Hey guys. I bought used deep dish chrome rims and there is this slight bit of hazing or something. Is there a way for me to get rid of it or restore the chrome or something? Any help is greatly appreciated. I've tried sitting there and polishing but didn't want to go too far (if there is such a thing). Or is that already what has happened?
A picture that's in focus might be helpful... if you have a "macro" or close-up mode on your camera that might work.
It could be scratches from previous improper cleaning, and if that's the case, try a mild chrome polish like Mothers with a PowerBall. If that doesn't work, try a more aggressive chrome polish.
Well, it is like a very light bronze tint to the chrome. I have used eagle one polish in the silver can with black writing once, and don't really like it so i switched back to Blue Magic ( I think, I can't remember off the top of my head but it is definitely a small container of blue stuff. ) I noticed the sort of tint/hazing when i bought them (i bought them used and there was only one place where there was the bronzing/hazing/tinting. Also, it happens only on the "dish" in between the spokes. Do i just need to polish the hell out of them because it could be brake dust imbedded in there or something? I'll try to take better pictures today.
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Joined: 3/31/2005 From: Indianapolis, IN Status: offline
Are you positive they are chrome and not polished aluminum? If they are chrome then there shouldn't be much that polishing will do for you other than clean off any oxidation/road grime and that should come off pretty easy. Sounds to me like you either have a defective area in the plating process, or you are dealing with polished aluminum - as stated above tough to really see in the pics.
Sorry if this is redundant for you...but when you are polishing, is your rag turning black really easily?
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Well then thats not chrome. That is polished aluminum. This is good news as the chrome polish you were using probably wouldn't do the trick. Go out and buy a jar of Mothers Aluminum Polish (in a smaller red jar) and rub that into the area with quite a bit of muscle until your hearts content
Chrome is a plating, almost like paint. The cleaners/polishes for chrome are chemical based and not really abbrasive. For aluminum you need the abbrasiveness of alum polish and a lot of ELBOW GREASE to bring out the shine. You are physically cutting into and smoothing the metal to produce that chrome-like shine.
Like the wheels on my '85...they appear to be chrome but are actually polished alum. I grinded, sanded and polished on these for HOURS last winter In the pic below the center caps were done, while the wheel face still had about an hours worth of final buff polishing left to do with the mothers. Once they were done, the mothers alum polish and a rag is all I use to keep them shiney when they start to look weathered.
< Message edited by sowaxeman -- 1/14/2008 11:10:20 AM >
Sorry if this is redundant for you...but when you are polishing, is your rag turning black really easily?
I think I may be experienceing the same issue as joey. However my rag turns black imediately too but when I look up my rims I cannot find them in polished alum so I'm left to assume they are chrome. (they came on the car) My "Hazing" is on the lip (deep dish's) and looks to have a lot of little scratches.
They are American Racing Rebel rims.
pics prob wont help as i havent taken picts of the problem but here are some picts where you can kinda see it.
^--- you can kinda see how the back lips are a lot shinier than the front.... I'll get some picts next time i go to my parents and see if Joey and I are in the same boat.
< Message edited by Horarik -- 1/15/2008 5:36:15 PM >
Is it possible that the chrome plating is starting to wear through to the undercoating? I know my rims are old (3-4 years and they used to be on a show car) so could that be the culprit? How old are your rims Dan?
Like i said before (i think), the more i polish around that spot the bigger the bronze tinted area becomes.
I didn't know they made the deep dish in aluminum. i'll have to give that a try. Thanks Jason, I appreciate your help.
I have no idea how old they are. they were on the car when I purchased it this past fall. I got a mothers polishing ball thingy and was hoping it would help when i try it out in the spring.
Its only the fronts on mine so maybe its cause by the brake dust? I can only imagine the person put the front and rears on at the same time so the backs shouldnt be newer.
I'll trade ya my Roush front end for a complete blower kit :)
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Neither of your wheels sound like chrome to me based on what you are saying. Chrome, unless left neglected and allowed to build up serious road grime and oxidation should clean right up with something as simple as windex. You should not see any hazing or dullness unless its a defect in the plating, and you should not be seeing the small scratches...that is what you see in polished aluminum over time, and is what the Mothers Aluminum polish will smooth out.
But I cannot be certain without good, hi res pics. But a rag turning black immediately when using any sort of polish is certainly a trait of polish alum, not chrome. If you are uncertain and would like to know for sure before trying different products, then I suggest cleaning your wheels to the best of your ability and taking them to a reputable wheel shop and asking them what they are.
a little off topic but are my wheels chrome or polished aluminum i assumed that they were chrome they are the stock wheels that came on the gt premium (wheels in sig) thanks
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Joined: 3/31/2005 From: Indianapolis, IN Status: offline
Most likely Polished Alum. I don't remember any of the later mustangs coming from Ford with Chrome (except the 5 star chrome ponies)...mostly a version of polished or cast aluminum/alloy wheels. Do you have your window sticker from the car when it was new? If so it would say Chrome if they were chrome. Get some chrome polish and rub it on there real quick...if the rag/compound turns black instantly then they are not chrome.
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Joined: 10/4/2004 From: Westville, IL Status: offline
Another option for a good metal polish/protectant is my OD Metal Rx. This polish works great on chrome,alum,stainless,etc. Not only does this polish do a good job of bringing back shine it also leaves a layer of protection behind.
What kinda of problems will you have if you use alum polish on chrome or chrome polish on alum?? Cause i have some Mothers alum polish (little tin can) and it says not to use on chrome. just wondering if it will wreck anything or if it just wont work.
quote:
ORIGINAL: Juztang
Another option for a good metal polish/protectant is my OD Metal Rx. This polish works great on chrome,alum,stainless,etc. Not only does this polish do a good job of bringing back shine it also leaves a layer of protection behind.
Is that safe to use with the mothers power ball or just hand app?
Metal Rx > Wheel Seal??
< Message edited by Horarik -- 1/20/2008 11:01:52 AM >
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Joined: 10/4/2004 From: Westville, IL Status: offline
Yes the Metal Rx can be used by hand, with the powerball, or by machine. I like using it with a Powerball on wheels and I use a buffer with wool pads on diamond plate a lot.
The Wheel Seal is made for wheels that are in better shape. It will also clean,polish, and put on a layer of sealant. The Wheel Seal will last a lot longer and brake dust will come off with ease. Most of the time you just have to spray the wheels and not even have to rub them at all after using the Wheel Seal!
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Joined: 3/31/2005 From: Indianapolis, IN Status: offline
Using a chrome polish on polished aluminum won't hurt anything, but it won't really yeild the desired results because it lacks the abbrasives needed to cut into and smooth the metal. However IMO using an aluminum polish on chrome is not necessary and could yeild small swirls/scratches over time since they contain the abbrassives that are meant for the metal...not a plating.
Not sure I understand how a polish can be effective on both plated and polished metal, but knowing Justin and his products, I'll probaby have to give it a try this summer when I see him
Once you get it polished good try this http://www.zoops.com/zoopseal.asp its a little more work but last up to 2 years but you gotta wear rubber gloves and distilled water.
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Joined: 10/4/2004 From: Westville, IL Status: offline
quote:
ORIGINAL: sowaxeman
Using a chrome polish on polished aluminum won't hurt anything, but it won't really yeild the desired results because it lacks the abbrasives needed to cut into and smooth the metal. However IMO using an aluminum polish on chrome is not necessary and could yeild small swirls/scratches over time since they contain the abbrassives that are meant for the metal...not a plating.
Not sure I understand how a polish can be effective on both plated and polished metal, but knowing Justin and his products, I'll probaby have to give it a try this summer when I see him
Jason
The Metal Rx is actually a chemical polish with no abrassives. I've used it on many metals and it works better than anything I've ever used. I've never had good luck with any metal polish on diamond plating and this stuff blows everything else away.
What helps bring back the shine on aluminum is using a machine or using something like a powerball, the heat created really makes a big difference. Different levels of pads can give it some cut.
Printable Version
Hazing on/in Chrome - 
In the pic below the center caps were done, while the wheel face still had about an hours worth of final buff polishing left to do with the mothers. Once they were done, the mothers alum polish and a rag is all I use to keep them shiney when they start to look weathered. 
