cleaning alloy rims

[Soundguy]

just rotated the tires on my f350 drw today. It's a 99.. from the looks of it, the prev owner never rotated the rims, just retired when needed.. thus the rims been in the same location apparrently their life, and thus colelcted dirt and dust and scale as such.

i hit them with an aluminum safe cleaner, and then did a once over with the pressure washer, then hit with a scrub brush, and pressure washer again.

I'd say they are 85% clean now.. some black powdery residue still remains.. as well as some old white scale 'tracking' and some leftover rust marks from weights, etc.

what's the best next step for clean up. I know they are 13yr old rims and I don't expect them to look new.. especialy not on theis worker farm truck.. but after I rotated them today.. it looke dliek they had been in a fire, then gone mudding..

I have abrasive papers from 20 thru about 4000, as well as buffing and polishing compounds, creme and paste. have 'scotch brite' style pads, as well as red and black 3m discs ( like for a drill.. black is more coarse ), and rol-loc style red discs

i'm not trying to go for a grinder look, so guess wire wheels are out of the question.. even though I have brass wheels too.. i still think they'd eat the alloy rims.

suggestions? leaning toward scotch brite, then rubbing compound? then re-clear coat them before putting them back on.

I still hav ethem off the truck but need the truck byu lunch.. so whatever I do gets done in the morning while the farrier is here working on the horses.. so I can do whatever cleaning i decide on.. then a blow dry with the heat gun, then hit them with some clear.

thanks

soundguy

 

[Stick895]

I'd try the polishing compounds first, if not so good then use like rubbing compound, then coarse to fine wet sanding.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I have great luck with Purple Power at full strength then let them soak for a minute then the power washer.

Chris

 

[Soundguy]

i tried simple green as it said aluminum safe.. the purple power I have says no for aluminum rims.. I take it it clouds them if they have a mirror polish finish? which mine don't.. so it ain't an issue if that's the reason for the warning..

 

[Diamondpilot]

Just goes to show you how much time I spent reading the label. It as worked for me with no issues, even on the misses BMW, and if I were to put a scratch on that I would pay dearly.

Chris

 

[Highbeam]

The purple power will oxidize bare aluminum and take the shine out very quickly. If your clear coat is perfect then you have some time but if your clear coat was perfect then you wouldn't have the white lines under it which is oxidation and usually begins where the clear coat was damaged by the wheel weights.

I have the same wheels that look pretty good except where the wheel weights have broken the seal and allowed oxidation.

 

[Soundguy]

can say there is NO clear coat left.. they were oxidized BAD.. got them about 90% now needs another going over

I cleaned them and slappe dthem on. I need to do it one more time then will clear them after that. simply ran out of time today...

 

[Highbeam]

Did you pull the weights and tires? Do you just plan to mask off the tires real well when you apply the clear? Rebalance later?

It is a common thing in my area to see these OEM wheels powder coated (or maybe painted) black. They have begun using lots and lots of liquid deicer on our roads that tears up the factory clear.

 

[Creamer]

I would use nothing more abrasive than Scotchbrite. The will remove oxidation and small bits of aluminum. Depending on the finish you want you can wet sand with 600 grit of finer after the scotchbrite prior to clearcoat.

Please understand that Aluminum oxidizes extremely rapidly and clear coating is difficult. You really need to get done sanding, clean them off, and clearcoat them ASAP.

 

[Soundguy]

thanks.. I've actually welded aluminum, and painted before so realize just how fast aluminum oxidizes. ( And I know it's fast to oxidize.. really.. have alloy soldered it too.. plenty of fun! )

Whenever I do the 2nd cleaning.. that day will be a 1-shot. clean up and paint... no lag.

to answer other questions, I'll likely mask well and paint.

had actually thought about resonators..