Polishing lips, DIY

The one thing that stands out in the comparison, aside from the finish, is that the edges are very rounded after. Is that something that could have been reduced (if you were inclined to do so) with a less rapid approach?

[C.Johnston]

i could have gotten away with one pass, however there were a couple of spots I wanted to knock down a bit, so I had to go over it twice, but I dont think that added any depth or shine.

One pass with the black would take me approximately 5 minutes? I will hit it with the grey, white, and green sticks, I just need more pads.

Here's a comparison photo to see what they look like before work gets done to them. I think I will make a build thread as I refinish my Super RS'

Very good result for such a quick process. How much time did you spend with the black compound?

[C.Johnston]

Did this a short cut way.

Bench grinder + de-burring/finishing wheel, then polished with black (1000 grit) compound with polishing pad on bench grinder. Have yet to finish with finer compounds..

What do you guys think for only a 2 stage, no sanding, polishing?

[LronSigh]

that's my work:

http://forum.4tuning.ro/102-bursa-serviciilor-auto/151250-polisam-polish-jante-buze-jante-galerii-admisie-capace-tacheti-etc/page-7.html

I'm still a beginner.

Wow! Nice job! Please share your technique.

[6sp33d]

This thread is Amazing! I wish i saw thi sthread two weeks ago before i sent my wheels off to get the lips re-polished

I need to do this!

[ziemenz]

that's my work:

http://forum.4tuning.ro/102-bursa-serviciilor-auto/151250-polisam-polish-jante-buze-jante-galerii-admisie-capace-tacheti-etc/page-7.html

I'm still a beginner.

[Lt. Dangle]

I do this shit that absolute hardest way, but honestly I love doing it so it's not that bad...

I usually go 80 on the outer lip where the tire beads, just to clean up light curbage/tire install/removal dings, etc...

Then on the rest I go 180, 220, 320, 400, 600, 800, 1k. Then I go back over them with 400, 600, 800, 1k, 1500, 2k, 2500 all wet. I usually use mothers all metal polish for the initial polish, probably do this 10 times. Then I use 3m cutting compounds, such as extra cut, fine, and swirl mark remover. Then I use a Mother's cleaner wax, and a spray wax for the final step.

My first set ( Sebring Zeiger 5 16x8/ +38, 16x8.5/ +32 by rays)






I also did a set of oldschool Ansen slot mags for a customer, he didn't want a complete mirror finish, although they were damn close when I was done. Those wheels are an absolute ROUGH casting from the factory cast, and they were dated 1963 with SEMA stickers on the inside barrel. Going on a period correct 33 willys, sbc/4spd.

I actually polished the entire wheel, lips/faces/centers...


















We are currently in the process of mirror polishing a set of SI wheels, a few valve covers, and possibly a 6 point cage...not sure yet though.

I'll post pics of the SI's when we are done.

[Russell_G]

180 on a block. work up from there.

[95naSTA]

You're probably going to have to start off with 220 grit. The wheels I posted were about as crappy to begin with.

[Minuki]

Hey...guys i need some advice. You'll probably have a better idea than i do. How would i go about polishing these lips? I've polished stuff before, but never anything this bad.

[Russell_G]

Finished up a wheel tonight using the new method...Not bad but did i love it? No.





camera phone pics suck i know.

[95naSTA]

Here's some stuff I did the hard way..

For the most part it's sand paper from 220 to 2000 then aluminum polish with a buffing wheel and a dremel with strips of different sand paper for the tight spots. No wet sanding or compounds.





(This pan is stamped steel.. fml)





Polishing stuff is heartbreaking.. Out of all that, the master cylinder got brake fluid on it and messed up the clear powder coat. The wheels got the clear powder coat nicked and started to spiderweb oxidize under. That alt cover started to do the same. And that stample steel pan started to rust in tiny little spots under the clear. Steel is workk to polish too.

I opted to get stuff powder coated clear since it will take heat and not yellow.. and I know I don't really feel like repolishing crap every season. So much for that.

[Duby_1.8t]

how do i polish bolts???? or make them nicer

[Russell_G]

Im going to shoot some pics of a set of wheels im redoing now for a guy with a gs300. I took apart an old drillpress and made it bolt to the wall...Pretty much the end result will be a set up for refinishing that will cut my time and mess in half and make the quality even better.