Aluminum Wheel Refinishing, Tips & Tricks Welcomed

Wow, the backs of those are nasty! I spend more time doing initial cleanup and getting the entire thing back to bare aluminum by using an acid solution and alternating with an alkaline solution. The best you can usually buy local is etching mag cleaner for the acid part, then I would suggest something along the lines of Purple Power or Castrol SuperClean for the alkaline part, they will be the easiest to get. I alternate those scrubbing until the entire wheel is clean, then I say goodbye to my fingers and sand out everything by hand. I have tried the, car in idle/spinning wheel/ sanding method but I like unbroken fingers. Painting makes that part easier, the polished lip, they suck, I usually go all the way to 3000 grit if i love the wheels.

Kwik_Cutty88 said:

Yeah they are pretty nasty. I tried Griots HD wheel cleaner, and that didn't touch the grime on the back much. Then I tried Simple Green 1:1, which worked, but slowly. Thanks for the tips

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Yea, most available wheel cleaners aren't up to the task of us home hobbyists, PM me an address and I'll send you some serious alkaline cleaner.

I wish there was an easier ( whilst still being cost effective ) way. I budget 3+ hours per wheel. If they are really crusty I use dollar store oven cleaner, let that set for 10 to 15 mins then armed with with rubber gloves to the elbow give it a good rub down with green scotch brite pads ( again dollar store ). Repeat the process until all the clear coat is gone. This usually takes 2-4 rounds. Then purple power and green scotch brite I find evens it all out ( oven cleaner I find bleaches some areas if left on bare aluminum too long ). From there its feather, sand, feather starting at 180 and working up to 400. Rinsing in-between with a 50\50 water vinegar solution with a couple drops of dish soap ( this should help neutralize the oven cleaner ). Once its all uniform in dullness then move on up as long as you can ( I stop at 1000-1500 grit ). Before we even hit that point my hands are done so I bite it off in 20 to 30 minute chunks per day. I use a power ball and mag cleaner from there. Then the next spring and every time they look dull I would start at 800 to 1000 up to maybe 1500 and hit it with the powerball again. I did the raised faces of my wheels like that. It takes a little elbow grease every spring to get them to shine but they come up like mirrors. You can go further but it's good enough for the girls I go with

Honestly I love the look of polished wheels but I painted the last 3 sets of aluminum rims I have a bright silver colour for a reason. With those I stop at 240 or so and hit it with sand-able primer, paint then clear. Powercoating really is the ticket if you can get a decent hook up

I have some OEM FR500s I am about to refinish, good info hear.

Aircraft stripper, main ingredient is ammonium hydroxide, will kill the clear coat much faster than oven cleaner which is sodium hydroxide.