Polishing wheels sucks!

[funbnme]

RANT!!!

I've got the polished Coddington Junkyard Dog wheels. Had the car in my buddy's shop for a couple weeks for suspension work and buffing. The wheels were a bit dirty when I left it, but it picked up some spots from all the wet sanding.

Using Mothers polish and the powerball.
Powerball is useless. Doesn't do jack to help clean the wheels, so I've been doing it by hand. I can do about 10 mins before my hands cramp up.

I've polished one of the wheels twice and still have some spots.

Should I use something other than the Mothers polish?

Anyway to protect the wheels with something so they don't get bad again...or do you just have to keep them up and not let them get too dirty?

[armourmark]

Polishing the wheels does suck!! after you get them how you want them, either use billet polish or wax to seal them.

[armourmark]

Oops, i fogot to mention that I had some cast smoothie 2s and the cast boyd wheels do not polish up like some other ones. you could polish until your hands fall off and if you're particular they still won't be good enough due to the material of the wheel, not lack of effort.

[FirstGenZq8]

when i had polished aluminum wheels, i found that i needed to "get in the zone" of wheel polishing before i even began. be able to commit 1-2 hrs per wheel in order for them to be perfect. enjoy it! at least try to...

also, read this page. could prove helpful.

http://www.s10forum.com/forum/f74/how-to-polish-aluminum-wheels-192087/

[bonspeedbrad]

I agree polishing is time you could be driving or ..... That is why about six years ago we began working with clear powder coating. This is not the clear coat that used to flake and yellow it is a UV rated clear powder coat finish that looks great. There are some other companies that have followed our lead on this but not many.

If you have questions call us at bonspeed we offer this option on all of our wheels.

[ponchopwr70]

I use the mothers billet polish and multiple rags, one to apply and rub in, another to it take off and another to give it a final dry takes some time.

[jy211]

send them to SPS to be polished...LOL

[Fesler built]

That is why you do Fesler 3 piece wheels with chrome just spray off with a hose and dry. Very nice and fast

[hifi875]

use smithbrite, it works as good or better than anything i've seen. designed by jeff smith who does some real high end polishing. he did the finishing on the metal on bob johnsons cuda and other high end vehicles.

[Most Wanted]

Everyone has some Great answers to Buy other Products.

Post some pics of what your talking about and lets see what your working with. You might need something a Little stronger then Mothers.

I run polished wheels( Billet Specialties) and Honestly my upkeep of them is not that hard. When washing i use soap and water, and dry them off with a fresh towel. A majority of the time i goto my local hand carwash, Let them wash it and they charge me 5.00 a wheel to polish them with my polish i bring. when you use spray cleaners i have seen them do more damage then good on Polished wheels, Even polished wheel cleaner. A Polished wheel looks 10x better then chrome when clean.

The best cloths i have found for polishing them are at your local harley dealer. There polish is good also.
http://www.harley-davidson.com/gma/gma_product.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=84552444184727 5&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302288515&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302288515&bmUID=1231568488611&bmLocale=en_US

[TonyL]

exactly why I went with chrome wheels. Polishing suuucks.

the power ball did great on my dads truck's wheels though.

[wmhjr]

I agree polishing is time you could be driving or ..... That is why about six years ago we began working with clear powder coating. This is not the clear coat that used to flake and yellow it is a UV rated clear powder coat finish that looks great. There are some other companies that have followed our lead on this but not many.

If you have questions call us at bonspeed we offer this option on all of our wheels.

Does the clear powdercoating end up reducing the gloss and sheen? The reason I ask is that I'm also working on an aluminum intake, and from what i've seen and heard, the powdercoat process requires some scuffing of the surface for adhesion, therefore reducing the sheen.

[DriverzInc]

It does reduce the shine, but only by about 5%, and with that you are locked in. It won't ever dull worse than that. Small compromise to be able to enjoy years of "no polishing".

Another valid point, is you guys have to remember the huge differences between cast polished wheels, an billet "forged" 6061 aluminum wheels. That's why wheels like Rushforths, Billet Specialties and other will always polish up nicer, and are easier to maintain their overall luster. Cast wheels are much harder to keep polished, and also, not all cast wheels are equal either. I've noticed that Billet specialites cast wheels polish up much better than any American Racing/Boyd wheel. It's all about what you get, and this is one of those times where you definitely get what you pay for. My suggestion, if you are wanting to save a buck and buy cast wheels, buy them powdercoated or chrome. You'll be much happier in the long run.

[JRouche]

I have a new set of Billet Specialties here now and just applied the ZoopSeal to them. The wheels have a great shine being new so I figured right now is the best time to use the Zoops.

The formula has changed I think. It used to be a two part product. You had to mix A and B. But now its just one. I cleaned the wheels really well with their cleaner and distilled H2O.

Putting the stuff on is kinda odd. Less is better. I cut out lil 2x2" pieces of the cloth they provide. And just put enough on the cloth to make it damp, not wet. Then wipe in one direction as they say to do. Its such a thin coating almost sounds like Voodoo work. And you dont want it beading up, but it does anyway. Beading up will cause it too be too thick of a coating.

So anyway, it has to cure before you use the final seal product. They say a couple hours. But I have read 24 hours works better. Ill do the final seal tomorrow.

All in all it was tedious. About 30 minutes to do two wheels. But if it saves me two years of constant looking after the wheels it will be worth it.

If anyone is considering it I would suggest the smaller kit. I got the larger one and I will have most of the sealant left over. And I think the shelf life is not good for two years. The small kit should be fine for four wheels. You really dont use much of it at all. JR

[jtodd71]

I have some Boyd Wheels i used The mothers Billet polish on them and it does ok but I Found out that Jeff Smith polish does alot better.

Try this also I dont rub the polish off I use HOT water and a mild car wash and wash it off and then dry them with Micro fiber rag and Just do a little buffing and they are done. I would suggest using Zoop seal also

Here are my wheels

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[Most Wanted]

What i have found best when you wash your car with polished wheels is to make sure you have the car soaked as well as the wheels, Wash the car then with a Good mitt go over the wheels, Do 1 side of the car Hose off then do the other, Then dry the wheels first. I Have NO issues with my wheels this way. And i have them on a Daily Driver. Soapy water on hot days likes to dry fast, The film it leaves is hard to get off.

[TD509EFI]

Here's a pic of Rushforth Concept II that are powdercoated:

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/01/DSCN0238-1.jpg

[JRouche]

I have some Boyd Wheels

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif


Those are some GREAT looking wheels....JR

[JRouche]

Here's a pic of Rushforth Concept II that are powdercoated:

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/01/DSCN0238-1.jpg

Well heck, they look good. The powder coating doesnt fade the shine at all huh? And being PC'ed they will be as durable as anything, Im thinking more so than clear coat. We have all seen the dreaded clear coat de-lamination from our cars. But a powder coat is solid. Are the clears as solid as the base colors. It looks really good, I never knew powder coat was so clear. JR

[Most Wanted]

Orangepeel to hell.

This is polished
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/01/IMG_6092-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/01/IMG_4806-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/01/IMG_6084-1.jpg

and my impala on the 22's that are polished.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/01/Imp3d003-1.jpg

[JRouche]

So I finished the Zoopseal treatment today. The final seal stuff is like a very fine polish. I had some beading of the first coating. And sure enough, the beads were hard, very small beads, maybe the size of a grain of salt. I saw them as they were wet, and no way I could have put this stuff on any thinner. So when I saw all these lil beads, that were hard I was thinking oh no! Im gonna have to put some major buffing into it with the second stage stuff.

Nope, they were really hard to the finger nail but just a light use of the second sealant (polish Im thinking) they disappeared. Without any work at all.

What got me motivated to do the Zoops was on Sat. at my boys baseball tryouts, in the parking lot was a nice SUV, with some sweet Boss wheels. They were trashed looking. A major haze of white and grime. I was thinking he spent some cash for those and they look like crap now. Didnt wanna head down that buffing road. We will see. Gimme two years and I will say yeah or nay. Who knows.. JR

Here is what they look like after the Zoops. Really, the same as before I did it.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/01/zooped-1.jpg

[jtodd71]

they look really good.

[JRouche]

they look really good.

Thanks :) Hope they look as nice on the car as they do on the cardboard. Someday LOL JR

[funbnme]

Nice. Let me know how they hold up. I think it's going to take a few more polishing sessions to get the rest of the spots off mine. When I do, I think I'll seal them.

[michaelj715]

and nobody suggested have your "buddy" fix his mess???

[funbnme]

No...he did so much work that he didn't charge me for that I'll clean it up.