kz
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Registered: 9th Aug 02
Location: Southend, Essex Drives: Mini Cooper S
User status: Offline
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i wanna give my rim a polish
i was wondering what steps i have to go through i order to prepare them. i can borrow a polisher off work and any type of sand paper etc but what do i need to do and in what etc? how do i get a nice shiney finish? cheers for any tips
btw it dont matter if i fuck up because i got five alloys wheels on my gfs lil fiesta and imma practice on one of them
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Matt H
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Registered: 11th Sep 01
Location: South Yorkshire
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im in the process of doing this at the moment 
you need to rub the rim down bare to the alloy so there is no trace of paint left on it & then work your way through differant grades of sandpaper. im using 250,400,800 (in that order obviously! ) then when its smooth use a metal polish to buff it untill its nice & shiny
(the metal polish im using is called PEEK if that helps )
let me know if ya need anymore help
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kz
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Registered: 9th Aug 02
Location: Southend, Essex Drives: Mini Cooper S
User status: Offline
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cheers mate, very helpful. the polisher im using looks like a wire brush connected to a drill lol... is that right?
ive tried it at work and it does make metal very shiny with a bith of work! or by metal polish do you mean a substance?
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Matt H
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Registered: 11th Sep 01
Location: South Yorkshire
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its abit like toothpaste 
it comes in a tube & you squirt some on a damp cloth & then firmly polish the area. then you buff it off almost straight away with a clean dry cloth
im doing mine by hand but i suppose an electric one would work fine
will warn you now that its a ballache to do! but worth it imo
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waynep
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Registered: 20th Apr 02
Location: london
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sooo how does sandin off ur wheels make it shinyer?
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ed
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Registered: 10th Sep 03
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Probably a good idea to get the wheels clear coated with something like a clear powder coat or laquer, as in the winter the salt will probably react with the alloy.
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Matt H
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Registered: 11th Sep 01
Location: South Yorkshire
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quote: Originally posted by corsa-crazy
sooo how does sandin off ur wheels make it shinyer?
because 800 grade sandpaper is very fine so it doesnt leave any grooves or scratches in it. the metal polish polishes the metal suprisingly enough
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Matt H
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Registered: 11th Sep 01
Location: South Yorkshire
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quote: Originally posted by 1800ed
Probably a good idea to get the wheels clear coated with something like a clear powder coat or laquer, as in the winter the salt will probably react with the alloy.
you just got give em a quick clean with a hosepipe or jet wash daily
never heard of people laquering them
[Edited on 28-07-2004 by matt h]
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Nismo
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Registered: 12th Sep 02
User status: Offline
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My polished lip is aluminum 
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waynep
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Registered: 20th Apr 02
Location: london
User status: Offline
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my rims are slighly kurbed... can i just sand down all the kurbed lip and polish it 
[Edited on 28-07-2004 by corsa-crazy]
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Matt H
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Registered: 11th Sep 01
Location: South Yorkshire
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could do i suppose
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M2RTY
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Registered: 25th May 01
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there was a step by step guid on here before (linked)
goes thru a LOT of stages, like 10 of so
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Matt H
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Registered: 11th Sep 01
Location: South Yorkshire
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i had 1 in a golf magazine
if i can find it i'll type it up on here
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Davido
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Registered: 18th Aug 03
Location: Reading,Berks
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matth u doing it to ur speedlines?
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M2RTY
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Registered: 25th May 01
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http://www.englishcustompolishing.com/eneu/aluminum1.html
there
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JKGSI
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Registered: 5th Jul 02
Location: Mansfield, Notts. Ibiza Cupra-R 180bhp
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I've polished the rocker covers on my GTi, same principal as the rims. Just work through from 250, 400, 800, and finish with 1200.
Got my old 15s which i'm gonna polish up over the next few months then probably sell.
pic of the covers

My mate had his VTS rims polished which look awesome but need cleaning everyday to keep nice.


more pics of both cars on our website: www.vanilla-racing.com
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J4CKO
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Registered: 16th Feb 04
Location: Darlington
User status: Offline
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kz
Member
Registered: 9th Aug 02
Location: Southend, Essex Drives: Mini Cooper S
User status: Offline
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cheers for all the replies, think ill give it a go when i find time! thing is they also need minor refurbishment as well.
has anyone given this a go? im sure i remember reading it somewhere...
more guides would be helpful ive got one in max power but its shit!
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Matt H
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Registered: 11th Sep 01
Location: South Yorkshire
User status: Offline
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quote: Originally posted by daveyboyuk
matth u doing it to ur speedlines?
no but i am thinking about it
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Davido
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Registered: 18th Aug 03
Location: Reading,Berks
User status: Offline
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that wud look wkd
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vibrio
Banned
Registered: 28th Feb 01
Location: POAH
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quote: Originally posted by kz
i wanna give my rim a polish
i was wondering what steps i have to go through i order to prepare them. i can borrow a polisher off work and any type of sand paper etc but what do i need to do and in what etc? how do i get a nice shiney finish? cheers for any tips
btw it dont matter if i fuck up because i got five alloys wheels on my gfs lil fiesta and imma practice on one of them
sounds like you've crapped your pants to be honest
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