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going to attempt this wheel polishing thing again

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Xil3

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
So I attempted to sand and polish these and failed miserably, im going to try again. Any hints or suggestions? Apparently I need all the help I can get.

I went 200, 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1500 and 2000 grit sandpaper wet sanding with the 1500 and 2000. I used mothers alum polish with a polishing attachment on a drill and this is the most shine I got. Do I need to go lower in grit on the sandpaper?

Any help is appreciated.

here is a pic of the barrel

http://tinypic.com/r/2us91q9/8
 
#5 ·
Unless the wheels are in really bad shape, you shouldn't have to go lower than 400-600 grit, then sand up to 2000-3000 and polish. Looks like you weren't sanding enough. You have to keep wet sanding until you get all the previous grits scratches out, then move up. A bench grinder with a polishing wheel would help out a ton after you hit 2k.
 
#7 ·
DarkSideGTI said:
Unless the wheels are in really bad shape, you shouldn't have to go lower than 400-600 grit, then sand up to 2000-3000 and polish. Looks like you weren't sanding enough. You have to keep wet sanding until you get all the previous grits scratches out, then move up. A bench grinder with a polishing wheel would help out a ton after you hit 2k.
Click to expand...
To add to this. When I did my bike frame you have to sand in the same direction. DO NOT put swirls, cross scratches etc.
 
#10 ·
it's a very long and tedious process by hand - keep sanding, then sand some more...and then some more (x10000).... and then polish, polish, polish.

Remember to put some good wheel wax on there after you get them to where you want them - as to try and preserve all that hard work you put in, for as long as possible! :thumbup:

good luck :beer:
 
#13 ·
I did the same thing to wheels that had clear coat on the lips. I spent almost 30 straight hours on 4 wheels. My arms cramped up really bad.

But the best way to do it is start at like 200-300 and then go up by 200 each time. Go around the wheel atleast 3 times with each grit. And do a quarter or a fifth of the lip at a time. You will not be disappointed.

Before:

Wheels 042 by Bradley P., on Flickr

During:

Wheels 044 by Bradley P., on Flickr

Wheels 048 by Bradley P., on Flickr

After:

DSC_0406 by Bradley P., on Flickr

DSC_0392 by Bradley P., on Flickr
 
#15 ·
DarkSideGTI said:
there really is no need to go to 200 or 300 grit if there aren't any scratches. like I said before, start at 600 and go up from there.
Click to expand...
I know. I was really just saying what I used. But for just straight aluminium ya go with 600.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk
 
#16 ·
When I hand polished the fat 5s I own, I wet sanded the entire process, from 400 up to 2500. And just like it was already mentioned sand in the same direction. To get a really great shine once I was done wet sanding I put a buffing wheel on my Dewalt drill and put a light coat of Mother's aluminum polish and went to town on the wheels. It was a messy process because the buffing wheel at full speed would splatter the polish everywhere. Once I was done and wipe off the residue the wheels loos like mirrors.

I you want to see the finished project I did look in my sig the wheels are for sale...
 
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