Polishing aluminum slots

[CudaChick1968]

I would not clear coat them. How many times have you seen wheels that look cloudy on a factory car 3 to 5 years old. It will happen. Aluminum can to polished again and again and look great. The last thing you want is to start all over again .Imo. been there, gone that, got a t-shirt.

There are many differences in the automotive clear coats used on late model cars' wheels. A lot of them aren't even made out of aluminum.

 

[Hey-O]

There are many differences in the automotive clear coats used on late model cars' wheels. A lot of them aren't even made out of aluminum.

You're right, but as far back as I can remember, to and including today, clear coat on aluminum if driven everyday will get cloudy and peel. Many aluminum wheels over time can lose air around the bead from corrosion. Aluminum is funny that way.

 

[Dan64]

Now that you did the hard work just hit them with "Bush's" polish . I wouldn't clear them.

 

[abodyjoe]

You're right, but as far back as I can remember, to and including today, clear coat on aluminum if driven everyday will get cloudy and peel. Many aluminum wheels over time can lose air around the bead from corrosion. Aluminum is funny that way.

i don't know.. i've had cars with over 100k miles on them an the wheels still look good.. my current ride has over 60k miles on it and the wheels look great when i wash it and i'm in the north east where we use all that brine and slat on the roads.

the other thing is seriously, how much are these classic cars(what we are really talking about here) actually driven? most sure aren't daily drivers. most will never see the salt and all that can beat up the clear finish. clear them ******* with a good product and don't look back...

 

[BeeFast]

I've been using a product called Flitz with good success. It's not an abrasive. It removes the tarnish and leaves a waterproof coating up to 6 months. Mothers is a great product too.

 

[73HEMI_RR_GTX]

I polish my wheels with mothers than I apply 3 coats of a good car wax such as meguiars Gold Class.

View attachment 680104 View attachment 680105

Update,
Pictures of the wheels on my 33 Plymouth Coupe.
Polished with Mothers and 3 coats of wax.

 

[abodyjoe]

here are my wheels ceramic coated with the stuff @CudaChick1968 recommended... i think they look pretty good. can't wait to see them fully cured. i sprayed them about 15 minutes before i took this picture... used a cheap harbor freight spray gun..

 

[73HEMI_RR_GTX]

here are my wheels ceramic coated with the stuff @CudaChick1968 recommended... i think they look pretty good. can't wait to see them fully cured. i sprayed them about 15 minutes before i took this picture... used a cheap harbor freight spray gun..

View attachment 816706 View attachment 816707

they look great

 

[abodyjoe]

thanks...

 

[CudaChick1968]

You're definitely getting the hang of it Joe! They look terrific!

 

[magvan]

My answer for you it will depend on the brand of the wheel and how good of aluminum casting they had. I’ve on 42 different brands of aluminum slot mags and I can tell you ansen stay shiny for years I have some no-name ones that were Dull in months