When you work in the automotive industry, knowing how to sand and polish aluminum wheels is a valuable skill to have. Read on to learn more about sanding and polishing aluminum wheels to make them look the best they can be.
Why Polishing Aluminum Wheels May Be Necessary
Polishing aluminum wheels may be necessary if you’ve started to notice their flaws. Corrosion, curb rash, dirt and muck can all contribute to making your aluminum wheels look less than perfect. Cleaning, sanding and polishing will help keep your customers’ wheels in good condition and driving well. Polishing aluminum wheels can be an excellent value-add service when someone comes to you for repairs or retouching — while the rest of their vehicle gets fixed, they can also enjoy refreshed wheels that stay in good condition for longer.
How to Sand and Polish Aluminum Wheels
Sanding and polishing aluminum wheels can make a vast difference in the appearance of a vehicle’s rims. But to get the best results, you must be willing to devote appropriate time and effort to the task. Start by learning how the process works, and soon enough you’ll be ready to offer wheel sanding as a service to your customer base. Customers who care about the appearance of their vehicles will be more likely to get their wheels polished, too.
How to Prepare Aluminum Wheels for Sanding and Polishing
Every successful project starts with the right preparation. When it comes to sanding and polishing aluminum wheels, proper preparation is critical to getting the results you want. Make sure to take the prep stage seriously, as it will also make the next steps much easier as a result.
Preparation here means thoroughly cleaning the wheels. Follow these steps to prepare your wheels for sanding and polishing:
- Gather the right tools and materials: First, gather your tools and materials to be sure you have everything you need for this step. You’ll want a degreaser, a cloth, a stiff-bristle brush and sponges. You’ll also want a bucket for dirty water and one for clean water — keeping your dirty water separate lets you be sure you’re using clean water throughout the process. A garden hose with a spray nozzle attachment will also be helpful here.
- Clean the wheels: Once you’ve gathered your items, you can start cleaning. Thoroughly scrub the wheels with your brush and degreaser. Rinse them with the hose or use a wet cloth or sponge to wipe them down. Rinse your cloth or sponge in the dirty water bucket, then let the wheels air-dry.
- Remove existing clear coat if applicable: If the aluminum rims you’re working with have a clear coating, you’ll need to remove it. Use a rag to cover the wheels with paint thinner and let them sit for a few minutes after application. Then use an abrasive pad to scrub the wheels and remove the top coat. Finish the process by cleaning the rims again and wiping them down with a soft rag.
How to Sand Aluminum Wheels
Once you’ve cleaned the wheels, the next step is to sand them. Sanding aluminum wheels removes imperfections, smooths gouges and prepares the wheel’s surface for polishing. Here’s what you’ll need:
- A mask
- Eye protection
- Sandpaper in various grits
- Sanding blocks
- A clean rag
- A spray bottle of water
Sanding aluminum requires various grit sandpapers. Start with a lower-grit sandpaper, such as 200-grit. Dry-sand the aluminum, focusing on major scuff marks, stains and bumps. Then use a clean cloth and denatured alcohol to clean the wheel’s surface.
After the initial dry sanding, you’ll use a spray bottle of water and increasingly fine sandpaper to wet-sand the rims. Wet sanding helps you avoid dust and makes the process of sanding wheels much easier. Gradually step down your sandpaper, moving from 400-grit to 600-grit to 800-grit and so on. Make sure to rinse off the wheels before switching to the next grit.
As the sandpaper gets finer, it will remove the small scratches left behind by the previous grit. Using sanding blocks can further reduce scratches. They have a sponge-like consistency, helping avoid accidental scratches from sanding too hard.
How to Polish Aluminum Wheels
After you’ve finished sanding the rims, you’re ready for the polishing stage. You’ll need the following items for this important step:
- A mask to reduce inhalation of polish fumes
- Eye protection
- Aluminum wheel polish
- Polishing pads
- A microfiber cloth
- An electric buffer
The best way to polish aluminum is in stages. Use a polishing pad to apply a heavy-duty polish to the aluminum wheel. Starting with a heavy-duty polish will help remove deep imperfections from the wheels, setting a good foundation for more nuanced polishing later. You can use an electric polishing tool for this step, increasing the tool’s RPM until the polish diminishes. Use the microfiber cloth to wipe the wheel dry.
You’ll then follow the same process with a medium-duty polish. Medium-duty polishes are essential for removing moderate imperfections and preparing the wheel’s surface for the final detailing.
You’ll apply a finishing polish for the final detailing. A finishing polish will help aluminum wheels look their absolute best and restore a mirror-like shine to the metal. Like the previous two steps, you’ll gradually increase the polishing pad’s movement or the polishing tool’s RPM. Use a clean microfiber cloth to wipe the wheel dry. After the polish has hardened, use a palm buffer to bring out that beautiful luster that improves the appearance of aluminum wheels.
How to Keep Your Freshly Polished Aluminum Wheels in Great Shape
After polishing the aluminum wheels, you’ll want them to look their best for as long as possible to showcase the longevity of your service. Unless the car you’re working on stays on the showroom floor, all the dirt and grime on the road can make it feel almost impossible to keep the wheels clean. Thankfully, with a bit more effort and dedication, you can keep any newly polished wheels looking fantastic.
The best way to keep wheels beautiful after polishing is to avoid scratches. As a service provider, you can give your customers a range of tips to support the longevity of their newly polished wheels. Doing this can be a major trust builder, and it can make your effort more worthwhile.
Remind your customers to take extra care when parallel parking or turning around corners. The last thing they want is to gouge their wheels against the curb. You can also tell your customers to make regular cleaning a part of their routine to sustain their freshly polished wheels. Frequent visits to the carwash will help their entire car look its best. Remind them to use touchless carwashes, as brushes and other cleaning tools can scratch up the wheels.
Get Abrasives and Polish From National Abrasives, Inc.
National Abrasives, Inc. has what you need to sand and polish aluminum wheels. Whether you’re looking for sanding sheets of different grits or affordable polishing compounds that will help your customers’ wheels look their best, we have the products for you. We want your business to succeed, and our range of products makes it possible.
Shop our automotive products online or contact us today if you have any questions.