Polishing Asen aluminum slot to a chrome shine???

The problem with polishing old aluminum wheels is that they usually have some kind of clear on them and if you don't strip it off first, you'll never be able to get a chrome shine. You can't polish the clear off, but you can strip it off with things like easy off oven cleaner in the can with the yellow kid. Not all wheels have the clear, or the clear is still good, so they can be polished. I had this issue 2 years ago trying to polish the stainless rockers on a 68 Sport Fury. Stipped the clear with Drano crystals and heat, then they polished up better. The fumes can lay you out, so be careful.

alot has to do with the metellurgy too. Try polishing a set of M/T covers then polish a set of Cal-customs. The Cals look better with the same amount of work due to its better quality AL. I got some BAD Westerns looking half decent with a purple scotchbrite drum on a drill and some mothers, but nowhere close to that S&H Torino. Maybe professional polish and clear.

it always takes me a whole lot of work to get aluminum shined up if it wasnt allready pretty smooth. i tried one of my aluminum slot wheels and it took forever by hand!

this is worth a look:

http://www.gordsaluminumpolish.com/

ok you may not want to hear this but i promise it will get ya what your looking for
go get some tripple 0 or 0000 steel whool your gonna have to get to good alum
just pretend that your gonna polish with the wool
it will turn black,that good cause the more black you get out of the alum the better
after some rubbing will start to see reflection next i would use some fast cutting rubbing compound it will take out the fine scratches the steel wool made again thr more black the rag or buffer wheel gets out the better
after this stage you will notice huge differance then what you started with
now you can hit it with some mothers alum polish but do small spots and get it to mirror shine before you move to next spot always try to just work a spot the size od baseball and prob go over that same spot least 3-4times before moveing on lots of junk t shirts will be your friend
you will get a shine you can read a paper in but lots of elbow grease
the powerball/drill not gonna help till you get the high luster first
remember the more black you get to come out of the alum the better
dont be stupid and try clearing the rim cause will take the high luster you just worked for out and leave the never dull where you found it

to get the best possible shine from aluminum you have to sand all imperfections out of them, right down to the very fine machined finish, any pits, scratches... treat them like paint, start with a coarse paper to know everything down and go finer in steps to the point you can polish them,there are so many different way to polish once you get to this point. that is the only way you will get a real reflection out of them. if you polish the surface you have now, they will improve, but you can still get them better.

there is a product called never dull
its cotten/whool soaked on something
its ok if your wanting to clean something ya found in the junk yard but no match for the mouthers wheel polish

OK mothers only & what about clearing (cleaning) the rim?

Jeweler's Rouge with a buffing wheel is what you want to use. The red stuff will likely get you the results you want but if you really want to over do it you can follow it with green and finish with white.

You will need a buffer like this.

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/DEWALT-Right-Angle-Polisher-4LD98?Pid=search

Iowa80 has kits and supplies

http://www.iowa80.com/DirectionsWEB/webcart_category3.php?catid=BUFFKITS

Kevin

The best polish I have used is called Purple and you can get it at truck stops or some vendors have it at the bigger shows. I have used all kinds of polish including Mothers, Blue Magic,Wenol, Never Dull and the Purple has the best after shine to where it takes a whole lot more time to oxidize back up. Now mind you im talking on big rig fuel tanks that are subjected to all kinds of weather conditions and get dirtier faster than your wheels but you want a polish that not only cleans but stays that way longer. Use some kind of buffer wheel or ball and that should save some time as well as have more effect while polishing.

Anyone ever try clear powder coat?
R.

any type of coating will dull it some and heat will make it yellow over time also you will throw them away before you ever get the powder coat off if need be
try some gibbs oil on them to keep them from oxidizing i use it on my mag. polished parts them things will corrode over night lol