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  1. #1
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    Cleaning negected aluminum wheels - suggestions?

    Hey all i hope this is the right place to ask this question. I've searched for about a week before posting this...

    What cleaner should I use to clean the barrels?

    I've tried Sonax Full Effect, Iron-x, Eagle One PVD & Aluminum Cleaner, and Simple Green Extreme @ 1:1 all with heavy agitation with a very stiff brissle brush. The only thing that touched the contamination (that made a big visible difference after I dryed the area) was the Simple Green Extreme. I also used two aluminum polishes with a microfiber pad and it helped to some degree but it still didn't get the barrels as clean as i got the face of the wheel. I thought I had pictures of the barrels but I must have been so frustrated I didn't take them...I'm about to say screw it and not worry about more than cleaning them off and not getting them shinny...


    Backstory: I'm a hobbyist who's just figured things out as I go... started by hand and then moved to a DA Harbor Freight polisher (pretty happy with it) a few years ago.


    We picked up at horse trailer that is in overall great shape for 15 years old. The bare aluminum wheels and tread plate had seem some better days. I got the face of passenger side wheels and the passenger side fender polished up nicely. I'll attack the rest over the next few weekends, then a full detail on the paint.

    Thanks!

    Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

  2. #2
    Super Member TMQ's Avatar
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    Re: Cleaning negected aluminum wheels - suggestions?

    Have had people tell me to try these.

    Sonax Chrome & Aluminum Paste
    Collinite Metal Wax # 850

    Tom

  3. #3
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    Re: Cleaning negected aluminum wheels - suggestions?

    I forgot to mention, the barrels are not smooth... the wheels have very little groves. They almost look like the wheels were cut on a lathe.

    Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

  4. #4
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    Re: Cleaning negected aluminum wheels - suggestions?

    Quote Originally Posted by TMQ View Post
    Have had people tell me to try these.

    Sonax Chrome & Aluminum Paste
    Collinite Metal Wax # 850

    Tom
    Thanks Tom!

    Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

  5. #5
    Super Member Mantilgh's Avatar
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    Re: Cleaning negected aluminum wheels - suggestions?

    The trailer looks great.

    If the barrels are pretty rough you might need to scuff or sand them. You could try a scrub pad first and then move up to sanding.

    Since they so hidden I'd skip them, or go at them with a really aggressive sand paper and stop there, but it's not my trailer.
    ____________
    "The more answers I seek, the more questions I find."

  6. #6
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    Re: Cleaning negected aluminum wheels - suggestions?

    What did you use on the treadplate, assuming you polished them?
    I wouldn't worry about the barrels being shined other than cleaning them since they can't be seen.

  7. #7
    Super Member TMQ's Avatar
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    Re: Cleaning negected aluminum wheels - suggestions?

    [QUOTE=wgasa84;1502297]I forgot to mention, the barrels are not smooth... the wheels have very little groves. They almost look like the wheels were cut on a lathe.

    I would not remove those. That's part of the wheel's look. Just get a terry cloth and rub out. Or use a polisher and buff over them...

    Tom

  8. #8
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    Re: Cleaning negected aluminum wheels - suggestions?

    Quote Originally Posted by 99C5Coupe View Post
    What did you use on the treadplate, assuming you polished them?
    I wouldn't worry about the barrels being shined other than cleaning them since they can't be seen.
    I used the Turtle Wax Chrome & Metal polish on this side. I'm going to do a 50/50 test between the Chemical Guys Heavy Metal Polish and the Turtle Wax Chrome & Metal Polish on the front tread plate to see what works better... I tried both of these on the one of the barrels with the MF pad on my DA polisher and a Mother Mini powe ball and it 'helped'... just not nearly in the same ball park as the front of the wheel where I used the same process.

    Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

  9. #9
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    Re: Cleaning negected aluminum wheels - suggestions?

    Quote Originally Posted by Mantilgh View Post
    The trailer looks great.

    If the barrels are pretty rough you might need to scuff or sand them. You could try a scrub pad first and then move up to sanding.

    Since they so hidden I'd skip them, or go at them with a really aggressive sand paper and stop there, but it's not my trailer.
    Thanks! I can't wait to see how it looks after I finish with the paint and the rest if the tread plate. I doubt it's had anything besides getting washed a few times a year

    Don't get me wrong, the previous owners took great care of it. They obviously kept it under cover since there is almost zero rust on it and the paint is in good condition.

    My plan for the paint is to wash, decon, compound with M105, (if needed) polish with M205, then the Klasse Twins for a durable finish. I picked up some Mckees RV Vinyl Decal restorer that I'll try to restore the graphics with.



    Sanding..... That sounds like considerably more work than I would care to do for something that is seen only by me and someone replacing the tires! Thanks for the info though.

    Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

  10. #10
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    Re: Cleaning negected aluminum wheels - suggestions?

    I think I'm going to give Steel Wool a try....

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