alloy wheels question

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Discussion

vrooom

Original Poster:

3,763 posts

266 months

Friday 13th May 2005
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If I rubbed the alloy wheels with sandpaper, it taken the "shine" off.
Can I use something to restore the shineess of alloy or have I really ed it up?

grahambell

2,718 posts

274 months

Tuesday 17th May 2005
quotequote all
I assume you mean alloy wheels that aren't painted or at least have polished rims.

Yes, you can polish alloy. Just a question of rubbing it down with slighty finer sandpaper (wet or dry paper is better) than you originally used so you get slightly finer scratches.

You then rub it down again with the next slightly finer wet or dry to get even finer scratches, and keep repeating until you get down to using something like 1000 or 1200 grade.

Then - if you still have any fingers left - finish off with a good abrasive metal polish like Solvol Autosol to restore the mirror finish.

Worth pointing out that many wheels with polished rims use clear lacquer to stop them oxidising, so you might have to do the whole rim to get a uniform finish.

agent006

12,029 posts

263 months

Tuesday 17th May 2005
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Depends how it's made. A lot of modern wheels are painted.

gary_tholl

1,013 posts

269 months

Tuesday 17th May 2005
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I'd guess you fed it up.

Alloy wheels are clear-coated, so you've scratched that, you'll need to take it all off, then have them re-coated. Time to find a wheel shop, I'm afraid.

Why would you take sandpaper to your wheels? Would you do it to your paint?

Gary

B17NNS

18,506 posts

246 months

Wednesday 17th August 2005
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on the plus side there is no sign of brake dust