...::: DIY: How to polish wheels :::...

[N/A EK]

This is how i did my wheels... Great write up from 2point2 (H-T member). :goodjob:

Things you'll need.

Gloves - buy a 100 pack at the drug store, if you dont use gloves get ready to have black hands for a week.
Sandpaper 150*, 220, 320, 400, 600, 800, 1500
2 cans of mothers polish
6" Buffer
Small palm sander
A few rolls of that blue paper towel stuff from Canadian tire (http://www.honda-tech.com/showthread.php?t=1259115#)..


* Be carefull with 150 grit..use only to sand down curb scrapes or really bad areas.. you'll need to speed 3 x time with 220 grit to get rid of the sanding marks that the 150 will leave behind.

Step 1: strip rims with heavy duty paint stripper - follow the instructions exactly, do not do it on a humid or cold day or expect to do it agian!

SKIP TO STEP 4-8 if rims are smooth after stripping - use your own judgement. Sir rims and many other OEM rims have concentric machined rings that need to be sanded off so you need to start off with 220 grit

Step 2: Sand down with 220 BY HAND use a wood block for flat parts. take your time and make sure you dont see anything but the sanding marks that the 220 will leave behind. I sand dry with 220. this step will take the most time! do a good job.

Step 3:

Use 320 with the palm sander along with lots of water.
Palm sand as much as the rim as you can but be carefull not to let the sanders lip hit anything! let the sander to the sanding and use lots of water.

clean with clean rags and water.

hand sand areas you cant get at with the palm sander

sand again with the palm sander and fresh sand paper.

Step 4: (same as step 3 with 400 grit)
Step 5: (same as step 3 with 600 grit)

Step 6: Hand sand with 800 grit - take your time and get everything! I used this maroon colored paper from home hardware - it didn't last long using lots of water but it worked so well. buy 4 sheets of this stuff! Thumb Up I did 2 good passes with this stuff.

Step 7: Do the same with 1500 grit. the rim will look very smooth and very DULL. if it looks even and dull than you did a good job.

Step 8: Smear a decent amount of mothers on the whole rim. WITH A NEW CLEAN bonnet buff until you start to see circles/haze - you'll see the rim start to get very shiny but will leave a buffing pattern. keep doing this but dont let it get completely dry.. hard to explain but you cant really screw anything up at this point, just might have to do it over. turn the bonnet inside out for the next 'step 8' that you do.

Step 9: WITH A NEW CLEAN bonnet buff the rim. If you did the buffing part right the rim will look like a mirror in seconds. if it still looks hazy than keep experimenting with step 8. you will surprise yourself http://images.honda-tech.com/set1/smile/emwink.gif

I will not share any info on how i painted between the spokes and got the clean lines between the painted and polished parts. ya'll can figure it out if you want.. http://images.honda-tech.com/set1/smile/emsmile.gif



My old wheels...
http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj212/TOPspecV/efwheels.jpg

[The BUCKY]

very good write up. just remember peeps the more time you take with each step the better it will look

[toxxxic]

i polished ONE of my del sol wheels way back when. i never finished the set. i wanted to die after one wheel hahahaha

[88NaCivic]

very good write up. just remember peeps the more time you take with each step the better it will look


That says it all BUCKY
The key with Polishing is time.
Dizzy I polished

[88NaCivic]

Here is the 99 SI wheels I polished for my EF.
Had to put 2 on to see what it looked like

[Motivation]

^^^ looks good man.

[81911SC]

Nice write up

[88NaCivic]

^^^ looks good man.\


Thanks ! Bay pic

[BB1_Luda]

Nice write-up.

I polished my wheels by hand.
Took ffffffffffoooooooooorrrrrrrrreevvveerrr.

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/8580/p1010238m.jpg

[88NaCivic]

LOOKS good BB1 :goodjob:

[The BUCKY]

Nice write-up.

I polished my wheels by hand.
Took ffffffffffoooooooooorrrrrrrrreevvveerrr.

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/8580/p1010238m.jpg




i love those wheels polished!!!!

[88NaCivic]

EVO 8 wheel I have been working on

[BB1_Luda]

LOOKS good BB1 :goodjob:

i love those wheels polished!!!!
+Thanks Guys.

[DinanM3atl]

Nice Post!

[southside]

I know its not a showing off contest but Just wanted to show some of the polished shit I did.x2 on write up but forgot about 2k grit for the finisher.
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb148/corey20072007/polishedBuddyclubs.jpg
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb148/corey20072007/Picture054.jpg
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb148/corey20072007/Picture038.jpg
Fat fives
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb148/corey20072007/Picture021-1.jpg
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb148/corey20072007/Picture025.jpg
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb148/corey20072007/Picture020.jpg

[Okie_doke.]

I'm needing to do my meshes. This may help me alot.

[Okie_doke.]

Oh and yeah BB1 your wheels are sick!!! Me likes

[jdm>usdm]

Oh and yeah BB1 your wheels are sick!!! Me likes

x2
Man I saw these and was like, HOLY FAWK :eek:

:goodjob:

[Okie_doke.]

Fuck it does somebody just wanna polish mines for me cuz I'm afraid I'm gonna fuck them up?

[jr4mny]

i wanna get some wheels i can practice on or a vc =/

damn those prelude wheels are sick...and the last fat 5`s that were posted. might be doing this soon. =]

[VickNotic]

niceeee

[EJ_Allmota]

Some of the polishing work ive done..

My well known SI..

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x72/SpecialK86_photos/4-25-081edit.jpg

OG-Sans
Before:

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x72/SpecialK86_photos/DSC_5708E.jpg

After:

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x72/SpecialK86_photos/DSC_5716E.jpg

Dirty Octopus' BBS RS lips

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x72/SpecialK86_photos/DirtyOctBBSRS3edit.jpg

Before on the RIGHT and After on the LEFT

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x72/SpecialK86_photos/DSC_1010EDIT.jpg

[BlazinBubble]

very nice!! great thread!!

[Jecht]

I'm currently doing this on my spare set of Miata wheels. Any tips for doing it by hand instead of with a buffer?

[MisterMonkey]

thanks for posting this. Going to start polishing my s2k wheels tomorrow

[Hondatwin23]

ej, whats good

[Sammich]

Nice write-up.

I polished my wheels by hand.
Took ffffffffffoooooooooorrrrrrrrreevvveerrr.

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/8580/p1010238m.jpgthat is one beautiful prelude, reps

[eraser4g63]

I love the way polished wheels look I am just a bit on a lazy side.

[Okie_doke.]

I love the way polished wheels look I am just a bit on a lazy side.

Me and you both bro

[thinkskater]

wow i love polished wheels. dont know why i think i always will.

[SleeperWRX]

e jebiga sad

[mshii]

OP -- Do you ever clearcoat the wheels when you finish? Why, or why not?

[southside]

OP -- Do you ever clearcoat the wheels when you finish? Why, or why not?What would be the point of clear coating them.when the wheels get dirty just wash them and give them :goodjob: another taste of the mothers.

[RBS]

OP -- Do you ever clearcoat the wheels when you finish? Why, or why not?

sometimes clearcoat wont stick to the polished surface... its a gamble if you do decide to clear


as long as you wash your car and wheels every nowandthen, they will never fade or get dull spots. ive had polished wheels for years and i have never ran into a fading issue, just gotta maintain them ;)

[1badgvr4]

Ej allmota what method did you use on the volk lips.

[CeOTiO8]

Nice...

[southside]

sometimes clearcoat wont stick to the polished surface... its a gamble if you do decide to clear


as long as you wash your car and wheels every nowandthen, they will never fade or get dull spots. ive had polished wheels for years and i have never ran into a fading issue, just gotta maintain them ;)could have sworn I said that:lmfao:

[EJ_Allmota]

Ej allmota what method did you use on the volk lips.
This method for all the wheels ive done..

http://honda-tech.com/showthread.php?t=1259115

[N/A EK]

This method for all the wheels ive done..

http://honda-tech.com/showthread.php?t=1259115

Thats how i did some of my wheels too, and its a copy of that thread in the first post :goodjob:

[JDM onlyy]

i always wondered what my starfishes would like if i polished them. hahaha

[EJ_Allmota]

Thats how i did some of my wheels too, and its a copy of that thread in the first post :goodjob:
my bad holmes, son asked me so i posted the link.. i didnt even look at you OP, i just posted my work..

[lanning]

nice write up... now i just need to do it

[mp5o]

So how much would one of you guys charge me to polish a set of OEM Supra wheels?

[AFSil80]

I'll post up my wheels today when I get 'em back from having the tires mounted.

I started with black powdercoated wheels, and now they're polished. Took way. Too. Long.

[southside]

i always wondered what my starfishes would like if i polished them. hahahaUgly seen some polished and didnt like at all

[scrxils]

wow i love polished wheels. dont know why i think i always will.


where is that pic of your hx's

[AFSil80]

Only decent pic I have of my polished Nismo GT2's. They were a lil dirty after having the tires mounted, haha.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v601/AFSil80/DSC01149.jpg

Before the alignment, hence the messed up rear camber...

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k29/RyanCCR/Picture518.jpg

EDIT: Another dirty pic...waiting on Chris to upload some pics from earlier today...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v601/AFSil80/DSC01151.jpg

[mp5o]

So how much would one of you guys charge me to polish a set of OEM Supra wheels?

Any takers?

[EJ_Allmota]

This is all IA gets..

http://i27.tinypic.com/2i1d182.jpg

http://i27.tinypic.com/idavti.jpg

Those rolling to Import Alliance will see the finished product..

[AFSil80]

Ugh, I love and hate pads that have a lot of bite. Such fantastic braking, but dammit my wheels are already dirty and I've already cleaned 'em twice since getting it back on the road, haha.

[dabuilding]

man i want to get u to do my lips on my konigs chris! lmk man

[Just_lookin]

Only decent pic I have of my polished Nismo GT2's. They were a lil dirty after having the tires mounted, haha.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v601/AFSil80/DSC01149.jpg

Before the alignment, hence the messed up rear camber...

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k29/RyanCCR/Picture518.jpg

EDIT: Another dirty pic...waiting on Chris to upload some pics from earlier today...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v601/AFSil80/DSC01151.jpg


clean azz sylvia mann.. nice rims as well

[SleeperWRX]

$40 bucks per wheel to polish 678-467-7195

[ftp]

i always used steel wool. I started with the 0 gauge and progressed up to 0000 using a cutting compound from meguires. After i got done with 0000 i buffed it out with 3m perfecta buffing system. Done a few motorcycle frames like that and made em look like a friggin mirror

[Psycho]

How are you guys getting around blistering your fingers to hell and back? Even if I wear gloves, by the time Im done polishing stuff, it looks like my finger tips are made of puss-filled water balloons.

[AFSil80]

DA sander and a dremel. Make the tools do the work for you!

[Psycho]

The sander sounds like a good idea. But every time I've used a dremel, my work looks really amateur. Which bit do you recommend for the dremel?

[AFSil80]

Cloth wheel attachment. Then you'll have to go back over it with another layer of polishing compound (apply by hand, both times) and then buff it out with a microfiber towel to get rid of the streaks that the dremel causes.

[ej1boy95]

i polished ONE of my del sol wheels way back when. i never finished the set. i wanted to die after one wheel hahahaha

baby u looking to good :)

[91eflx]

repz for write up

[EJ_Allmota]

better pics of mine for those that havent seen them in person..

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2460/3748747449_7b46286f4d_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2588/3777109010_924ab99802_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3433/3790538495_7284f3e49e_o.jpg

[thinkskater]

im gonna have to find something to get close to where u are status level with those.... ill be back! lol.

[StarBwoy]

Nice write-up.

I polished my wheels by hand.
Took ffffffffffoooooooooorrrrrrrrreevvveerrr.

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/8580/p1010238m.jpg




OMG WHAT KIND OF RIMS ARE THEY

[donovan772]

want to try this one day. need a spare wheel to do it on first though...

[Teg Boy]

looks good man

[a94civicex]

also:

Steel Wool & Rubbing Compund work too

[allout13]

better pics of mine for those that havent seen them in person..


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3433/3790538495_7284f3e49e_o.jpg

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa162/Audiyon/do_want.jpg

I want your wheels!!!

[EJ_Allmota]

I want your wheels!!!
get in line..

[boosted_nonv]

word lol

[dynasty69]

I never realized i hated sanding so much till i polished some wheels. 2 down 2 to go.
320-400-600-800-1000-1200-1500-2000 then compound with a ball then polish by hand :(
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d170/coandcambria69/img1252721451191.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d170/coandcambria69/img1254711596335.jpg

[redneckhatch]

Looks good

[metro larev]

good stuff

[jdm eg99]

I never realized i hated sanding so much till i polished some wheels. 2 down 2 to go.
320-400-600-800-1000-1200-1500-2000 then compound with a ball then polish by hand :(
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d170/coandcambria69/img1252721451191.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d170/coandcambria69/img1254711596335.jpg

what kinda rims are these ?

[greasemunkey]

better pics of mine for those that havent seen them in person..

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2460/3748747449_7b46286f4d_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2588/3777109010_924ab99802_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3433/3790538495_7284f3e49e_o.jpg
only time ive ever liked those rims, they are played out more than pamela's vaj j never seen a good polished one though, just the gay colored ones

[TheChosenOne]

Yo EJ, did you buy those wheels like that, or you polished them?

[EssexCounty]

hot wheels!

[N/A EK]

Yo EJ, did you buy those wheels like that, or you polished them?

He polished them, he polishes all his wheels lol :crazy:

[boosted_nonv]

He polished them, he polishes all his wheels lol :crazy:

thats pretty much true lol:lmfao:

[Kellen]

damn i wish i would have seen this thread before i did my wheels, i just need a bit more polishing i guess

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q29/kellen17/5-3.jpg

[cpearson]

Those look good though.

[EJ_Allmota]

damn i wish i would have seen this thread before i did my wheels, i just need a bit more polishing i guess


What wheels are those??

[Kellen]

006's