Drax240z Posted August 31, 2000 Share Posted August 31, 2000 Picked up a set of snowflake turbo rims, and fought with them for a bit trying to clean them. (the clearcoat was chipped all over) I purchased some aircraft chemical stripper and used that to remove the clearcoat - bingo, worked excellently. Clearcoat not a problem. My question is where to go from there? I want a highly polished outer ring, and I'm going to paint the center gloss black. What have you guys done in the past to get out all the imperfections in the polished portion? So far I've used 100grit sandpaper, then 220grit, then 600grit, fine steel wool, then Never-Dull polish. It came out ok, not quite the mirror finish I'm hoping for though. Any other ideas? Should I sandblast first? ------------------ Drax240z 1973 240z - L28TURBO transplant on the way! http://members.xoom.com/r_lewis/datsun.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikelly Posted August 31, 2000 Share Posted August 31, 2000 I recommend the MOthers Aluminum and chrome polish sold at most Pep Boys and other car parts places. The stuff goes on my hand and you can get a mirror finish out of any aluminum with a little work. I'd also recommend powder coating the centers that you thought about painting... Powdercoating lasts longer and resists chipping better than paint! ------------------ "I will not be a spectator in the sport of life!" mjk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drax240z Posted August 31, 2000 Author Share Posted August 31, 2000 Actually I had planned on powercoating, just had a brain fart while I was writing. I'll try out the mothers polish... I think I am going to hit them with an SOS pad first and see if that works any better for the rougher stuff. (those work wonders on aluminum pots anyway) ------------------ Drax240z 1973 240z - L28TURBO transplant on the way! http://members.xoom.com/r_lewis/datsun.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLKMGK Posted September 1, 2000 Share Posted September 1, 2000 Consider a polishing wheel on the end of a drill using white rouge. I've polished more aluminum than I'd care to admit to and have a nice dual wheel in the garage just for this. Aluminum is real soft so afterwards you'll want to coat the polished parts if you can with clear. Try to get one of those buffs that doesn't have a big nut on the end, these are usually used just for wheels and crevices I think. If you can't get one of these put layers of masking or duct tape on the nut and cut it down as far as possible. If you don't and that sucker hits the metal it'll gouge - been there! On my buffer I've got tape on the shafts and on the nuts I'd not even consider a Dremel BTW - too small a polishing area to get a smooth finish on that large a piece. you'd wind up with divots most likely. For sanding I use flapper wheels on a drill but you sound like you may be past that stage. Wet sanding with fine grit later on is a good idea - when you get real close to done add dish soap to slick it up. After all that I too use Mothers... BTW - you're a better man than I - that's a bitch of a job and my setup wouldn't make it any easier I don't think! Sears sells compound in small sticks last I looked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drax240z Posted September 1, 2000 Author Share Posted September 1, 2000 I just picked up a 6" cloth wheel and some tripoli buffing compund meant for rough polish on non-ferrous metals. Put it on the old bench grinder and went to work. Its a little awkward, but you can get about 85-90% of the area I want to do. (I am just doing the outer ring) What a huge difference. (granted I'd allready sanded, buffed etc.) I think for the next wheel I'll start with a flapper type sanding wheel on a drill and go from there... I'll post if I find out anything else interesting on the subject. ------------------ Drax240z 1973 240z - L28TURBO transplant on the way! http://members.xoom.com/r_lewis/datsun.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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