Wheels-Tires 10 Hole Rim Restore options?

$150 a wheel?? Last time I had some polished it was $50 for all 4....

Yeah but... Nobody knew what to do with them back then :shrug:

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What a crazy year...

I'm finally getting around to restoring these 10-holes. I applied the Citristrip Gel kind of heavy and covered the rims overnight with plastic. This stuff is great since you can use it indoors. It has no scent at all. This stuff ate right through the clear with ease and the wheels already look way better!

After going back and forth on what to do with them after the clear is off (No clear or reapply clear), I'm leaning more towards keeping the clear off.
This car is garage kept and never sees the elements. Only a weekend driver.

My question is - I do not want to polish them to a mirror finish.. I would like to keep the machine lathe marking, but shine them up.
What is best to protect / shine up and something that lasts long?

thanks
 
For maintenance free care apply a good quality automotive clear.

Otherwise, there are a variety of great aluminum polishes or waxes that will keep them looking good that will require reapplication at various intervals.

I spent a lot of time on the factory Alcoa style rims on my old F150. Sanded smooth to 2000 grit and then several stages of polish. They looked great with nothing more than regular waxing for several years until I sold the truck. Always outside, never garaged.
 
Even if you garage keeping the aluminum will oxidize so they will dull and you will be using something to bring them back. Best bet is to get them cleaned up and have them cleared. If you want low maintenance.

I got tired of polishing the Weld Draglites on my T-Bird and sold them years ago. Zero regrets.
 
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Here's a photo of the rim after I took the clear off. You can see the lathe markings and some kind of contaminants etched in.
Would something like Flitz Aluminum Pre-Clean help remove it?

Rim.webp
 
Morning everyone..

I'm tis the season to start the clear on these rims! Other small projects got in the way, but now I'm a little torn on what to use.
I know a 2K catalyst clear is the best way to go, but what do you all feel is the best adhesion promoter?

I reached out to Eastwood and they recommended use Bulldog, but from what I read around the forums and actually on the Bulldog site, it states Bulldog is not a DTM.

Has anyone recleared their rims DTM ?