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Technical & Reference Section => Tech and Restoration => Topic started by: thesku11s on July 18, 2008, 01:08 AM

Title: best way to polish rims?
Post by: thesku11s on July 18, 2008, 01:08 AM

Im sure there used to be a sticky on this, but know I need it it I cant find it!


Bought myself a new pair of rims because they were a bargain, but I knew I wanted something blingin & shiny and these had a powder coated "grey" rim, with machined braked surface. They are good rims (rrp £55 each!) but they look wank, so I think to myself, maybe I can shine them up myself.


The few times ive used nitromors its worked a treat and bubbled off thick coat in seconds. However this time it took me hour & hours of reapplying and scraping to get all the grey powder off.

Underneath it turned out to be just the untouched extruded aluminium surface. I had a go with wire wool, got it a bit shinier. But would ideal like to take it up to mirror polish, then spray some clear coat on.

Anyone got some tips, should I use a product like autosol, brasso etc? Or just plain elbow grease? Should I use a bit of leather to buff it up to a shine?
I dont really have a clue.But I am desperate to build these wheels up!

Guidance much appreciated  :daumenhoch:

Title: Re: best way to polish rims?
Post by: etriedes on July 18, 2008, 10:20 AM

Hate to send you to another site, but it's the only place i've seen anyone go into detail about it ..
http://www.vintagebmx.com/community/index.php'showtopic=4005471&hl=polishing

i think you have to be a member to view .. not sure though

Title: Re: best way to polish rims?
Post by: gm28 on July 18, 2008, 10:57 AM

polishing wheel is the best way to go....saves loads of effort but still takes time

Title: Re: best way to polish rims?
Post by: MartyC on July 18, 2008, 03:20 PM

Take them along to a metal finishers, like a chrome platers and ask them to mirror polish them; should cost about £15 to £20 a pair and will come up blinging  :daumenhoch:

Title: Re: best way to polish rims?
Post by: darren on July 19, 2008, 11:53 AM

sawzall on here is ya man he can polish anything  ;)

Title: Re: best way to polish rims?
Post by: thesku11s on July 20, 2008, 12:11 AM

I tested some Silver polish, with "jewellers rouge" sounded fancy like it might work.

Damn stuff turned it black, haha.

Title: Re: best way to polish rims?
Post by: Rooonga on July 22, 2008, 10:37 AM

I bought a polishing kit on ebay, work in my drill, and boy does it work well!

Best 30 odd quid I ever spent.

Title: Re: best way to polish rims?
Post by: MartyC on July 22, 2008, 01:41 PM

Quote from: Skeleton Boy on July 20, 2008, 12:11 AM

I tested some Silver polish, with "jewellers rouge" sounded fancy like it might work.

Damn stuff turned it black, haha.

Autosol will get rid of that  :daumenhoch: