How to: Hand Polish & Restore Aluminum Alloy Wheels - Complete Tutorial!

[@jaredm450]

I hate sanding. Until I saw this video, I assumed you were sane. 😛 That's a crazy amount of work! I imagine your hands are sore. That must've required extreme levels of patience.

[@6thGearGarage]

It wasn't terrible because I did some sanding each day. I've wet sanded an entire car by hand before and my fingers were actually starting to bleed. I didn't even sand through my fingerprints on this wheel restoration :)

[@smileasifall]

I have a set of vw scirocco teardrop wheels I was going to pay to have redone, but now I just might redo them myself! Great video and outcome.

[@4by_yotaguy373]

Good video. The after result looks fantastic! I'm actually surprised it only took 10 hrs. And your commentary is always funny because you make the realest of the "real" videos. Your words are exactly what's going in my head when I'm doing the same thing lol.

[@vmoney9106]

That came out amazingly. I think this is one of your longest videos, thanks for it. It really shows every step (some laborious) to get that mirror finish. I would like to see a time/effort/look comparison of one that you have done with power tools.

[@6thGearGarage]

You're right... pretty sure this one is the longest yet. I'm going to do a power tools video as well.

[@Pittsburgh-412]

@4:00 I believe those are old fashioned flush cutters for removing thin nails or staples and stuff.

[@6thGearGarage]

Good call!

[@mark7_nate]

4:03 I've always used them for double ear hose clamps

[@6thGearGarage]

oh thats a good idea.. a lot wider than the vise grips I've been using on them

[@TheRoadhammer379]

They are nail pullers/cutters. We've used them for horse shoes and removing staples in wall studs, that hold electric wire to the 2x4

[@jjack6896]

Excellent Video. I’ve been restoring some aluminum rims with lots of hours and it’s a lot of work. I have many more and it’s my retirement plan.

[@6thGearGarage]

Same boat... I'm going to work on finding a more efficient way.

[@jjack6896]

@ I bought a profession polishing kit and adjustable speed non orbital polisher. The cheap kits don’t cut well and are to inconsistent. I also clear coated with a product called diamond finish I believe. Great durability after 4 years so far but a real pain to spray. It’s humidity activated like por15 but not as fast. I want to try Max 2k in a spray can. It’s a 2 part epoxy I believe and the price isn’t bad on Amazon and will be easy to apply.

[@6thGearGarage]

@@jjack6896 Max2k is a great product. I wonder how well it will bond to polished aluminum?

[@jjack6896]

@ very good question

[@wg8304]

Saving the final sanding til after the paint is critical to get any overspray. Great video and I’m glad to see you are finishing your project.

[@Toyotajunkie]

40:38 I had that same phone. Lol! Back when Sprint was actually a good carrier. Looks awesome buddy. I have a couple sets that will need the same TLC sooner than later.

[@6thGearGarage]

I had that phone for like 10 years with Alltel. That monster got great reception!

[@nasimwehbe8410]

Awesome. Yes let's see the comparison with some power tools.

[@6thGearGarage]

Will do!

[@fox8000]

Amazing! Makes me want to start looking for an old set to restore.

[@6thGearGarage]

It's rewarding to see the final product. Then I remembered I have 3 more wheels to go lol.

[@TheRoadhammer379]

This was an awesome video and very enjoyable. Look forward to a hand VS tool polishing vid. Subbed!!

[@6thGearGarage]

Thanks, will do!

[@glen4130]

That takes some patience. The end result was pretty nice.

[@6thGearGarage]

Seeing the finished wheel at the end of the video was such a great feeling. Then I remembered I had 3 more wheels to go lol.

[@jthespartan]

Looks awesome

[@6thGearGarage]

Thanks!

[@yotaartztv5580]

Wow looks amazing

[@6thGearGarage]

Thanks!!

[@4by_yotaguy373]

I'm shocked the price of these wheels are so high currently. I've had a few sets myself over the years in 15x8 and 15x10. They were an inexpensive, but good looking wheel when they were sold all through the 90s and early 2000s. I've always liked them. Now I'm kind of bummed I don't still have a set.

[@6thGearGarage]

Same here. I'm surprised some there aren't cheap china replicas available by now. Might not even be that bad to see these in more modern sizes like 17" or 18"

[@JTuggy_MissionFrmGlobalMargins]

Thanks for taking the time to do that, but I can hardly fathom the sanding time required for a set if 4 or, in many cases, 5! A time comparison to machine sanding would be great. Even more intrrsting would be a comparison between paints/clearcoats, doecifically the durability of 2k v non-2k wheel paints after s couple of winters! Appreciate your videos (and patience in sanding)!

[@6thGearGarage]

Thanks! As for the durability... we may never know because these will never see road salt again, after the time I've put into them :) Otherwise, 2k is always better than the cheap stuff.

[@tedbastwock3810]

Looks like something I have seen in horse barns. Not sure what they do exactly, but something to do with tacking.

[@TheRoadhammer379]

They are just nail pullers. Ferriers use them on horse shoes, they are used for pulling staples out of wall studs, the staples hold the wire.

[@briandoody4954]

Amazing job. I did a polish resto on an 82 Corvette. Then I made the mistake of applying a clear coat on the polished rim. Ruined the high luster polish.

[@6thGearGarage]

Clear definitely clouds them up a little bit... and that's if you can even get the clear to stick to the surface. A coat of automotive wax on the surface will help keep the aluminum looking like new.

[@briandoody4954]

@@6thGearGarage Thank you. I have 4 rims on my 92 Dodgew W250 that really are begging for a resto. I will try your wax technique after I polish them up. Have a good evening.

[@LimestonePicker]

Very nice!

[@6thGearGarage]

Thanks!

[@tonybowers9490]

Thanks for sharing! Question - Did you clear coat the wheels later?

[@6thGearGarage]

No I didn't. Clear tends to dull them up a little bit... and that's if you can even get the clear to stick to the surface. I've found that a coat of automotive wax on the surface will help keep the aluminum looking like new.

[@tonybowers9490]

@@6thGearGarage Thanks for the reply. I asked, because years ago I got an original set of aluminum wheels for my 94 Toyota pickup. I cleaned them up and noticed the original clear coat was chipped in places, so I removed it, then polished the wheels like you did. They looked a lot better, until.... I drove it and when I washed it I noticed black pitted spots, mainly on the front wheels. (I can't figure out how to get those black pitted spots removed. I guess I need to go the sandpaper route? I guess it was an interaction from brake dust? It really upset me, because I felt that if I had only clear coated them after I had them looking nice that they would not have been affected by the brake dust. But, from what you said, if I had simply waxed them, and kept them waxed, that they would have stayed looking nice?

[@6thGearGarage]

I'd guess the pits were already there, but more visible after the brake dust collected in them. Sadly, the only way to remove them is to save them out, which as we know, is quite a long process.

[@oz1141]

How long did it take to do that one wheel? The wheel looks great.

[@6thGearGarage]

I'd guess about 10 hrs, thanks to how bad the condition was in the beginning and all of that huge lip to polish.

[@oz1141]

@@6thGearGarage thanks for the replay.

[@deebee3901]

Please consider 2K clear coat on the polished alloy to prevent premature corrosion.

[@6thGearGarage]

Clear tends to dull them up a little bit... and that's if you can even get the clear to stick to the surface. I've found that a coat of automotive wax on the surface will help keep the aluminum looking like new.

[@TheRoadhammer379]

Clearcoat on polished aluminium...what a terrible idea. We clear coated the wheels and tanks on all our semi trucks years ago...absolutely a bad idea. The clear started to get yellow haze like dog piss, it held up terrible to road salt, liquid de-icer and the mud from jobsites. The yellowing was the biggest issue. The polish we use on semi trucks has sealer in it and a weekly truck wash keeps it shiny. We cut, buff and polish in early spring and in late October, we don't let the aluminum get bad to the point of needing to be sanded every year.

[@4by_yotaguy373]

The clear coat on polished aluminum always sounds like a good idea, but it's not. Doesn't last, shows flaws, and takes SO MUCH WORK to remove or redo. Nothing is like the finish of raw polished aluminum. And he's so right on just apply a little quality car wax on them once in a while 👌. That helps with water spots, and oxidation, and everything. Even dirt and brake dust from sticking.

[@RonHelton]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍 Nice!

[@6thGearGarage]

Thanks!

[@TradeWorks_Construction]

Sandpaper is one of those products WHERE YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR. I only ever use 3M Sandpaper when I purchase Sheets. Auto-body work when I use my Pnuematic DA w/ Hook and Loop paper I just use whatever my local Wesco (Auto-body Paint & Supply). The price of products is expensive compared to online options but NEVER FORGET even if you can buy sheets of some knockoff or 3rd rate brand, THEY WILL BREAKDOWN @ 2x the speed meaning you’re not actually saving money you’re just wasting more time changing paper. On top of that there often is less consistency to the media they impregnate into their paper. It’s not usual the media that’s expensive, it’s the process employed for impregnating the media as well as if quick change applications are implemented (hook and loop / pressure sensitive adhesive)

[@6thGearGarage]

Absolutely... I buy 3m whenever I can!

[@DrFiero]

Just a tip but... never use a carbon steel wire brush on aluminum. Only stainless or brass (or plastic). The steel will leave micro particles in the aluminum and result in dissimilar corrosion over time. Former A&P.

[@6thGearGarage]

Thanks for the tip, I didn't consider that!!

[@DrFiero]

@@6thGearGarage - it's not the end of the world in this application, considering your wheels don't fly (:D), and your sanding and polishing would remove a lot of it... but it's something to keep in the back of your mind.

[@ronjames8965]

I'd watch the comparison

[@6thGearGarage]

Alright, it will happen :)

[@saekabura]

THAT CIVIC! TEAL_DX ITS YOU!!!! WOOWWW I LEARNED SO MUCH FROM YOU ON THE CIVICEG FORUM!!!!

[@6thGearGarage]

Hey! The forum is still around, but pretty dead like most forums these days... so I started making videos!

[@saekabura]

@@6thGearGarage funny I wanted to refresh my memory on polishing aluminum wheels and the first guide I ever saw WAS yours and lo and behold the refresher also turned out to be you hahaha

[@NM-db7wm]

Just 3 more to go

[@6thGearGarage]

I know... time for a polishing machine!

[@codyfinchum890]

I would like to see the difference honestly

[@6thGearGarage]

It will happen!

[@brandtstone7744]

My hands hurt really bad

[@chuckclark9464]

👍👍🫵🪨