• Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • 1994 - 1995 Specific Tech

Polishing Wheels!!!!!!!

  • Thread starter Thread starter 91LX_5L
  • Start date Start date Feb 26, 2004
  • 1
  • 2
Next
1 of 2 Next Last

91LX_5L

Founding Member
May 13, 2002
1,943
0
36
British Columbia
Feb 26, 2004
#1
  • Feb 26, 2004
  • #1
I polish my wheels but like a 2 weeks later they get dirt/**** stuck on them which doesnt come off with soap & water, its more like water stains which makes my wheels not as shiny.

What do you guys suggest to use? I use Mothers Aluminum Polish...whats the proper meathod of polishing your wheels? Also iv been told you can put a wax on them (forgot what its called) and it will keep them nice a lot longer. anyone know if it works/worth it?

thanks all
 

1105

I AM the random post master...bow down
May 3, 2003
3,841
0
0
Daytona Bch, FL
Feb 26, 2004
#2
  • Feb 26, 2004
  • #2
Thats the exact reason why I didnt get polished wheels for my car But I use that Mothers Aluminum & Mag Polish on things that I have polished with great success. I rub some on until you see a black film, then with a clean rag wipe it off. Repeat process until no more black film comes off of it.
 

bjl95mustang

Founding Member
Jan 18, 2000
1,495
0
36
Austin,TX
Feb 26, 2004
#3
  • Feb 26, 2004
  • #3
I use Blue Magic on my chrome ponies. It says it leaves a silicone film to protect the finish. And after a couple of weeks I can just wash the dirt off the wheels and they look great.
 

Killercanary

The car that set the bar.
Founding Member
Nov 29, 1999
5,676
1
76
Altoona, PA
Feb 26, 2004
#4
  • Feb 26, 2004
  • #4
Look into http://www.zoopseal.com I plan to put it on my polished wheels when I get them. I think summitt now carries it too.
 

1105

I AM the random post master...bow down
May 3, 2003
3,841
0
0
Daytona Bch, FL
Feb 26, 2004
#5
  • Feb 26, 2004
  • #5
I've heard about that stuff Paul. Let us know how it works out. I have also heard Blue Magic works good at protecting polished parts too.
 

91LX_5L

Founding Member
May 13, 2002
1,943
0
36
British Columbia
Feb 27, 2004
#6
  • Feb 27, 2004
  • #6
thats the 3rd person that has said blue magic...is it expencive? like should i polish my wheels once with cheap mothers then polish another layer with that stuff? because I think my wheels need a pretty damn good polishing. IE THE RAG TURNS VERY BLACK....so I gotta do it till the rag doesnt turn black anymore or what? I think I might just take my wheels off my car, its such a pain doing it on my car.

Also anyone know anyone thats tried that zoop stuff? does it work as good as they say? easy to apply?
 

bjl95mustang

Founding Member
Jan 18, 2000
1,495
0
36
Austin,TX
Feb 27, 2004
#7
  • Feb 27, 2004
  • #7
I got my container of blue magic about 3 years ago for free from work And I still have 1/2 of the container left. I think it's about $5 from autozone.
 

94GTLaserRC

Squint as you approach, lest you be blinded by my
15 Year Member
May 7, 2002
11,178
13
89
Ernan Says "here it comes... dushbag"
Feb 27, 2004
#8
  • Feb 27, 2004
  • #8
Get Chrome!!!
 

blown93feature

New Member
Dec 9, 2003
151
0
0
living on edge like the motor
Feb 27, 2004
#9
  • Feb 27, 2004
  • #9
right now the best stuff on the market is made by mothers.When you use this stuff you have two options;dry or wet.When using dry and by hand work about an 3 to 6 inch pass rub the paste in till you see the bronze look appearing on the rag and the shine thats starting to come threw on the wheel.if possible warm the rims up to open the poars in the aluminum then pollish.As you see the shine come through that means the paste is starting to dry and the protective finish is applied.Take another rag clean soft I use baby diapers and take the rest of the black residue off,your rims should shine and resist spotting and stains from rain for a while.
Whats nice about mothers aluminum paste wax is you can use it wet start by washing the rim well then take a soft rag and dip it in the paste saoping wet apply right to rim and start rubbing,the rag and wheel will look black and crappy just keep rubbing you don't have to use a lot of pressure in either method.When the same thing starts to happen the shine is comming through you can now take your wash mit and rewash the wheel and then shammy the wheel dry when done.Try this I am sure you will be happy with the results!
 

91LX_5L

Founding Member
May 13, 2002
1,943
0
36
British Columbia
Feb 27, 2004
#10
  • Feb 27, 2004
  • #10
I have tried and I use currently MOTHERS ALUMINUM POLISH...in a little tin can...doesnt seem to work well for me but my rag turns VERY black...should I do it till its not as black or what?
 

94GTLaserRC

Squint as you approach, lest you be blinded by my
15 Year Member
May 7, 2002
11,178
13
89
Ernan Says "here it comes... dushbag"
Feb 27, 2004
#11
  • Feb 27, 2004
  • #11
blown93feature said:
right now the best stuff on the market is made by mothers.When you use this stuff you have two options;dry or wet.
Click to expand...

Hey Blown: Welcome to our neck of the woods

Nice Notch!

RC
 

94GTLaserRC

Squint as you approach, lest you be blinded by my
15 Year Member
May 7, 2002
11,178
13
89
Ernan Says "here it comes... dushbag"
Feb 27, 2004
#12
  • Feb 27, 2004
  • #12
You can also get the loose sewn wheel on a drill or die grinder with some white rouge and buff it out. Either way, it's tough to keep outside items polished well.
RC
 

91LX_5L

Founding Member
May 13, 2002
1,943
0
36
British Columbia
Feb 27, 2004
#13
  • Feb 27, 2004
  • #13
white rouge? couldnt i just use aluminum polish and a buffer wheel on a drill?
 

94GTLaserRC

Squint as you approach, lest you be blinded by my
15 Year Member
May 7, 2002
11,178
13
89
Ernan Says "here it comes... dushbag"
Feb 27, 2004
#14
  • Feb 27, 2004
  • #14
91LX_5L said:
white rouge? couldnt i just use aluminum polish and a buffer wheel on a drill?
Click to expand...
You can, but the rouge is more powdery, and not so much pasty, if that makes sense. The pastiness of mothers causes a lot of caking on the buffing wheel. Now, if the wheels are really dull, then hand buff it with mothers or Denova, then buff it out with the white rouge. If the wheels are just a bit dull, then just buff it out with the rouge.
RC
 

urban96

bubb rubb says:"woo woooooo"
Founding Member
Sep 24, 2002
3,464
1
69
Syracuse, NY
Feb 27, 2004
#15
  • Feb 27, 2004
  • #15
what RC said
 

blown93feature

New Member
Dec 9, 2003
151
0
0
living on edge like the motor
Feb 28, 2004
#16
  • Feb 28, 2004
  • #16
thanks bud,ya I was just rumaging through and saw the thread so I put my .02 in.The pic of the notch is my friends car that i helped polish the wheels and showed him the right way to do it.I used rouge before not a bad alternative for power tool application.I don't recomend paste for power tools but a good liquid pollish like speedy works great.I forgot to tell you earlier to not do circular motion if possible go back and forth.When you start getting black on the rag don't stop there keep going until you see a bronze color that is the protectant starting to form and cover the wheel.here is a pic of the the hours of pollishing not to mention I have done this either full time or for fill in for twenty years.Keep in mind as stated earlier your wheels won't stay perfect for ever but after the initial pollish the routine maintenence will be easier like when your washing your car just take some paste and go around the wheel and then wash off your good as gold.I recomend using a seperate wash mit for wheels no matter what this way you don't transfer any stuff that normally would get on your paint in the first place.
 

Killercanary

The car that set the bar.
Founding Member
Nov 29, 1999
5,676
1
76
Altoona, PA
Feb 28, 2004
#17
  • Feb 28, 2004
  • #17
I'm no expert in polishing to say the least, but I've spent the last two weeks polishing different things on my car and noticed some things. One, I'm polishing my PBR calipers. I started with 80, yes 80 grit, moved to 220, 320, 400, 600, 1500, 2000. I bought a variety of buffing wheels and a multi-speed craftsman drill. I also bought white rouge and some other buffing compounds from Lowes. These "stick" compounds SUCK IMO. They leave nothing but scratches in the finish. As soon as I through on mothers aluminum polish, I get a mirror like finish with nearly no visible scratches. But, no matter what I get black residue. I've polished and repolished these things and they are not getting any shinier, but at the same time more and more black stuff is coming off. Maybe I'm doing something wrong, but I don't know what it could be. I still plan to buy Zoop seal here in a few weeks. It looks like a pain to put on, but if it keeps the aluminum from oxidizing for a year or 2 I'll do it.
 

94GTLaserRC

Squint as you approach, lest you be blinded by my
15 Year Member
May 7, 2002
11,178
13
89
Ernan Says "here it comes... dushbag"
Feb 28, 2004
#18
  • Feb 28, 2004
  • #18
Paul,
I didnt see a mention of Tripoli..the reddish stuff. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT COMPOUND..when transferring from sanding to buffing.

This stuff has to be worked in the metal really well. When I put it on, it first looks black, then it turns a dark pewter-silver color...then you start seeing the shine. This needs a TIGHT wheel and A LOT of speed when applying (generate heat to open the pores)

Jose came by and watched me do my fuse box cover..it looked milky white. We did it with some tripoli and a high speed drill buffer. Looks like mirror now.

Just takes practice
RC
 

Killercanary

The car that set the bar.
Founding Member
Nov 29, 1999
5,676
1
76
Altoona, PA
Feb 29, 2004
#19
  • Feb 29, 2004
  • #19
Joe, in your first post, are you refering to mother wax, or mothers aluminum polish? I worked on my calipers again this weekend and no matter how long I keep polishing with the mothers aluminum polish, I keep getting the black residue. If I use the "stick" stuff with my 6" wheel and electric drill, I get fine scratches. If I put another wheel on the drill and use mothers, I get rid of 99% of the scratches. If there something I'm missing?

RC- Lowes doesn't carry white rouge. I've been in there many times and they never have it. I have "green" and "black" sticks and they say they are for a high gloss finish, but they leave scratches.

 

blown93feature

New Member
Dec 9, 2003
151
0
0
living on edge like the motor
Feb 29, 2004
#20
  • Feb 29, 2004
  • #20
hi paul,I was refering to the mothers aluminum paste pollish that comes in a red and white can.My suguestion is to stay away from the rouge if you don't have a full understanding of it.It took me a couple of years to get the right method of using the stuff.

Paul, you will constantly get black residue on the rag this is what is supposed to happen no matter if the rim is brand new.I am going to pollish a piece of the car that isn't pollished and take pics before and after i'll be back..

I forgot to ask this is for aluminum not chrome right? hehe
 
  • 1
  • 2
Next
1 of 2 Next Last
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

B
water pump installation questions
  • B0udreaux
  • Feb 5, 2026
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • 2
Replies
38
Views
1K
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Feb 28, 2026
General karthief
P
Wheels-Tires 04 Mustang Wheels won't sit against rotor
  • pindude80
  • Jun 10, 2024
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
  • 3 4 5
Replies
86
Views
5K
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Apr 28, 2025
pindude80
P
6
Hey all,I’m putting together a 302 for my 1968 Mustang and wanted to post the combo + some questions to make sure I’m not missing crucial
  • 68_Disgustang
  • Feb 22, 2026
  • 1965 - 1973 Classic Mustangs -General/Talk-
Replies
3
Views
670
1965 - 1973 Classic Mustangs -General/Talk- Feb 28, 2026
Noobz347
Place to Avoid: Jamison Auto Group in Gulfport, MS
  • D Durden
  • Oct 20, 2025
  • 1965 - 1973 Classic Mustangs -General/Talk-
  • 2 3
Replies
45
Views
2K
1965 - 1973 Classic Mustangs -General/Talk- Feb 4, 2026
nickyb
Tightening upper control arm bushings at ride height dilemma… need some help
  • AnthonyA1234
  • Dec 27, 2024
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
  • 2 3
Replies
51
Views
4K
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Feb 27, 2025
General karthief
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • 1994 - 1995 Specific Tech
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?