look as good as new with very little work. It was less rubbing than the Alcoa kit that I liked and the shine is way better. I will spray some of the Alcoa sealer on them as that stuff makes the shine last about a year I find.
JohnH
Do we get to see the insides that you did from the pit?
John, what is the name of the Alcoa sealer product. I'd like go give it a try. Thanks.
jor
John it turned out great. You did a great job. Shinny wheels really make a motor home pop.
Damn now I'm going to have to do mine. :(
see ya
ken
john, I bought this 3 step kit about 3 yrs ago and I see they have stopped selling the first part to clean the wheel. The sealer is on this link and does a great job of keeping it shiny for about a year.
ALC-PDQ-16 (http://www.haltec.com/detailing.html)
Johnh
John, your wheels look great. What is the proper name of the product you used? I checked Amazon for "D Alum" and "Deep Aluminum Polish" and didn't find anything. My wheels look horrible and I've been wondering what to use.
Deep> Alume is the name ( yes with the > in middle)
Maybe it was Ebay but I have a feeling they are off market now and I also bought what was left of stock, so I was told by another member as he bought a case load and emailed me to buy mine if I did not like it, well I DO like it.
JohnH
Thanks, John. I checked both Amazon and eBay for both Deep> Alume and Deep>Alume without success. Then I did a general search for both terms without success, so I think that it is no longer available.
For everyone, then, what's the next best product to use?
I got stellar results using Wash Wax All's Polish All along with the 3 inch polish pad kit that uses my drill motor to do all the work.
David, you can still get it at Motorcycle Parts, Motorcycle Accessories – PhatPerfomanceParts.com (http://www.phatperformanceparts.com/). Only place I could find.
jor
Has anyone tried "Met-All" ??
We used it to polish complete airplanes at my 1st employer.
Is this it Deep Finish Deep Alume (8oz.) - DPA022R - Phat Performance Parts (http://www.phatperformanceparts.com/Deep_Finish_Deep_Alume_8oz_p/dpa022r.htm)
Yep. That's it. I used one bottle to do my four wheels, mirrors and fuel tank. All came out great.
jor
Just ordered some.
it says no longer available. Good luck.
Spoke with Phat Performance. They say it's no longer avalible.
Keith
Well, I guess I'll have to see what sort of response I get from them. I ordered last night, after hours, and got an automated response.
I've ordered from them twice. The first time they sent me chrome polish instead of aluminum. I ordered two bottles three days ago and got them yesterday. Hope I didn't clean them out. The company seems a little flaky so maybe they do still have some after all. Good luck.
jor
The person I spoke to went and checked and said they are out and it's not available. If anyone has luck getting some please post where. Need to clean my wheels before they get too tarnished.
Keith
I couldn't find this stuff which was recommended by JohnH so I called Alcoa. They no longer make it nor do they make a replacement. I asked what product they recommend. The rep mentioned Busch Enterprises - Headquarters for Premium Shine-Zone Products (http://www.buschshineproducts.com). She said she recommends their products to whoever calls to inquire about the now discontinued Alcoa stuff but can't really vouch for it as no one has ever called her back to let her know how it works.
Anyhow, has anyone tried the Busch Aluminum Wheel Wax and Sealant? Any other recommendations for a sealer? Thanks.
jor
John O , I will email the wheel shop in Vancouver who supplied it and see if they have any stock left. Will buy it all if they have any as it is (was) superb.
JohnH
David, jor,
I still have never found anything better than Simichrome, if you want the ULTIMATE shine, but it is very expensive.
See:
Wheel Polish (http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=13161.msg71709#msg71709)
I have used several Busch Products and don't like them at all.
From my experience, a close second to Simichrome is Britemax Metal Polish, available in "Easy Cut" and "Final Shine". Britemax is faster, less effort and less expensive than Simichrome. The more aggressive "easy cut" helps to get deteriorated Alcoa wheels "close" while the "final shine" gets that "ultra-reflective-chrome-like" depth. Well beyond what the newer Alcoa "Durabrite" wheels can ever get to. Both of the Britemax products are sealers as well as polish, but I always add a layer of Mother's or Maguire's paste wax to slow down the long term weathering/water spotting. That, along with routine "Wash 'n Wax All" applications, easily gets you to two or more "bright years" of enjoyment, between Alcoa polishing exercises.
Because of their proprietary coating, Alcoa Durabrite wheels are easier to care for, but only allow a sort of "semi-gloss", at their brightest.
Neal
While Don is underneath doing some final fixe's to valves etc I decided to have a go at one of the rear rims as it had not been cleaned for quite a while and as you see in first picture is very dull to say the least. I do not have a 5k rpm drill so just used a battery one and my extension round ball buffer with the Deep Alume. 10 mins later the second picture shows what it now looks like. I feel one more going over the rim with a bit more detail and it would look as new. This is something for him to work on when he gets a few minutes spare (do not think it will happen for some time) He agrees that this product does a good job.
JohnH
Thanks, Neal. Phat Performance said orders normally ship within 24-48 hours. They should have gotten the order on the 16th, and I haven't heard anything other than the automated response. We're putting together a shopping trip, so if I don't get the product soon (and at this point I'm not expecting to get it) I'll look for one of the alternatives you mentioned. Would Wal-Mart or O'Reilly's have either one?
David,
You won't find them in Wal Mart or O'Reilly's.
The Britemax products "Easy Cut and "Final Shine" were originally from a US Company. Now the company is home based in the UK.
The two products are highly regarded by detailers, worldwide, as the best metal cleaner, polish and sealant combo available today. So much so that detailers nicknamed the two products the 'Metal Twins', a name that Britemax has now adopted.
There are only a few American outlets. One is just up the road from our home in NH - Berube's Truck and Chrome Accessories.
Catalog for Berube's Truck Accessories (http://www.berubes.com/catalog.html)
Click on the above and then on the link to Berube's online catalog: The metal cleaner is on page 90 of their catalog under "Fluff and Buff Stuff."
And here's a link to an Amazon online source for the Simichrome Polish. Amazon.com: Simichrome Metal Polish: Automotive (http://www.amazon.com/Simichrome-390050-Metal-Polish-Tube/dp/B0002YUQ4E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1411089877&sr=8-1&keywords=simichrome+polish)
A $10.00 tube should last for several Alcoa wheels (6 to 8 easily).
I know, its a pain to wait for the internet purchase delivery, but well worth the wait.
Neal
Thanks, Neal. Jo Ann just told me that the charge from Phat showed up on the credit card, so we'll see what shows up here.
Waiting for a delivery isn't all that bad when the arrival of the item means work...
I was introduced to Simichrome when I had my 1966 Harley Sprint (in 1966). I have used it more recently on our Rodriguez polished aluminum tandem bicycle. It puts a fine shine on the aluminum. However, my experience has been that the shine goes quickly when water (or sweat) hits the aluminum. A sealer or wax of some kind is probably in order.
The wheels on our coach are available for someone to demonstrate the best products and methods. :P
I agree Dave.
Even though Simichrome says that "their polish leaves a thin, invisible, protective film which lasts much longer than other brands of polish", I have found that while the polish is outstanding, the protective film needs to be a good paste wax in order for the shine to last well. Water spots (and road film chemicals plus water) easily eat away the Simichrome protective film. I always follow Simichrome Polish with Meguire's paste wax (or Mother's) and touch it up with Wash 'n Wax All (WAWA) with each coach wash. Lasts extremely well that way.
BTW, when Simichrome is used to polish Alcoa wheels, you can bring the aluminum to a shine rivaling that of a mirror and then even further enhance it by rubbing the freshly polished surface with dry, powdered cornmeal . The cornmeal removes the last remnants of polish from the pores of the aluminum. Now follow with Meguire's, (and WAWA regularly) and the shine stays good for a very long time...2 years or more.
Neal
A bottle of deep>alume arrived today. It appears to be a bit dusty, so maybe I got the last bottle on the shelf (or maybe behind/below the shelf). Anyway, I guess I have another project to work on.
BTW, the web site on the bottle, deepfinish.com doesn't load.
The results of Mothers on saturday or at least about a half hr :D
Looks nice, Andy. The PO of our coach left us some Mothers alum/chrome polish in the basement; think I'll go ahead and try it out given your results.
I ended up using the stuff below. Worked great. I made it even easier by hiring a couple of recruits waiting for their posting at the navy base to polish the coach and wheels. Used about 1/4 of it.
Keith
Britemax Easy Cut + Final Shine & Sealant (Each btl. is 16 oz.) - .95 : (http://highwayshine.com/single-items-sets-c-1_63/britemax-easy-cut-final-shine-sealant-each-btl-is-16-oz-p-101.html)
The best tool I have found for polishing my wheels it the Mother's Brand Power Ball and Power Cone. Both are available from Orielly's. They work best with Simichrome but make even the lesser brands work much better. Although a little expensive they are worth every penny in their labor saving.
One tip, wash them thoroughly with warm water and dish soap and rinse after each use. The Polishes will disintegrate the foam if left in it in storage.
"One tip, wash them thoroughly with warm water and dish soap and rinse after each use. The Polishes will disintegrate the foam if left in it in storage."
Thanks for the tip Kent--I have the Power Ball works great but it is falling apart--time
to get a new one..Now I know how to make it last.
Jim
Jim,
Didn't/doesn't your '03 have Durabrite on the Alcoa's?
Wheel Polish (http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=13161.msg72296#msg72296)
I just called Phat Performance they don not have any Deep>Alume in stock and could not tell me when they would get any in. If any of you fine folks get your hands on a extra bottle I would gladly purchase one.
Thanks
Craog
"Jim,
Didn't/doesn't your '03 have Durabrite on the Alcoa's?"
Yes Michelle,
I am ashamed to say that I haven't polished the wheels on the coach yet.
I used Mothers and PowerBall on my cars wheels.
Will get to clean the coach soon--I hope
Jim
With the Durabrite you wouldn't want to use the Mothers or the Powerball. And you won't need to.
I just use windex and paper towels, works great! :D
Michelle,
Do you know when they started providing Durabrites?
Trent
Your rims are stamped. Alcoa rims manufactured after November 2002, are apt to be Durabrites.
See: Wheel Polish (http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=13161.msg71798#msg71798)
BTW,
Glass Plus has a pH of 9
(neutral pH = 7.0), neither acidic nor caustic
Windex has a pH of 11 (+), depending upon the fancy derivatives of the basic blue Windex. There are many.
Therefore, Glass Plus is much safer to use on mirrors (not as likely to lift the mirror backing at the edges, leaving those ugly black marks in spots around the outer edges) and is much preferred for the Durabrites, as every scratch is an opportunity for the higher pH Windex to get under the Durabrite surface finish and magnify the existence of the scratch. Glass Plus is also much less corrosive on faucet and shower plated fixtures.
Neal
Neal, thanks for that information :D
Alcoa put the Durabrite on my 2001 coach that was built in 2000. They came with the instructions to not use anything on them, except car wash soap and water. They were hand dipped and came with a 5 year warranty. They later came out with a mechanized way of finishing them. My originals lasted just a little over 4 years before they began to peel. After notifying Alcoa, they shipped me all new wheels plus paid for the labor costs of dismounting and mounting the new wheels. Absolutely great to work with.
LynnD
01 GV 320
Good thread. I use Auto-Sol (contains no wax) and White Diamond (contains wax) for polishing raw aluminium.
For coated aluminium I would not recommend any polish, only wax with cleaners.
If the polishing cloth does not turn black, then you have a coating so be careful using polishes as this may remove some and/or all of the coating. If you don't have a coating then you're gonna bulk up like Conan the Barbarian... have fun, hehehehe.
One trick I have is use the cheapest, most coarse paper towels and when they get too black, pitch 'em.
Both polishes available at Amazon and some bike/hot rod shops.
Amazon.com: Kuryakyn White Diamond Polish 12 Oz. Bottle: Automotive (http://www.amazon.com/Kuryakyn-White-Diamond-Polish-Bottle/dp/B005HR2H0W/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1417834182&sr=8-3&keywords=white+diamond+wax)
Amazon.com: Autosol Brass Aluminum Metal Polish 3.33oz.(75 ml) Tube: Automotive (http://www.amazon.com/Autosol-Brass-Aluminum-Polish-3-33oz/dp/B003JNZDCA/ref=sr_1_1?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1417834374&sr=1-1&keywords=auto-sol)
For those of us that still have the raw aluminum mirrors and Alcoa aluminum wheels not Alcoa Durabrights I'm giving this product a thumbs up...
White Diamond metal polish. Seems easier to use than other metal polishes I've used in the past during my trucking years. Living a stone's throw away from saltwater the shine lasts longer than other products.
Works great on removing yellowing on head light lenses also.
Amazon.com: Schultz Laboratories Metal Polish with Long Lasting Sealant, 12... (https://www.amazon.com/White-Diamond-protectant-oxidation-discoloration/dp/B00MN9RKG8/ref=asc_df_B00MN9RKG8/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312153125665&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=4958595917628319832&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9033438&hvtargid=pla-439513224860&psc=1)
Have you tried it on the awning covers? I'm looking for a good polish to clean those up a bit.
I'm doing my wheels right now and I will give the product a try.
Works great on the awning cover, better than McGuire's cleaner wax. You don't get the black film like you do on the wheels and mirrors, removes the oxidation okay and seems to do a good job cleaning them up.
I'm going to have to try that stuff.
And Doug. That was an epic 9 year old thread resurrection. Well done!🏆