Getting my wheels ready...slowly

[HarrierTony]

Spent a few hours in the garage this evening, and its taking me what seems like ages to get a shine back into these wheels, this one is about 70% there, if you look close on some of the pics you might see some pitting that i still need to get out, i will have arms like Arnie by the time im done lol, hope you like the progress, Tony.

This is what all my wheels looked like after stripping. but there are still some bits to get off yet.
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c236/kyloni/Harrier/IMAG0567.jpg

This is how one is looking now.
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c236/kyloni/Harrier/IMAG0614.jpg
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c236/kyloni/Harrier/IMAG0612.jpg
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c236/kyloni/Harrier/IMAG0611.jpg
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c236/kyloni/Harrier/IMAG0609.jpg

[alancdavis]

What are you rubbing them with

[HarrierTony]

Hi Alan,

I got one of these kits through ebay

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/3-Pc-Metal-Polish-Buffing-Wheel-Set-Metal-Working-Buff-/250575092052?pt=UK_Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item3a57707954

first i used 320 grade wet and dry, then 600 and finally 1200, before using the kit, but i will have to backtrack to the 600 i think to try and get the pitting out.

plus im using autosol as well.

if anyone has any ideas how to get these to gleem, im all ears, thanks.

[bluevan1]

looks good that m8

[HarrierTony]

Thanks m8, deffo needs loads more work to get it spot on, the pics make it look better than i think it actually is :(

[fox2fox]

I;LL be back!!!!! did you say to the alloys!!!LOL:D:D:D

[Dobbo63]

i use meguires metal polish.. lot better than autosol. about £8 a pot.
i buff it whist still wet , gets a deeper shine for me but you need to get rid of the pitting first. i use this stuff to do the the whheels on my truck and it has 12 to polish on 6 axles. do,s a good job.

steve.

[wetandwindy2]

Thanks m8, deffo needs loads more work to get it spot on, the pics make it look better than i think it actually is :(


been there and done that think my fingers were about an inch shorter than when i started ,i used p80 wet ,then 320 wet ,500 wet,1000then 1200 then autosol took a while but end result was good ,but wonnt do it agin in a hurry

[wetandwindy2]

how did you or do you get rid of pitting

[steven f]

cracking job do you want to do mine ???:)

[Dobbo63]

how did you or do you get rid of pitting


just keep at em mate with the 1200 n a bit of washing up liquid.
smoother the surface , better the shine. imo. and i do mine by hand.

[HarrierTony]

I;LL be back!!!!! did you say to the alloys!!!LOL:D:D:D

I did m8 lol, and im sure they were all laughing at me as i turned the garage lights off ;)

i use meguires metal polish.. lot better than autosol. about £8 a pot.
i buff it whist still wet , gets a deeper shine for me but you need to get rid of the pitting first. i use this stuff to do the the whheels on my truck and it has 12 to polish on 6 axles. do,s a good job.
steve.

Thanks for that, i will get some meguires and give that a try.

been there and done that think my fingers were about an inch shorter than when i started ,i used p80 wet ,then 320 wet ,500 wet,1000then 1200 then autosol took a while but end result was good ,but wonnt do it agin in a hurry

I can deffo relate to that, i keep thinking Aladdin is going to appear with all the rubbing lmao, with a bit of luck i might have them done by summer........2015 :)

[HarrierTony]

just keep at em mate with the 1200 n a bit of washing up liquid.
smoother the surface , better the shine. imo. and i do mine by hand.

Thats good then, i thought i would have to go back to a rougher grade and work back upto the 1200, that should save some elbow grease.

[HarrierTony]

cracking job do you want to do mine ???:)

Yeah why not m8, bring em up, ive got plenty of room in my garage :D

[lee bishop]

Bugger that too much like hard work !!!

Look nice tho,

[HarrierTony]

Bugger that too much like hard work !!!

Look nice tho,

Your right Lee, i keep thinking am i doing the right thing to em, but i will continue and see how it goes.

If anyone has a 6 x 13 alloy going spare dated 10 79, let me know as i need one to complete my set. Thanks.

[ebj60t]

That looks very hard work Tony, end result is nice though. Are going to Laquer them once polished?
Found any spot-lights yet?
There were a pair off a Granada on ebay but were £100+:eek:

[HarrierTony]

That looks very hard work Tony, end result is nice though. Are going to Laquer them once polished?
Found any spot-lights yet?
There were a pair off a Granada on ebay but were £100+:eek:

Thanks mate, and your right it is hard work, this wheel still needs a lot doing to it.

hmmm to laquer or not, thats a damn good question, because i either have to keep em polished regular or watch for the dreaded peeling of the laquer, and to be honest im not sure which way to go on that one yet. How have others dealt with this ?

I saw those granada spotlamps, and last time i checked they were at £120 plus a tenner postage on top, i managed to get these ones for a ton and im really happy with them. Got them through a friend of a friend and they have been kept in a cupboard for ages and only saw daylight a day or so before i got them lol :D. They were off a sport, so are the correct ones too

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c236/kyloni/Harrier/IMAG0561.jpg

[lee bishop]

I wouldn't laquer the wheels mate old alloy is porous and will hold gas and moisture that will come out and lift the laquer, water will then get in an ruin them. Either leave bare and polish like mad, or the other option is have them properly polished by pro's as that will close off the pores in the metal, they will look much more shiney and won't be so quick to look manky, and your arms won't hurt as much.

[Rallye]

There are those who use a technique of placing the wheel on the car, then running it up in 2nd gear spinning the wheel. Hey presto ;)

Another tip is to apply polish to the back of your 1200 grade paper to finish.

Lots of other tips on here.

http://www.wheel-whores.com/forum/

[mk2ddc]

Looks good that but a lot of elbow grease to achieve it :eek::cool::)

[rs new boy]

i found brillo pads really good :D

[HarrierTony]

Thanks for the info Lee, looks like they wont be getting any laquer on them then lol.

Like the link to the wheel site Rallye, thanks for that m8.

[Robb]

Once polished use Mer on them, it protects them well.

[wetandwindy2]

just keep at em mate with the 1200 n a bit of washing up liquid.
smoother the surface , better the shine. imo. and i do mine by hand.


thanks Dobbo :D

[wetandwindy2]

gee wizz ther must be a forum for pretty much every subject going ;)

[ebj60t]

Thanks mate, and your right it is hard work, this wheel still needs a lot doing to it.

hmmm to laquer or not, thats a damn good question, because i either have to keep em polished regular or watch for the dreaded peeling of the laquer, and to be honest im not sure which way to go on that one yet. How have others dealt with this ?

I saw those granada spotlamps, and last time i checked they were at £120 plus a tenner postage on top, i managed to get these ones for a ton and im really happy with them. Got them through a friend of a friend and they have been kept in a cupboard for ages and only saw daylight a day or so before i got them lol :D. They were off a sport, so are the correct ones too

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c236/kyloni/Harrier/IMAG0561.jpg

They're in good nick Tony and correct I'm sure.

[HarrierTony]

Looks good that but a lot of elbow grease to achieve it :eek::cool::)

Your right there, and i still have 4 others to start yet lmao.

i found brillo pads really good :D

I agree brillo pads are spot on, when you get bored put brillo pad across a 9v battery and see what happens, stand back a bit though and dont burn your fingers lol.

Once polished use Mer on them, it protects them well.

Thanks for that m8, i will try it.

They're in good nick Tony and correct I'm sure.


Thanks m8, im hoping to get them fitted before next weekend, there is a small ford meet im hoping to go to in the Harrier.

[RS2000EXPRESS]

I personally would not laquer them as I've tried this before and the finish deteriorates. Even Ford had little success with the laquer which did not last 12 months in many cases.

According to the first owner of mine, the wheels were changed under warranty for the finish deteriorating, and the replacement set did exactly the same within the same period again, so the owner just ended up stripping off the laquer and polishing them at the end of the day.

The original finish was machined and you won't get anything near the look if you polish them with a polish and cloth. Mine were not pitted but to get something near to the original finish, I rubbed a wetted in soapy water medium grit wet and dry paper around the rim first, then along the length of the spokes and then to finish in a circular motion around were the cap fits and then around were each of the nuts fit.

Although not the best picture (better in the flesh), this is how they look....., better than shiney IMO.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff85/expresspic/IMG_0913Whl.jpg

Hope this helps.

Tim.

[shawnb]

I can feel your pain :D I did exactly this about a year ago.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v709/shawn63deluxe/escorts007-1.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v709/shawn63deluxe/rsalloysrefurb005.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v709/shawn63deluxe/rsalloysrefurb007.jpg


I did exactly the same as you and sure I spent around 3 hours on each wheel. The autosol is great for after the 1200 W&D but I used stuff called Belgom to get the final finish, it is a wax too like other's have said gives great protection http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BELGOM-ALU-Metal-Polish-Cleans-Polishes-and-Protects-/260228676384?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item3c96d67b20

I spoke to the guys at spit and polish a well known wheel refurber and told them about my small 'pits' they reminded me the wheels are cast alloy and will have pits from age, the deeper you sand you will just probably find more if you get my drift, the rim will be full of them, some still under the surface. I stopped killing my fingers and left them as they were after that as I realised you can't possibly remove the lot. I have some Porsche fuch alloys on my campervan and they are forged and dont have the same issue due to how they are made.

Bera in mind that now is the time to commit the perfect crime, you will have lost your fingerprints temporarily if they're anything like mine were :D:D

[HarrierTony]

Thanks a lot Tim and Shaun, your wheels look the nuts, i will be happy if i can get mine anywhere as nice as those. Your right about the fingers m8 and i havent touched the wheels since lol, hopefully tomorrow all being well :D