Polishing alloy wheels

[balcksprint]

Help! I'm confused I thought the wheels are aluminum alloy, not magnesium. Please forgive me if I'm being simple.<br>
<br>
Neil<br>
<br>
Ps. Is the only way to put pictures on is to have some webspace.

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[2F45T4U]

http://www.shutterfly.com<br>
<br>
FREE! sign up and bombard us with lots of pictures of dolomites. <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :D --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /happy.gif ALT=":D"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END-->

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[redrichie]

nope, i use Imageshack....<br>
<br>
<!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.imageshack.us/" target="top">Imageshack</a><!--EZCODE LINK END-->

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[blacksprint]

Hoorah!!! I did it. Sorry about the cameraphone quality. I last polished it a few months back, but it's only been out of the garage a few times to do some work.<br>
<br>
Neil<br>
<br>
<!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5 ... QZsmzls5cq" style="border:0;"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END-->

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[alun n]

Yup, aluminium alloy with a high percentage of magnesium and a bit of nickel. <br>
<br>
Aluminium oxide will form, but that then creates a protective coat of aluminium oxide which prevents further oxidisation of the aluminium; aluminium oxide is stronger than aluminium. <br>
<br>
Magnesium oxide however continues to be formed and is partly why old wheels leak; as the magnesium degrades they go pourous!

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[MalcGE]

So where does one get this magical micromesh from?<br>
<br>
The results certainly look good <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :D --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /happy.gif ALT=":D"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END-->

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[Stan Part]

Adam they came from here :<br>
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<!--EZCODE AUTOLINK START--><a href="http://www.speeding.co.uk/acatalog/Perm ... <!--EZCODE AUTOLINK END--><br>
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Hey, looks pretty good <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START ;) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/wink.gif ALT=";)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END-->

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[2F45T4U]

Must resist buying any.... Ill have spoilers and all sorts on my car before long <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :lol --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /laugh.gif ALT=":lol"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> jk <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :| --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... ferent.gif ALT=":|"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END-->

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[blacksprint]

In answer to your question Malc this link should sort you out. I use it at work for finishing the compressor blabes on the aircraft engines. I started with 1800 grade then 3200 both with wd40 (keep it wet). Then wipe over clean, and finally a quick go over with autosol or something similar. My wheels were quite clean but by no means great but if there realy bad I would sugest that some heavy duty scotchbrite or wet&dry to start with. <!--EZCODE AUTOLINK START--><a href="http://www.ss-sci.com/Micromesh.PDF">ww ... <!--EZCODE AUTOLINK END-->

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[redrichie]

I use it for taking scratches out of aircraft windscreens at work....as far as i know, its quite expensive to buy, but after having seen Blacksprints picture...the results look amazing.<br>
<br>
richie

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[redrichie]

The wonders of micromesh™<br>
<br>
<!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://img368.imageshack.us/img368/1017 ... <!--EZCODE IMAGE END--><br>
<br>
<!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://img368.imageshack.us/img368/3713 ... <!--EZCODE IMAGE END--><br>
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<!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://img359.imageshack.us/img359/4783 ... <!--EZCODE IMAGE END--><br>
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only four more to go....and remember guys, lacquering them only makes it harder to polish next time. "Bring out the Dremel...."<br>
<br>
sorry about the size of them, but i am rubbish at paintshop...<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :rollin --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/roll.gif ALT=":rollin"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END-->

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[FVC dolly]

Richie,<br>
<br>
Looks very good that, can the MOD supply some micromesh for me?<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :D --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /happy.gif ALT=":D"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
<br>
Cheers<br>
<br>
Jeff

<p>1979 Dolomite 1300</p><i></i>

[redrichie]

I used normal 320 grade wet and dry, with lots of WD-40. The micromesh was just a quick rub over at the end. I reckon an acceptable finish could be had by using 1600 grade, available at any B&Q. I wanted to finish it with Autosol, but couldn't find any, so household brasso was the final touch.<br>
<br>
I cannot stress enough though, after spending one whole morning just removing the lacquer from the second wheel, lacquer is the spawn of satan and must be kept as far away from these wheels as possible, preferably in another galaxy. <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :evil --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /devil.gif ALT=":evil"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END-->

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[2F45T4U]

my wheels look incredibley crummy already! Will a good polish keep the crud away? <br>
<br>
At the restore show a man was telling me and my mate that he used a light oil to coat the wheels with instead of laquer.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Adam

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[davepoth]

There is one, I think made by Wurth, that has all the properties of wd40 but is a bit heavier and sticky which my old mechanic used to use on everything that wasn't covered in copper grease.

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