Polishing GTA's

[xpander343]

Last winter I bought a set of GTA's fairly cheap that had the gold centers painted over, but was badly peeling.   
After trying a few different ways to get the peeling paint off I decided to go with chemical stripper which also obviously took off the clear coat off the polished aluminum lip.


I then took one of my hubs for my LS1 brakes I've never bothered to install  yet on the brake lathe at work, and bolted the rim to the hub.  I sanded the crap out of the polished lip to get rid of the machined ridges and eventually sanded down to 2000grit.


I then just recently picked up a polishing kit from Canada's version of harbor freight and started polishing the lip.
After having finished this on one rim I'm thinking I shoulda sanded maybe to a finer grit.  It looks quite shiny when polished but was thinking I suppose it could be a clearer shine if that makes sense. 


Would I be better off sanding to a finer grit? or buying the next stage of clay bar for a more polished look.  The last polish I used the white bar.   Also any suggestions on a wax or coating I can put on the polished aluminum to help it keep its shine without having to buff the crap out of it monthly once its on the car?

[good2win22]

I polished my T rims with the harbor freight stuff.  Wasn't pleased.  Got another wheel and the #5 rouge from lowes and was happy with the final buff.  Then I cleared the wheels and it yellowed.   


I found some GTA wheels of driver quality from Chris down in Houston and went with those rims. 


I have since blasted my T rims and started polishing again.  Started with 400, 800 and stopped with 1000 grit.  I am using the same method for polishing, minus the clear coat, and I'm not happy with the one I've got buffed out. 


I was introduced to a product called Zephyr.   https://www.zephyrpro40.com/s2/Scripts/default.asp


I am going to sand with 1500 and 2000 and then try their wheels and polish. Still not sure with what to do after I'm satisfied with the polish. Maybe a clear powder coat?

[Scoobum]

I wouldn't mind knowing this as well. Thinking of putting a sticker on my GN for the first time in 3 years...boltin g the GNX rims on her...and spreading fear in the hearts of the local populace.

[good2win22]

I wouldn't mind knowing this as well. Thinking of putting a sticker on my GN for the first time in 3 years...boltin g the GNX rims on her...and spreading fear in the hearts of the local populace.

After you get the sticker, we need to find a place to meet up and terrorize together

[good2win22]

Here's a better pic of my avatar. This was before I cleared them, which I should not have done.

[Scoobum]

Damn that's nice work! You're hired!

[Charlief1]

The big issue with polishing out aluminum is sealing it some how. I've used flitz before with really good results, but it's an expensive polish. You might consider clear powder coat and there's a few that don't yellow as badly. If you use a clear paint then you need a good quality one that's intended for metal and outside use, which is also expensive.

[xpander343]

Those looks really good.  I'd heard of Zephyr before when looking at videos of guys polishing highway tractor fuel tanks.


I was thinking that trying a better quality compound and wheel might help.  Was also thinking that getting a wheel that goes on an angle grinder would work better then the ones that go on your drill.


I'd thought I'd read somewhere that if you sand the aluminum with fine enough sand paper they don't tarnish as bad.


This is after I sanded them:





this is after I finished buffing with the best quality compound I had.





as you can see where the rim has the ridges you can still see the sanded swirls.

[good2win22]

You may look for a different shaped wheel that can get on those curves a little better.  Don't give up, it looks really nice!

[PacecarTA]

rather than use chemical stripper , the easy way is oven cleaner , it cuts through the annodize which is extremely hard , then sand with  600 and wd40 , step up to 1000, 1500 then polish

[xpander343]

I'll try the oven cleaner for stripper on the next one.   It'll be nice using something that doesn't feel like its trying to kill you even when wearing a mask while doing it outside.


Def thinking I need to expand my buffing wheel collection


thanks guys

[1KWIKSIX]

Why not send the wheel out to be professionally done?


I had Carcone's (Bloomington Road, Aurora) refinish my GTA wheels.  they can remove the gold finish & re do with black or any other colour in the centre webbing .....after polishing the lip they will seal the bare aluminum so it won't continually oxidize.  My wheels have been on the car for several years now & absolutely no yellowing of the clear coat.
Just be sure you tell them not to remove any material from the wheel, simply use emery cloth or such because the standard way these are done is to cut off a few thousands of an inch from the surface & this will weaken your rim.


It's gonna cost about $100 per wheel though.


http://www.carcone.com/wheel-refinishing.html

[xpander343]

I'd looked into using Carcone's to have them redone but I believe the price I was quoted was $125. It was going to  work out to more then I'd paid for the rims in the first place.   I was thinking it would be an interesting winter project to keep me entertained.  Also figured if I failed horribly at getting them how I want I could always get carcone's to redo them for me.

[xpander343]

the wet sanding with the WD40 i found did a nice job on the last few stages of sanding.   Seems like it has a cleaner sand, hoping to do some polishing on that rim tonite if I can.   Also picked up some jewelers rouge to finish with this time.

[good2win22]

Post up some pics when you can. I'm betting you'll be pleased