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Canadian Poncho Homepage -> Canadian Poncho -> The Lounge -> Putting the "Bling" back into your aluminum rims,covers etc
Post Info TOPIC: Putting the "Bling" back into your aluminum rims,covers etc
hawkeye5766


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Putting the "Bling" back into your aluminum rims,covers etc
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Didn't know what section to put this under. Mod can move if more appropriate section. A few guys have been asking how to clean up aluminum so I thought I would post what I do to bring back crusty old rims/parts. You will need  Scrub brush.comet,gloves, aluminum cleaner(can get from welding supplier),scotch bright pad,Wicked polish, applying rag and removing rag. Wash rim with comet and scrub brush. Once fairly clean spray on aluminum cleaner and let sit for a minute then scrub with scotch bright pad,can start with a med depending on how much grit/grime is still on the rim,then move to fine. Rinse off with fresh water and see how it looks,may have to repeat a couple of times. Then apply wicked polish,you'll notice the rag getting black so fold it to a clean spot,will also have to do this when removing polish. Keep the rag clean or it'll smear the black over the area you just wiped. Took about 10-15min for this section,about 1/2-45 per rim. Hope this helps some of you guys cleaning up your old rims.  Doug will be looking at this thread....I think the word Scotch is in it twice!

20170513_123141[1].jpg

After alum cleaner

20170513_124542[1].jpg

After polish

20170513_125821[1].jpg

20170513_125841[1].jpg

 



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rabbit64cs


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Deadly tech tip !

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timbuk


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yes indeed thanks jim back in the day we would use ESPREE cleaner havent seen it for a while but you had to take the plastic caps off first.

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hawkeye5766


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RE: Putting the "Bling" back into your aluminum rims,covers etc
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timbuk wrote:

yes indeed thanks jim back in the day we would use ESPREE cleaner havent seen it for a while but you had to take the plastic caps off first.

 My back in the day was Easy Off oven cleaner on the rims and trans fluid on the tires. Miss the old days when chemicals were chemicals.  Now we have less toxins...but have to do it 10x!!



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GrtDanes


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hawkeye5766 wrote:
timbuk wrote:

yes indeed thanks jim back in the day we would use ESPREE cleaner havent seen it for a while but you had to take the plastic caps off first.

 My back in the day was Easy Off oven cleaner on the rims and trans fluid on the tires. Miss the old days when chemicals were chemicals.  Now we have less toxins...but have to do it 10x!!

You may of had to do it 10xs cause you never learned to do it  wright the first time. 

By the way I quit Scotch many yrs back.Im a die hard Crown Royal man.



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silver steak


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I really appreciate this Tech Tip, I purchased a one step Aluminum Cleaner from a local Auto Parts Store, wasn't impressed. I wanted to clean the aluminum wheels on my RV Bus.
I noticed yours are removed from the car, was this for easy access and work-ability ? Dose , or would the Aluminum Cleaner that you used hurt or damage the rubber if I left them on the Bus, I am concerned about not rinsing the inside tire?
Thanks for the info, yours look great.
Regards

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hawkeye5766


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RE: Putting the "Bling" back into your aluminum rims,covers etc
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silver steak wrote:

I really appreciate this Tech Tip, I purchased a one step Aluminum Cleaner from a local Auto Parts Store, wasn't impressed. I wanted to clean the aluminum wheels on my RV Bus.
I noticed yours are removed from the car, was this for easy access and work-ability ? Dose , or would the Aluminum Cleaner that you used hurt or damage the rubber if I left them on the Bus, I am concerned about not rinsing the inside tire?
Thanks for the info, yours look great.
Regards

 Just an old rim I had lying around. Think the the alum cleaner has a small % of muriatic acid in it, just rinse with garden hose between the dualies and should be good to go.



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silver steak


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I like what you have hanging around, nice wheels, old school 70's +/- . Once the rain stops in the east, cleaning my RV wheels is my first automotive project, thanks again


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bjburnout


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RE: Putting the "Bling" back into your aluminum rims,covers etc
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........have you ever tried this on bumper chrome.......have a 63 Belair with tarnished front and rea bumpers

and your Comet cleanser is making me wonder.......hmmmm



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hawkeye5766


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bjburnout wrote:

........have you ever tried this on bumper chrome.......have a 63 Belair with tarnished front and rea bumpers

and your Comet cleanser is making me wonder.......hmmmm

Tried on my 57(orig chrome) wont bring the shine back, but have been using for years on rusty chrome...started out way back as a kid on rusty bicycle rims. Will get rid of the brown rust spots but wont bring back the shine. If you want your white walls back to white or your sidewall letters white.....best thing out there.



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dcneric


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On chrome I use an SOS pad. Comes out pretty good. Last night I started on the shower curtain halo for a claw foot tub I'm restoring. If I can remember, I'll post a pic tonight.

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Captain Beaumont


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Tip: do not use a scotch brite pad on chrome !

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hawkeye5766


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RE: Putting the "Bling" back into your aluminum rims,covers etc
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Bringing back an old thread. Cleaned up my Alcoa rims on the f350. Same process but I had to remove the dull clear coat first. Just used Aircraft paint remover to get rid of the clear. Spray on, let sit for 20 min, wire brush and then wash. Had to wetsand the rough areas where the clear had lifted. 220 then 400,600,1000,2000 then buff. Not mint..but it's a work truck....  About 1 1/2 hrs per rim. Removed clear on both rims 1 night...polished both the next.

 

IMG-5182.JPG  IMG-5183.JPG

 

IMG-5181.JPG



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4SPEED427


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Is the aircraft paint remover still as good as it was way back when? I've been reading some forums and guys say it's watered down now, not near as effective.

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Wish I had similar rims.

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hawkeye5766


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RE: Putting the "Bling" back into your aluminum rims,covers etc
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4SPEED427 wrote:

Is the aircraft paint remover still as good as it was way back when? I've been reading some forums and guys say it's watered down now, not near as effective.

 Had to apply 2 coats..; but still heard snap/crackle/pop like rice Krispies. All in all worked great! Bought some brush on paint stripper first and waited 20 min with nothing happening! Went online and they said wait overnight. So ..I applied another thick coat to wake up to the same! Didn't even soffen the clear coat!.  The clear on these rims is pretty thick so I was expecting at least 2- 3 coats. If I would have stayed with the bush on...I'd still be on the first rim!! So a thumbs up on the Aircraft remover.....



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bjburnout


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hawkeye5766 wrote:
4SPEED427 wrote:

Is the aircraft paint remover still as good as it was way back when? I've been reading some forums and guys say it's watered down now, not near as effective.

 Had to apply 2 coats..; but still heard snap/crackle/pop like rice Krispies. All in all worked great! Bought some brush on paint stripper first and waited 20 min with nothing happening! Went online and they said wait overnight. So ..I applied another thick coat to wake up to the same! Didn't even soffen the clear coat!.  The clear on these rims is pretty thick so I was expecting at least 2- 3 coats. If I would have stayed with the bush on...I'd still be on the first rim!! So a thumbs up on the Aircraft remover.....

 Can someone plz post a pic or a link to the aircraft paint remover.......smile



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canam


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When in the trade we found that scratching the surface with red scotchbite or #80 sandpaper before applying stripper.We then covered the surface with a sheet of plastic and left over night. This method seemed to work the best.Strippers of today are definatly missing a key ingrediant.Always apply heavey coats.

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hawkeye5766


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RE: Putting the "Bling" back into your aluminum rims,covers etc
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bjburnout wrote:
hawkeye5766 wrote:
4SPEED427 wrote:

Is the aircraft paint remover still as good as it was way back when? I've been reading some forums and guys say it's watered down now, not near as effective.

 Had to apply 2 coats..; but still heard snap/crackle/pop like rice Krispies. All in all worked great! Bought some brush on paint stripper first and waited 20 min with nothing happening! Went online and they said wait overnight. So ..I applied another thick coat to wake up to the same! Didn't even soffen the clear coat!.  The clear on these rims is pretty thick so I was expecting at least 2- 3 coats. If I would have stayed with the bush on...I'd still be on the first rim!! So a thumbs up on the Aircraft remover.....

 Can someone plz post a pic or a link to the aircraft paint remover.......smile

 Got from Bumper to Bumper auto supply   

 

IMG-4713.jpg



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bjburnout


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hawkeye5766 wrote:
bjburnout wrote:
hawkeye5766 wrote:
4SPEED427 wrote:

Is the aircraft paint remover still as good as it was way back when? I've been reading some forums and guys say it's watered down now, not near as effective.

 Had to apply 2 coats..; but still heard snap/crackle/pop like rice Krispies. All in all worked great! Bought some brush on paint stripper first and waited 20 min with nothing happening! Went online and they said wait overnight. So ..I applied another thick coat to wake up to the same! Didn't even soffen the clear coat!.  The clear on these rims is pretty thick so I was expecting at least 2- 3 coats. If I would have stayed with the bush on...I'd still be on the first rim!! So a thumbs up on the Aircraft remover.....

 Can someone plz post a pic or a link to the aircraft paint remover.......smile

 Got from Bumper to Bumper auto supply   

 

IMG-4713.jpg

 Thanx Jim......smile



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