So I finally polished my WS6 wheels
 

Well my rims started to look really crappy, so I decided to remove the factory clear coat and polish them up.

So I bought some auto stripper and went to town. After the clear was off I buffed them with a buffing wheel and some premium polishing paste to get the stains off, then I went to the wheel with a powerball and mothers aluminum polish. now they look great here are some pics

Before:
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...arremoval2.jpg
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...emovallip1.jpg

With the clear coat removed
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...arremoved1.jpg
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...arremoved2.jpg


After buffing and polish
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...fterpolish.jpg
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...alproduct2.jpg

Nice!

George :cool:

thanks, beats paying a company 150 each rim to repolish them.

Looks very good!

Nice job look new again, I think they put clear coat on just to last a few years so they look like hell and you buy a new car.IMO

you are probably right,

I think in their minds the clear coat will make the polished finish last longer, but, they should have left it bare aluminum IMO

What is the best way to remove the clear coat of them.

I used sandpaper, but there are aircraft paint removers out there.

George

imo a chemical stripper, sand paper can ruin the finish if your not careful, there is no way the chemical can ruin the finish on the aluminum.

Wheel Size.
 

Wondering by any chance, what size are the wheels? Have an '02 Firebird, and this tech may help me later, since it has chrome wheels just like those (mine are 16", and minus the WS-6 Center Caps).

That style wheel was available in 16" and 17"(WS6)

my wheels are 17 inchers

if you have chrome wheels without clear coat this technique probably will not work