[ttweed]

Matt-

I don't know what is happening in your case, but I can tell you that I have had several sets of wheels and caps polished professionally, and they have always turned out with the same, bright finish--almost looking like chrome (until the inevitable oxidation sets in).

When I have had wheels re-anodized after polishing, though, the anodizer will not accept the caps if they still have the steel bits on the back (steel cannot go into the anodizing tanks), so you have to dull the bright polish on the caps to match the anodized finish of the wheels. Diane Reed, Al's wife, told me she uses Easy-Off oven cleaner to etch them until they match the anodized finish of the rims. Your problem sounds like the opposite, so all I can suggest is that you didn't remove all the anodizing from the caps. Maybe another round of polishing, using a rougher grit on the caps to start?

TT