Polishing rims

[rm97ss]

I just got some MS6 wheels for the summer set up. Does anyone have a contact for polishing? I am a fan of chrome, but not the price even with the wheel exchange. From what I know, its about people charge $100 a rim.

I'm not crazy about power coating. Just to save the thread. :chuckle

Cheers
:give beer

[Fobio]

I'm also interested in get stuff polished too...

[Donutz]

Kriseka polished RX8's by hand. They looked pretty sweet, but I recall him mentioning that it was really labour intensive.

[m_bisson]

buy a small tool that does it for you. You can probably even get one that attaches to a drill. It's something that'll be used more than once, so you may as well cut the long-term costs. I bought a buffer and it's much easier than waxing by hand :)

[SonicBoy]

I just got some MS6 wheels for the summer set up. Does anyone have a contact for polishing? I am a fan of chrome, but not the price even with the wheel exchange. From what I know, its about people charge $100 a rim.

I'm not crazy about power coating. Just to save the thread. :chuckle

Cheers
:give beer


Cogratulations on your purchase. I can attest, the MS6 wheels are a chore to polish by hand although I know you're trying to get it to a chrome finish. There are so many spokes and nooks and cranies. Don't know of anyone that does polishing. Google it?

[pacmann33]

I've polished a lot of stuff for bikes mostly...it is very labor intensive. It is more work to keep them looking nice too, the metal will dull as it oxidizes over time as the alloy is totally unprotected, and clearcoat yellows and peels off over time, and also dulls the beautiful finish you worked so hard to get.

Those will be tough to do if you are a stickler for details like me. If it isn't a mirror finish, it isn't good enough LOL. I won't be polishing anything by hand for a long time.

[Default User]

Using some sort of a rotary tool is tough as you will not get a consitant surface.
It would be okay, I guess as the first of many sandings, or just to get into the tight spots.

Remember to remove the tires off the rim

Start with a strong "stripper" to dissolve any existing clearcoat, grime, etc.
Hit it with a pressure washer, and clean that mofo with soap and water
once dry start with 100-200 grit paper (or your rotary tool)
on a flat surface, I used a palm sander for a more even sanding
work you way up, 200, 400, 600, 800, switching sanding directions each way
at 1000/1200 grit start wet sanding, again going up to 2500. (Tip: Keep a soaked sponge on the work surface and keep the area soaked.)
the finishing touch is to use a metal polish and work it in everywhere.
Lastly - take it to a paint shop and hit that sucker with clearcoat.





IMHO- At $100/rim - I rather have somebody else do it
save you elbowgrease and time for detailing your whip once those badboys are mounted on

when I did this to some old Porsche rims - it took 3 days, 2 packs of smokes and a case of Budweiser....and those were flat faced rims.

[SonicBoy]

I agree at $100 per, it's well worth the price of the labour involved.

[pacmann33]

Agreed. Rotary tools suck for polishing most of the time, and...in an instant, you can ruin the entire polish job with just a slip of the hand....you can make DEEP scratches way way too easy. I don't use rotary tools unless there is a casting ridge I need to grind off or something of that nature.

100$ a rim is WELL worth it.

[SonicBoy]

Did a quick search for "rim polishing Toronto" in google and found this:

http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-auto-parts-tires-tires-rims-WHEEL-AND-RIM-POLISHING-SERVICE-EXCELLENT-PRICING-W0QQAdIdZ185085439

No idea who they are or the quality of work but yes it's around $100/wheel.

Don't laugh about the search. This post even came up as one of the hits. :chuckle

[CallySpd]

Yeah that price is real reasonable.

[SonicBoy]

Bringing this thread back to see if anyone knows of a place in the GTA that does wheel polishing.

How about a place that does chroming as they may also to the polishing as part of the step.

Anyone?

If so, have you used them and would you use them again?

[Default User]

I believe metal coaters does chrome dipping as well as powder coating

[bryansbestwax]

Bringing this thread back to see if anyone knows of a place in the GTA that does wheel polishing.

How about a place that does chroming as they may also to the polishing as part of the step.

Anyone?

If so, have you used them and would you use them again?

I have a rim guy, I just posted it on my forum, he does great work. He doesn't chrome dip though.

[SonicBoy]

Yes, thanks I saw your post in your forum. I'm looking for chemical stripping of the OEM paint and then polishing.

[hit26k]

Yes, thanks I saw your post in your forum. I'm looking for chemical stripping of the OEM paint and then polishing.

Metal Coaters is your best option then.

[SonicBoy]

Have a call into Taj already. Have you had experience with them and polishing? If so, any pics I can see?

[hit26k]

Have a call into Taj already. Have you had experience with them and polishing? If so, any pics I can see?

not with polishing. but when i had gone to pick up my rims, he had a ton of polished industrial parts hanging to dry. from the quick glance that i saw, it looked very well done. I would ask if he has any samples that you can check out to get a better idea.