Thought I would let you see what is possible on alloy wheels


The original wheels for the Audi A8 are diamond cut but the wheels on my car have been polished and lacquered. I needed a spare wheel for my car that would match the others and managed to find a slightly damaged wheel on ebay.





I removed the powder coating using 400 grade sandpaper on an air powered DA sander, then using 400 grade wet & dry I cleaned up the bare wheel face, then 1200 grade wet & dry to give a finer finish and eventually finishing with 2000 grade wet & dry.

Last night I started to polish up the wheel using Solvol Autosol and the results were encouraging although not as good as I needed, so today I spent another hour with the 2000 grade wet & dry to get a really smooth finish.


Click images for full size

This is the tiny marks that must be sanded out


The aim is to have a uniform even finish


Once prepared it took a maximum of 10 minutes to polish the wheel using the rotary and 10 minutes to finish by hand

















The alloy used in wheel making is not completely smooth, so a complete mirror finish would be almost impossible, plus if it was a mirror finish the lacquer would not adhere to it properly, so I am happy with my efforts. Just need to get it to the paint shop now for the painter to do his bit.


Once the wheel is back from the paint shop I'll post up the pictures.

Admin note: this post has had its images recovered from a money grabbing photo hosting site and reinstated

You need a job , ya sad ……


want to do mine ...

great job...  ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
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I would love my FFRR alloys to be as shiny as that... Great job. It all comes down to having the time and making the effort I suppose! Previously..
Vogue SE TD6
Defender 90 2.4
Defender 110 TD5
Vogue 3.5 EFI

A job Mick, I have a disability and therefore unable to work. I suffer from heart and kidney trouble, heart lazy and kidney be bothered

The hard work is in the preparation of the wheels, the actual polishing is the easy bit and takes minutes. The secret is to keep working dowwn from the 400 grade to 2000 grade paper. I might try and get hold of some 3000 grade wet & dry for the next time as it would give more depth and shine to the alloy

did you rub by hand john or use a power tool..  ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
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You're obviously feeling better Stan...

yep.....  ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
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Really impressive results!  Si. <This is my name.

I eat rat poison.

A man ain't truly been insulted until he stands buck naked in front of a woman and she didn't even notice. Or care.

Great result!