Polished rims and clear coat (Maintenence of polished look)

[rexxdoggy]

I know I still have to strip them. But for the polish, isn't it considerably more work wetsanding it? I was trying to get this done in two weeks but with college and work in the way, I can't get ready for the show on the 24th i don't think for either polish or paint. Mainly because I've never done wheels before. I don't want to rush it because that's where corners are cut and mistakes are made. And also, I like my gold lol

[h4ml3t]

yea if you clear coat then you will loose some of that shine mate!! wont make them dull, but just not as shiny as they could be.

[Lt. Dangle]

And I just learned that lol I think I'm going back to my original idea on gold paint with silver pearl on the mesh spokes and polishing the lip up.

Well I mean you're going to have to strip them bare anyways to paint them...

[rexxdoggy]

And I just learned that lol I think I'm going back to my original idea on gold paint with silver pearl on the mesh spokes and polishing the lip up.

[Lt. Dangle]

Yeah, most people think you just spray the stripper on, and spray/wipe it off...no such luck, gotta scrape, sand, etc...it sucks really...

[rexxdoggy]

That's probably why. I used a towel LOL!

[Lt. Dangle]

We just aircraft stripped a set of vw wheels, and it came off fine, scrape it with a razor blade, and sand from like 180 up to 320, 400, 600, 800, 1k, 1500, 2k, 2500, 3k... wet from 400 up. Not that tough man.

[rexxdoggy]

So I got to the wheel that was sprayed painted on 2 owners ago and took some aircraft remover to it from RustOLeum. It didn't exactly do what I thought it would do as good as it should've. If you catch what I mean lol I took another wheel to try it on, original factory finish, and the AR barely seemed to do anything? Am I not catching on to anything here? Anyways, my dad also mentioned media/sand blasting. Should I look into that?

[Lt. Dangle]

Whenever I polish wheels, I usually polish them out with metal polish, then with rubbing compound, then buffing compound(s), then I put a sealer wax on them and leave the sealer on there overnight, and polish that off. Then I sealer wax them again, let it haze, and wipe clean. From there on out, it's just maintenance waxes, and a polish 1-2 times a year...

It sucks to roll hard I guess.

[rexxdoggy]

Okay, so basically, no clear coat and just wash and wax with a designated wheel wax. Or use that Zoop stuff you guys mentioned. This Zoop seal, does it act like a more intense wax layer? As far as polishing and touching them up, I'm looking at a few months at a time? Because that's no problem. Just not like, every two weeks, is what I'm getting at. And I'm more than positive it's just a regular ol' cast wheel.

[TheWraith]

On BBS I've rebuilt I've used Zoop Seal for the lips, seals them for around a year if you don't use harsh chems to clean them. Whatever you do don't use the sealer from POR, it will not layout flat, it's more like a clear coat.

[motocaddy]

I've had full sets of fully polished wheels (cast and billet), plus my wife's bay is full of polished aluminum, and it really doesn't take that much work. i just clean them regularly with a soft mit and apply mothers polish by hand every few months. btw, Houston and Florida are pretty similar weather, so you'll probably experience the same.

DO NOT CLEARCOAT THEM. imo, it ruins the shine and actually makes maintenance more of a pain. if you want some protection, there is a product called "zoop seal" that has a good reputation.

[Swapmeet]

More than likely the clear will delamiate, and over time it will yellow. As you know paint, clear etc has to have something to bite into. If you try putting a coating over a polished surface your asking for problems.

If its a cast wheel... I dunno, your life may just have to suck.
I have billet wheels on my daily, and I polish occasionally and when I polish I WAX them. Just like protecting your paint. They make wheel wax, but I imagine you can use paste base wax.
The wax keeps most of the water from spotting up your wheels.

I would not try to clear them... Maybe polish some alumium and test out a clear powdercoat? That may hold up better.

The other option is clear anodizing of some nature, but I don't know enough to speak about it.

[rexxdoggy]

I'll be polishing the entire wheel, and coating them as well. Well, that's what I'm trying to do if I can coat them. I'll be washing the wheels weekly, maybe twice a week. And I'll reclear if necessary. But that's what I'm wondering if clear coating the polished rim will be no problem.

[h4ml3t]

I no that you can clear coat them but you have to keep and eye on them as it isnt going to last a lifetime,if you clean them everyweek and they have been sealed properly or what ever they'll be okay. iv done some before and had no problems, but that was just a inch lip not a whole wheel