Aluminum Clean & Polish

Topic: Aluminum Clean & Polish (Read 1140 times) previous topic - next topic

Aluminum Clean & Polish

August 28, 2016, 04:59:04 pm

I'm looking for recommendations on a cleaner polisher for badly oxidized Alcoa wheels. In the past I've used Deep Alume from Phat Performance Parts. It worked great but the wheels weren't as far gone. Also, Deep Alume is meant for hand polishing and I'd like to avoid that if I can. Thanks.
jor

Re: Aluminum Clean & Polish

Reply #1 – August 28, 2016, 06:02:07 pm

Couple options John, if you have a big truck stop there they might have a service that can clean them up. Or get a power ball and cone by Mothers along with the mothers aluminum polish and drill motor and have at it.

Re: Aluminum Clean & Polish

Reply #2 – August 28, 2016, 06:18:51 pm

I have used wet/dry sandpaper starting with 320 grit, working up to 3000 and then lightly polish.

But a guy at a truck stop with a 4-1/2"
grinder is a lot easier on you..........or you might try a grinder yourself.

Be careful using a caustic chemical as it will tend to remain in the pores of the aluminum and when mixed with water it will eat the aluminum and weaken the wheels, unless specially made for your application.

Re: Aluminum Clean & Polish

Reply #3 – August 28, 2016, 07:13:59 pm

Quote from: Traveling Man – August 28, 2016, 06:18:51 pm

I have used wet/dry sandpaper starting with 320 grit, working up to 3000 and then lightly polish.

But not on your FT, correct? Your year should have DuraBrite.

Re: Aluminum Clean & Polish

Reply #4 – August 28, 2016, 07:50:32 pm

Google Wolfgang metalwerk.

Re: Aluminum Clean & Polish

Reply #5 – August 28, 2016, 08:31:27 pm

I do like Andy said--Mother's Mag & aluminum wheel cleaner and their power ball on a drill. Works great! Then I use Turtle Wax Ice Synthetic Polish. And the wheels and coach are 27 years old!!!
I wash coach & wheels with Armorall Wash & Wax. Once or twice a year I polish entire coach with Turtle Wax Ice.

Re: Aluminum Clean & Polish

Reply #6 – August 29, 2016, 04:37:16 am

Quote from: Michelle – August 28, 2016, 07:13:59 pm

But not on your FT, correct? Your year should have DuraBrite.

Right.

Re: Aluminum Clean & Polish

Reply #7 – August 29, 2016, 06:51:04 am

I thought Alcoa had their own product... I will look

Re: Aluminum Clean & Polish

Reply #8 – August 29, 2016, 08:49:27 am

Call your local Big Truck wash and ask who does high speed polishing, I run into guys all the time that will polish them out for 5 or 10 bucks a wheel.

Re: Aluminum Clean & Polish

Reply #9 – August 29, 2016, 11:23:59 am

Do not high speed polish durabright wheels. Confirm whether you have them or not before you proceed.

Re: Aluminum Clean & Polish

Reply #10 – August 29, 2016, 11:49:15 am

Quote from: its toby – August 29, 2016, 11:23:59 am

Do not high speed polish durabright wheels. Confirm whether you have them or not before you proceed.

X2......Ours were polished by others and left scratches that I will NEVER be able to remove.

Re: Aluminum Clean & Polish

Reply #11 – August 29, 2016, 12:04:27 pm

Also important to note durabright wheels are easy to clean but they never really achieve that up close mirror finish.

Re: Aluminum Clean & Polish

Reply #12 – August 29, 2016, 12:13:02 pm

Mothers Aluminum Polish and Speed Ball on variable drill....go slow..!!!! keep the heat down..

Re: Aluminum Clean & Polish

Reply #13 – August 29, 2016, 12:31:08 pm

Color me "old school", ours needs a clean today, so I'll wash the tires and wheels and do the tires first, then the wheels, all manually. The adjustable stool is a must. By the way, the amount of cleaning liquid used on the right should be modified as per heat and attention span.

Re: Aluminum Clean & Polish

Reply #14 – August 29, 2016, 12:33:06 pm

Lowes sells a liquid polish for the aluminum truck boxes that they sell. Worked better for me than anything else.

Tried polishing the " holes " in our wheels but gave up on that fight. Instead I tried using a small wire wheel on a cordless dril just smaller than the hole is. I only did the wheels on one side cause I wasn't sure if I'd like it and I didn't want to " re polish " all those €%#bg£^ holes if I didn't. I think it worked well and plan to do the other side.

Carefull though, DO NOT let the wire wheel jump out of the hole. That tool is NOT friendly to the polished face of the wheel. You'll have to do the sandpaper thing to fix it. Don't ask how I know this.

Re: Aluminum Clean & Polish

Reply #15 – August 29, 2016, 01:09:48 pm

When y'all clean and polish your wheels, do you remove the lug-nut covers? How about the "hub caps"?

Thanks,

Trent

Re: Aluminum Clean & Polish

Reply #16 – August 29, 2016, 01:12:52 pm

Quote from: mike leary – August 29, 2016, 12:31:08 pm

I'll wash the tires and wheels and do the tires first, then the wheels, all manually.

Mike,

Won't you get spatter from the wheel polish on the tires?

Trent

Re: Aluminum Clean & Polish

Reply #17 – August 29, 2016, 01:20:39 pm

Quote from: TulsaTrent link=msg=243776 date=1472490772 Won't you get spatter from the wheel polish on the tires? [/quote

No, it's the other way around. The tire spray will get on the wheels, you want to get that cool product into the tire edge, so you'll have overspray on to the wheels. The polish is not aerosol, so old towels to apply and clean work fine.

Re: Aluminum Clean & Polish

Reply #18 – August 29, 2016, 03:46:40 pm

Thanks, Mike. Your real-world experience has enlightened at least one of us today.

Trent

Re: Aluminum Clean & Polish

Reply #19 – August 29, 2016, 04:29:21 pm

I did take off the lug nut covers--when the fronts were chrome plated plastic. But, due to so many of those being cracked or just plain gone I just purchased two packs of (10) lug nut covers (stainless steel) for $4.79/pack of ten from Big Rig Chrome Shop.com
Our lug nuts are 1-1/2" so finding metal instead of plastic in a RV catalog was next to impossible.
Just happened to drive by this place (across the highway from EAA Flyin airport, on the west frontage road) by Oshkosh, WI.
Might want to check them out--lots of LED lights, etc at reasonable prices. Super prices on LED clearance lights!!!

Re: Aluminum Clean & Polish

Reply #20 – August 29, 2016, 07:02:08 pm

OP here. Thanks to all for the advice. This project is down the line a bit but I'll collect what I need. I also have aluminum mirrors. Thanks.
jor

Re: Aluminum Clean & Polish

Reply #21 – August 29, 2016, 07:15:34 pm

Quote from: jor – August 29, 2016, 07:02:08 pm

OP here. Thanks to all for the advice.

Knowing you, I'd say, when you come to visit us in Ajo, I could shave off the reflection of the wheels.

Re: Aluminum Clean & Polish

Reply #22 – August 29, 2016, 07:24:14 pm

Quote from: mike leary – August 29, 2016, 12:31:08 pm

Color me "old school", ours needs a clean today, so I'll wash the tires and wheels and do the tires first, then the wheels, all manually. The adjustable stool is a must. By the way, the amount of cleaning liquid used on the right should be modified as per heat and attention span.

Mike...you need to modify those photo's...Pacifico is first then the cleaning starts...lol

Re: Aluminum Clean & Polish

Reply #23 – August 29, 2016, 08:25:06 pm

Quote from: Hans&Marjet – August 29, 2016, 07:24:14 pm

Mike...you need to modify those photo's...Pacifico is first then the cleaning starts...lol

Nope, I was raised by my Irish Grandmother, who always said, "A wee nip of Jamesons with morning tea is good for your heart."
When working, it was not possible, nor when driving. However, when we're at a Park and not going anywhere, I take her advice: "Geez, Grandma, my heart does feel better!"

Re: Aluminum Clean & Polish

Reply #24 – September 05, 2017, 09:25:43 pm

Quote from: stump – August 29, 2016, 08:49:27 am

Call your local Big Truck wash and ask who does high speed polishing, I run into guys all the time that will polish them out for 5 or 10 bucks a wheel.

Stump,

I met a guy at the campground this past weekend who does this for a living. His name is Gator from Lake Charles, La and told me he has been doing this for 25 years. He works at truck stops, campgrounds, etc and saw my rig. He asked me to demonstrate his skills on one of my wheels. He uses a Makita polisher/grinder with a big polishing wheel and a rouge bar. We didn't take the wheels off so he had to do some of it by hand. He had his own cleaners and waxes and his lady friend to follow up behind him.

I was so impressed with his touch with the polisher and results I let him do all the wheels, the mirrors, and he even polished the headlight lenses! Only took a couple of hours and all for $100 bucks! Money well spent because the rears were really bad and it was hot and humid.

Jerry

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