Rims

[Semba]

I thought I would clean up my rims today. Started with 2000 wet sanding and then polished that area which was already blemmished. What I now have is a very shiny blemmished area and the rest of the rim looks dull (pics 1&3). It appears there is a coating over the aluminum, I don't know if this is factory or done later since the centers were painted (not by me). I think I know the answer which is good luck and sand the rest of the rim out and finish? Anyone else run into this? Is there a better way? Originally posted this in the wrong forum
Gary

[Tigerrat]

The original wheel rings are anodized so it looks like you sanded through the anodize. Lots of guys remove all the anodization and polish the rings or the entire wheel. Search here and you will find tons on wheel refinishing. To restore your wheel you'd have to have the wheel re-anodized. Don't know that you can spot anodize. Ken

[Aron in Toronto]

As Tigerrat said, the polished blemished area has probably removed the "frosted" anodized surface. You could attempt to dull the bright areas with a scotch bright pad or other mild abrasive or try to match the look with some frosted clear paint to make it less noticeable.

[Semba]

Thanks guy's. The blemmished are was already there, I was trying to remove it. Looks like I have a lot more removing to do. Thanks for the input.

[DanielDudley]

I have never done it, but I hear that oven cleaner takes off the anodizing quite easily.

Anodizing is quite hard, and not easy to sand, as you have discovered.