dmwracing42

iTrader: (3)

Hey all, so the aluminum rims on my '84 are not fantastic right now. I'd like to polish them using 400, 800, and then wet sand 1200 sand paper, but I know there's paint on them right now. Can I sand through the paint, or should I strip it first? Any other ideas area appreciated.

cavazos31

iTrader: (4)

it will take forever to sand through paint with 400grit. strip them or use a more agressive grit paper. i'd use a brush on aircraft stripper. what kind of wheels? follow the wheel polishing sticky on the "auto appearance and detailing" board and use polishing compounds on buffing wheels for the best results.

dmwracing42

iTrader: (3)

They're the slotted aluminum wheels.

Thanks!

cavazos31

iTrader: (4)

those have a pretty flat surface, you can save yourself a lot of time if you have a small hand/palm sander. a 1/4 sheet sander is the most useful tool along with a electric drill. the 'buffing vs polishing' link, in the polishing your wheels thread, has the most useful info. start with a low grit and work your way up. i'd suggest sanding to 600 before polishing with compounds on buffing wheels. the time you put into removing imperfections prior to polishing with compounds, determines the clarity of your finish. you can get them looking close to chrome if you want to...just make sure to sand well enough or youll get a cloudy finish. again, a 1/4 sheet handsander is highly recommended if you can spare the few dollars. even a cheapo harbor freight sander should work for such a small job.