cleaning alloys
Discussion
had a little accident while cleaning my alloys, yup I was very stupid and they now have loverly red streaks, well at least they match the bodywork. I have used g3 compound but while the colour is removed initially the colour keeps coming back through. It isn't highly visible but I know its there. Any solutions? 
>> Edited by rooster on Wednesday 15th June 11:44
>> Edited by rooster on Wednesday 15th June 11:44
instead of cleaning them on a sheet of cardboard as instructed by him in doors, i did it on a sheet of red plastic, well in my defence it was classy plastic with hein geriche written on! The thinners i was using to get three years of road dirt off also leached the red dye into my alloys. 
and I did cry!!! AND he called me a numpty!!! Pity really I did such a good job on the brake hoses.
I am leaving never to return, hangs head in shame
>> Edited by rooster on Wednesday 15th June 22:02
and I did cry!!! AND he called me a numpty!!! Pity really I did such a good job on the brake hoses. I am leaving never to return, hangs head in shame
>> Edited by rooster on Wednesday 15th June 22:02
rooster said:
2 Smokin Barrels said:
Mmm...have you tried Wonder Wheels, or whatever the stuff's called? Worth a try.
not yet, got to pay for new tyres for the Ka first, failed its MOT today, my cars are money pits! I didn't hear you laughing BTW, or call me a numpty, thanks.
Hey...if you've got a month or two I'll tell you about some things I've done!!
examples: drop tv on head, fall in own pond, set fire to clothing whilst cooking beans.
>> Edited by 2 Smokin Barrels on Wednesday 15th June 22:19
2 Smokin Barrels said:
Mmm...have you tried Wonder Wheels, or whatever the stuff's called? Worth a try.
'Tis truly brilliant for wheel cleaning, esp for removing brake dust, I couldn't manage without it. I would however hesitate to put thinners on the wheels for fear of damging the lacquer, and I wonder if this has softened it enough to allow the pigment from the sheet to incorporate itself into it. If so it might be worth deft application of cutting paste and elbow grease to the areas affected (to remove the stained top surface of the lacquer)...Paraffin is a lot safer for removing oily deposits.
PS, I see you mentioned using G3 (Farecla G3 i take it?)already which is quite coarse IIRC.
>> Edited by tahiti450 on Wednesday 15th June 23:47
A caution about some acid based wheel cleaners. They work wonders, sure, but after repeated use the paint on my alloys dulled and the alloy started pitting. This may well be down to my thinking that these products were so good I could leave the wheels longer between cleaning, and giving the brake dust more time to eat away at my wheels.
I'm preferring now to just wash the wheels more regularly, and put plenty of polish on them afterwards so the brake dust doesn't stick so easily.
I'm preferring now to just wash the wheels more regularly, and put plenty of polish on them afterwards so the brake dust doesn't stick so easily.
tahiti450 said:
I would however hesitate to put thinners on the wheels for fear of damging the lacquer
luckily I only used the thinners on the inside to get ride of the horrendous build up of road grime but they dripped onto the plastic I was working on. I will try wonder wheels. It is very faint but I know its there!
Thanks for your help BTW
roo
petros said:
Image wheels do a special finish on their Billet Alloys that means they need very little maintenance. I just wax mine occasionally and then just hose the dirt off when washing the car. see my profile for a pic. of their wheels, Peter
Thanks Petros, I have seen your profile a few times, lovely alloys.
>> Edited by rooster on Thursday 16th June 21:04
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