Aluminum Wheel Restore

In my experience once they get to that point you really only have 3 options, leave it, paint them, or totally strip the clear coat and sand the oxidation out, then sand/polish back to a shine in several progressive steps...(200/400/600 grit, for example) Once you've done that you'll have to keep them waxed or they'll look like crap in a hurry...some people coat them with grease for the winter then...looks like crap all winter, but at least they'll shine up again for the summer.

 

they look like crap now
I think my goal is to clean the from the crap stage and protect them some how.
I won’t become a slave to a shiney wheel on a 12 year old truck.

 

I recall that someone has some "chrome" spray paint that is supposed to look pretty darn good...Eastwood maybe?
I think they even used some on Counting Cars once...and even they were impressed!

 

You’re making progress. They’ll look much better sans clear coat. Even if you don’t progress through grits. At least they’ll be consistently one color.

 

These are aftermarket wheels. I was shocked at how cheap new ones are. Before spending too much time maybe see what new ones would cost. Maybe even used wheels (stock take offs) in excellent shape.

My original aluminum f350 rims look like yours with white chalk growing under the clear coat.

Can they be sandblasted and powder coated?

 

Nice truck, I could definitely live with the wheels as they sit. Congrats on the new ride!

 

They could be “winter” wheels.

 

DIY Restore of Corroded Aluminum Alloy Wheels

 

Some of these guys offer mobile service. Much quicker.

 

Gratuitous pic of the new baby.

I just cleaned some of the rust off the front bumper by the cracked chrome and the sunlight was flattering

 

Looking good Brother

 

Looks good from here...what'd ya do then, a lil sand and polish?

 

Much better.

 

I had just taken some fine steel wool and windex to clean the rust off the bumper where there are a couple beauty marks in the chrome.

wheels, staying with the wet sand method.

 

Spent some effort on drivers side rear. 400 then 600. About 4 times longer on the 400. Then a quick rinse.
It takes a while, but I think once past the 400 phase, the finer isn’t as much effort. I guess it depends on where I want to eventually land.

 

Best thing is ( mentioned previously, Aircraft Stripper) to remove the clear coat and then a sand with 600 grit wet or dry paper (wet) followed by a buff job with a stick of Rouge and a buffer and not one of those wimpy drill motor ones either. A real flap wheel type buffing pad chucked in a large angle grinder. I have Alcoa's on my pickup truck and I dismounted the tires to do mine the first time. Now, once a year with mothers aluminum polish and lots of clean (turns them black) old bath towels.

Real men use real buffs...lol You got to hang on tight too or that wheel will get away from you.

When I did mine the first time, I mounted each wheel (tire off) on the front axle and used that to control the rim rotation.

 

Nothing sets off a truck like mirror polished aluminum rims. Mine is a 97 F350 Ford and it's never seen snow. I get a lot of compliments on how good it looks. it's dirty work but the end result is worth it and once you mirror polish them, all it takes is some Mothers or Simichrome polish and they keep looking good. When new, clearcoated aluminum wheels look good but as soon as the clearcoat chips, they go downhill fast.

I keep my big truck's Alcoa's polished too. I own an International Eagle Double bunk conventional and a 40 foot grain hopper. Never goes anywhere but the elevator on the River in Toledo (Andersens). Spends most of it's time in the barn with my pickup truck.

 

Steel wool will scratch the chrome plating and cause rust. You want to use good old Coke pop to remove the stains and surface rust and then a coat of good carnuba paste wax.

 

Too bad you don't live nearby, I'd loan you my big Dewalt angle grinder and flap wheel and a bar of rouge and let you experience what a powerful grinder with a loaded with rouge flap wheel does. It's a 2 hand operation for sure.