Wheels back from polishing

sammyg2 · 02-24-2003, 10:01 AM

I just got back from Al Reed's place. I can't believe how much better the car looks now. i wish i were a better photographer, but here goes:

Stuttgart951 · 02-24-2003, 10:07 AM

They look great!

What did the polishing set you back, if you dont mind?

sammyg2 · 02-24-2003, 10:17 AM

Prices were:
$50 for removing tires and re-mounting/balancing (for the set)
$50 per wheel to strip, polish, and paint
$15 per center cap to strip, polish, and hand paint crests
$1 per lug nut to strip and polish.
$330 for the whole thing, the loaner wheels were free.
pretty darn good price I think. No way could I have done as good of a job.
I looked the wheels over real close and they are as perfect as I have seen.
They also offer clear coating the wheels after polishing and painting, but I passed. I can't remember what it cost, I think it might have been around $20 per wheel. I don't mind polishing the wheels once in a while and the clear coating looses about 10% of the brilliance of the shine. Al says the clear coating lasts a very long time so if someone doesn't want to keep up on the wheels it might be a good idea.

Stuttgart951 · 02-24-2003, 10:55 AM

I had no idea it was that cheap... might be giving this guy a call in the near future...

Thanks.

sammyg2 · 02-24-2003, 11:11 AM

Al Reed does wheels from all over the country, there's a bunch of pelicanites who've used him with good results.
(714) 632-3907
tell him Sam says hay.

morstad · 02-24-2003, 11:14 AM

How do we get ahold of this guy and is anyone aware of a shop in the Denver area that does work like this. Looks fantastic!!

morstad · 02-24-2003, 11:15 AM

lol....forgot to read Sammy's post

BlkBird · 02-24-2003, 12:06 PM

Do you have a contact number for Mr. Reed?

sammyg2 · 02-24-2003, 12:21 PM

I put his phone# in a post above but here's all the info.

Al Reed Specialty polishing
3010 E. Coronado #A
Anaheim, Ca. 92806
(714) 632-3907
No website.

RoninLB · 02-24-2003, 12:49 PM

polished Fuchs are great, IMO.. the more polihed they are the more serious you have to be when washing the car or maintaining them.. the routine car washing cloth will break the shine of beautiful wheels over a short time.. and re-polishing them will involve patience.. in any case, Mothers metal polish will scratch my polished Fuchs, its got too much ammonia and leaves itty bitty scratches... I've been using Speedy Polish [610-926-5494] as a great/simple/quick winter up keep.. and Pelican has the concours polish called Flitz, which is acid free.. the trophy winners consider Flitz the best, IMO................ Ron

RoninLB · 02-24-2003, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sammyg2
They also offer clear coating the wheels after polishing and painting, but I passed. I can't remember what it cost, I think it might have been around $20 per wheel. I don't mind polishing the wheels once in a while and the clear coating looses about 10% of the brilliance of the shine. Al says the clear coating lasts a very long time so if someone doesn't want to keep up on the wheels it might be a good idea.

clear is a personal choice, IMO.. if a road stone/whatever goes thru the clear the wheel will eventually develop an oxidation in that area and slowly spread around the orig. chip.. my up-keep is a quick once-a- month polish and a longer pre summer shine..
I'm a worse case example because I live on a sandbar 1,000ft from the Atlantic and 300ft from the channel..

CrossT · 02-24-2003, 02:22 PM

Sammy,

This is the exact style I am planning on for my wheels, though I may or may not do the painted crests on the center caps.

How long did he need to do the job?

thx,
todd
==-=-=-==
86 cpe

rs911t · 02-24-2003, 02:24 PM

Nice!

I hope to get mine back from Al in the next couple weeks. He's restoring to factory anodized finish. Needless to say, I'll post pics.

sammyg2 · 02-24-2003, 02:37 PM

I dropped them off last Monday afternoon and he said they would be ready Friday afternoon, 4 days later. I didn't have time to pick them up until today.
that's pretty quick. the fact that he supplies loaner wheels/tires means you can still drive the car while the work is being done, but that doesn't help someone who ships his wheels.

I wasn't sure about the crests on the caps at first but now I am very glad I had them done. They really add the final touch.

I use a product called Wenol (blue) and Al said it was good stuff as long as I use a very soft cloth. he has a product he sells for polishing, I may go back and buy it when the time comes.

Reg · 02-24-2003, 03:12 PM

does Al Reed have email?

I am faaaaar away and if I could send him HIRES images, he could perhaps tell me if he coudl polish out some niks.

the wheels look super!

sammyg2 · 05:01 PM

AFAIK they don't mess with computers at all. It's all done with phone or snail mail or in person. I asked him about it and he said he just doesn't have time to get into computers. I guess if he has all the business he can handle he either doesn't need another form of advertizing, or he needs to expand and at his age I doubt he is interested in building the business up much bigger. He isn't old, but he isn't a kid either.

BTW one of my rear wheels had a nick in the edge about 1/8" deep. I looked for it after I got the wheels back, no sign of the nick and no sign of it being polished out. I honestly can't tell which wheel it was. My guess is that unless the wheels are obviously scrap he can make em look great.