Help with beat up wheels

[nealf2002]

Hi: I want to refurbish these wheels BY MYSELF. I do not want to get them professionally redone. What is my best course of action? I probably will repaint the wheel in black but the hard part is restoring the aluminum. I thought I read that if I sand them they will 'polish up" and not be anodized like they were from the factory. Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,

nf
'79 SC coupe project
'82 SC targa

[Dublinoh]

Can be done but a lot of work...are you sure they are straight and true? This is a recent post, near the end of the thread there is a "how it was done" post.

Polished 16" Euromeisters ! Just Got Finished !

[Arne2]

You CAN sand through the anodizing to get to clean, polishable aluminum, but it's difficult - the anodizing is a very hard surface treatment. The only other DIY option is to strip using a caustic cleaner, such as old-fashioned oven cleaners. That softens the anodizing to ease removal, then you can more easily sand and polish.

This, of course, all assumes that the anodizing is still intact.

[BReyes]

To look new they may be anodized. Chemical process after the polishing.

Those have already had the anodizing removed, a long time ago apparently. If you are asking how to polish them and anodizing already removed, your job is easier.Wet sand with 1000 then 2000 buff, polish and wax. Paint the centers before final polish. Best results with industrial tools but experience with a buffer will get you there. I have had them polished with the petals polished and the rest the color of car , and on another just the rim polished with the centers in satin black. if want to do more work can clear them.

If they will not shine up perfectly with final sanding buff polish and wax, anodizing still remains (and that sands off with hard work).

Regards,

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by BReyes

Those have already had the anodizing removed, a long time ago apparently.

Good eye, BReyes. That had not even crossed my mind given how they kinda sorta look anodized.

[80-911SC]

try and polish .. if it fails or you get feed up with trying just paint em' ...