Hi all. First of all, I love this forum. I've learned a lot from here. I'm cleaning my wheels and noticed that they were getting dull. What is the best way to bring out the shine? Thanks in advance.
What type finish is that on your wheels? What are you cleaning them with currently? How long in between cleaning? Wheels throwing off a lot of brake dust? Some wheel cleaners can damage/dull wheel material. Have you used an iron removal product like Iron X? A little more info please. Thanks.
I used simple soap and water - whatever you are washing your car with. And you have to use a brush, etc., and put some elbow grease into it.
I do it last, so I'm not using that soap/water on the car.
Then, after I dry, I simply use the coating of my choice, whether it be a sealant, wax or spray wax.
Here's the deal: As far as I'm concerned, all wheels are coated whether they are black, chrome, machined-look, etc. Therefore, you treat them like paint. You do the same thing. I'm not sure what is the deal with all these wheel polishes and stuff like that. Maybe it works on uncoated metal, such as a valve cover, but coated metal, not so much.
Not sure I see the point in polishing coated metal with some sort of metal polish unless it has an abrasive that is getting the wheel cleaner. I learned this after spending $100 on various metal polishes trying to get the wheels brighter on a Corvette's polished aluminum wheels, which IMO are the hardest wheels to get right.
Oh, same goes for modern-day chrome. Wash and wax. You can even compound and/or polish, seal, etc. But that chrome polish is only gonna work on 1950s and 1960s cars with true, unplated chrome.
I used simple soap and water - whatever you are washing your car with. And you have to use a brush, etc., and put some elbow grease into it.
I do it last, so I'm not using that soap/water on the car.
Then, after I dry, I simply use the coating of my choice, whether it be a sealant, wax or spray wax.
Here's the deal: As far as I'm concerned, all wheels are coated whether they are black, chrome, machined-look, etc. Therefore, you treat them like paint. You do the same thing. I'm not sure what is the deal with all these wheel polishes and stuff like that. Maybe it works on uncoated metal, such as a valve cover, but coated metal, not so much.
Not sure I see the point in polishing coated metal with some sort of metal polish unless it has an abrasive that is getting the wheel cleaner. I learned this after spending $100 on various metal polishes trying to get the wheels brighter on a Corvette's polished aluminum wheels, which IMO are the hardest wheels to get right.
Oh, same goes for modern-day chrome. Wash and wax. You can even compound and/or polish, seal, etc. But that chrome polish is only gonna work on 1950s and 1960s cars with true, unplated chrome.
What about powder coated wheels? Is there any different caution or concern dealing with powder coated surfaces?
Oh, same goes for modern-day chrome. Wash and wax. You can even compound and/or polish, seal, etc. But that chrome polish is only gonna work on 1950s and 1960s cars with true, unplated chrome.
I would never use a paint compound on modern day chrome.
I use chemical guys wheel cleaner gel. It clings to the wheel and really does a good job. Wheels are coated yes but they get more grime and brake dust etc on them that sometimes needs more punch to get clean.
That said on my wheels last night I only used soap and water after I had washed the car because they're coated and the grime comes off really easy.
So once you have some good protection they're much easier to keep clean.
I used simple soap and water - whatever
you are washing your car with. And you
have to use a brush, etc., and put some
elbow grease into it.
I do it last, so I'm not using that
soap/water on the car.
Then, after I dry, I simply use the coating
of my choice, whether it be a sealant, wax
or spray wax.
Here's the deal: As far as I'm concerned,
all wheels are coated whether they are black,
chrome, machined-look, etc.
Therefore, you treat them like paint.
You do the same thing. I'm not sure what
is the deal with all these wheel polishes
and stuff like that. Maybe it works on
uncoated metal, such as a valve cover,
but coated metal, not so much.
Not sure I see the point in polishing coated
metal with some sort of metal polish unless
it has an abrasive that is getting the wheel
cleaner.
I learned this after spending $100 on various
metal polishes trying to get the wheels brighter
on a Corvette's polished aluminum wheels,
which IMO are the hardest wheels to get right.
Oh, same goes for modern-day chrome.
Wash and wax. You can even compound
and/or polish, seal, etc. But that chrome
polish is only gonna work on 1950s and
1960s cars with true, unplated chrome.
Sorry...but IMO:
Your above road map to detailing wheels
contains many pitfalls of misguidance.
Bob
"Be wary of the man who urges an action in which he himself incurs no risk." ~Joaquin de Setanti
My wheels are not coated (something I plan to do, just haven't had the time), and I use ONR after I'm done washing the paint. Put the water in a separate wheel bucket, some wheel brushes, and everything comes right off. Once you start working on your wheels, you want everything to be separate from your paint tools (mitts, mf towels, buckets, etc...)
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Originally Posted by tampatopless
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