The Metal Polish #1 is very aggressive. I've asked Jason to check out the pix and see it he thinks it is aggressive enough.

I used the Metal Polish #1 on a spare aluminum wheel I had sitting out in the garage. It worked great. I don't think it had that much oxidation though.

Just dirty and stained from hanging under the truck for 5 years.

Please hold on until Jason checks in. Thanks very much for the question.

 

Cool! I'll wait for him. I know there will be no "magic" solution but I know y'all can get me something to make my life easier!

 

I restored a set of aluminim wheels (the ones on my truck).They had gouges on them also.This maybe to to aggressive,but I started with 400 grit wet and dry sandpaper,them stepped to 800,them 1100,1500 finished with 2000 grit.Buffed with black polish bar,next was the brown bar them mother aluminim polish...Good god it took a month for 4 rims.Can't seem to find a finer sandpaper here that is more than 2000 grit.Used the same steps for the rims as for polished clear coat.Rims turned out nice...

 

i agree with diesel dave, i had some really rough alum. rims on my 97 went after it with some 800 grit wet with wheel polish( i used eagle one. all i had at the time). then stepped up to 2000grit same procedure. after the 2000 took the mothers powerball on the cordless grinder and commeneced to shining the crap out of the old alum rims. i was shocked they almost looked as good as the day i bought them. however it was a little time consuming

 

Took a look, woah! I'm getting Adam in on this one - those wheels are pretty chewed but not a lost cause. We are developing a safe version of a wheel acid, you might be a perfect candidate for testing!

 

Hi Bobby-

Thanks for your post, and I wish we had a product to get these back without spending dozens of hours! Our Metal Polishes are NOT aggressive polishes, not at all, and I would not recommend them for your project. We use a chemical cut, unlike the typical abrasive cut polishes like Mother's, etc.

REALITY: if you were to remove the rest of the clear, and polish these out, (after sanding and buffing each wheel on a bench-mounted buffer with a cutting wheel, then cotton wheel) they will oxidize so fast it will make your head spin! American Racing makes a nice, cost effective wheel. To be so inexpensive, they use a medium grade aluminum, then clear coat to keep from oxidizing.

So, the question to ask yourself: "Do I have anything better to do than polish out these wheels on a monthly basis, once I've invested 20-30 hours and a bunch of $$ getting them to look decent, but not perfect?"

Powder-coating is an option, but by the time you take the tires off, bring the wheels to the powder-coater, then have the tires re-mounted and balanced, you will easily be out of pocket $250.

I just checked Ebay, and found these on your coast: eBay Motors: American Racing Outlaw II 16"x7" Wheels 8 Lug Alloy (item 260333426702 end time Jan-14-09 14:14:39 PST)

Another option is to check your local Craigslist: craigslist classifieds: jobs, housing, personals, for sale, services, community, events, forums, where I recently bought a set of factory rims for my Excursion for cheap!

Bobby, sorry we don't have a product for you here, and don't give up on us because we cannot resuscitate these old rims!

Thanks, and Happy New Year!

-Adam

 

Bobby, I'm certainly glad Jason and Adam were able to jump in. Thanks guys...

I'm very sorry, I was mistaken about the Metal Polish. My bad...

I did not realize the cut was a chemical cut as opposed to an abrasive cut. I do now..

 

Pick this at Meijers its the only place i can find it

Greased Lightning Orange Blast Wheel Cleaner 1060AWM by Home Care Labs | DoItYourself.com

it has a very very aggressive acid , do not get it in your eyes and do not inhale when it starts eating your rims , Seriously this is some nasty stuff and i cant beleave its even available to the public .

You may be able to buy it on line somewhere , this is the ultimate wheel rescuer , USE A TEST AREA !

 

MSDS ATTACHED

Looks like its

Oxalic acid
Nonylphenol ethoxylate
Ammonium bifluoride

Adams , You may want to look at this combination of chemicals as a cleaning agent , this stuff is hard to get and you will have a life time customer here

 

Thanks fo rthe long reply and the differnt suggestions!

Guess these wheels are gonna be a lost cause... Looks like its gonna be some black spray paint!

Thanks Again!

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If Y'all would like these wheels to test on by all means take them. Cant mess them up any worse!

Seriously though i you want to try them let me know what I need to do!

Thanks!
Bobby