Easy way to restore black rims?

[HTX]

So, I don't have a micro polisher, and most that I've seen are expensive... $300-$600. If anyone knows of a more affordable personal-use option, please let me know.

Anyway, I used a bit of meguire's ultimate compound and polish to sample a small area of my wife's 2-year old rims using a hand application. Problem is, it took me 2 passes of compound and 2 passes of polish to obtain "meh" results on a tiny area. Color restored to 90%, scratches restored maybe 50%. Rather exhausting...

I tried Wolfgang products as well, but believe it or not, meguire's had more impact. My guess is that Wolfgang isnt intended for use without a DA.

My question is, are bland results the best that I could hope for with hand application? Or are there superior products that work well without a polisher?

Thanks in advance for any input you may offer!

[glen e]

Save your brain and your brawn, and get the wheels powder coated …you can do each wheel for about 100-150 bucks and they look outstanding when you’re done. And you’re done forever.

[fly07sti]

Any pictures of the wheels? What is your goal for them? To remove swirls/scratches or were they glossy and now look matte from neglect?

[HTX]

First photo shows rim in current condition

Second photo shows sample area of hand polish


To answer your questions, my goal is to get them looking better, not perfect but at least better. They were glossy and now appear hazed with lots of scratches.

[fly07sti]

You’re not giving yourself enough credit. The hand polished are is much better. But a machine would help speed things along. If you’re not going to buy a machine, then carry on with the hand polishing because it is helping!

[Texchappy]

You’re not giving yourself enough credit. The hand polished are is much better. But a machine would help speed things along. If you’re not going to buy a machine, then carry on with the hand polishing because it is helping!

What he said.

[Cleankat]

I bought a cheap drill kit with pads that I use on my black wheels with excellent results. I use meguiars ultra polishing wax and it does great but they also were not neglected.

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[The Guz]

Seems like you got good results by hand. A machine will net you better results but as stated don't sell yourself short on the job you did by hand. There are other tools that are cheaper. The other option is the mothers powerball/cone and a drill. In most cases it works well but in the rare occasion it can leave some marring.

Black wheels are a pain to keep looking good.

[HTX]

Thanks everyone for the feedback.

As for the neglect, I should have been applying some sort of paint protection... I kept holding off thinking that if replace the wheels, but by time my wife decided to keep these, it was too late. And now I'm paying the price. LoL

[TTQ B4U]

Meg's power cone or like for a drill. Go slow, use it to do most but not all of the work as they do tend to leave some micro marring on some finishes. Finish by hand as the efforts there won't be much. Work on one wheel at a time and refine them to your liking. You did great so far.

Then apply GYEON Q2 Rim and be done with it. Wash by hand with a microfiber not a brush