Raw Polished Alloys (un laquered)

[BRABUS R230]

Hi All, I am having the lip and rim of my alloy wheels stripped and highly polished (raw) as I cannot have them diamond cut as there is not enough metal on them, I wanted to know if having "raw" highly polished alloy's are very high maintenance or is it just a case of putting something on them to protect them from the elements such as a light oil (WD40) or will the turn out to be a nightmare for me to keep them looking good?

 

[jibcl500]

My alloys are RAW so to speak and yes they are high maintenance. The salt and water will allow them to corrod very quicky, I use autosol which is possibly the best alloy polish but the finish can become pitted over time.

jib

 

[Gazzaj]

Raw finish is very high to maintain, like the previous reply, salt gets into them and they get pitted and the black corrosion starts. I have recently started working for a company I used to take my W124 to ( I work in body shops) and amongst other things they do alloy wheels and the raw finished wheels are coming in all the time for re finishing on 08 models (BBS mainly) so its something to think about.

 

[television]

Alli is a very soft material, left polished it will go dull in the atmosphere alone. When the wheels leave the factory they have a two pack clear lacquer applied, this finish through some reason last many years longer than any refurbished finish,even though a two pack clear coat is used, and with any refurb the max guarantee is 3 months. Most painting defects are caused by pin holes, moisture finds its way in and a chemical reaction takes place under the surface of the lacquer where a electrical current sets up eating into the alli and it works its way through under the lacquer creating those cloudy looking patches that you cannot remove as it is under the lacquer.
If these patches are scraped off, it will be seen they they are full of a white powder. Without doubt many wheel cleaners are responsible for aggravating this situation.

I have always advised that member use a chrome paint instead, this finish is now used on all MB new cars these days.

My own new wheels are the 2 piece, with a polished lip, should anything go wrong I will use a chrome paint on the outer section. you would really have to look at the wheel very closely to see the difference

 

[stats007]

When I polish rims I either use a polished-rim lacquer or leave them unfinished and apply Poorboy's Wheel Sealant. They need maintaining every couple of weeks which is fine if you clean your car every other weekend.

You can use a flat silver and satin lacquer or a chrome paint and clear lacquer to replicate polished rims of varying finishes.

I'm doing some two-piece wheels identical to Malcolm's but with a shadow titanium centre at the moment so can post some photos next week if you like?

 

[whitenemesis]

I use to run Revolution alloys on my Monte Carlo Imp, they had "raw" alloy rims.

I used to rub them down with a pan scourer every time I washed them, which was just about every outting

The rims were fine, no pitting, in fact they slowly became quite polished. Shame about the paint flacking off the spokes!! :S

 

[BRABUS R230]

Bling, bling, bling

Well Guy's thank you for replies, I think I am going to give it a go and see if I can keep up with the maintenance, I am so desperate for the "Chromed Lip" type look, I understand that I cannot have them chromed as it is against EU law or something like that due to the chemicals used during the re-chroming process's, I don't know if this is correct, so I think that polishing "RAW" Ali is the closest thing! I just want BLING, BLING, BLING and more BLING,
If it turns out that I can't keep up with it I can admit defeat and go for one of the other options which would include some sort of Ali protection!

 

[BRABUS R230]

My alloys are RAW so to speak and yes they are high maintenance. The salt and water will allow them to corrod very quicky, I use autosol which is possibly the best alloy polish but the finish can become pitted over time.

jib

Do they become pitted even though you polish them with autosol regularly? how often do you clean them and is your car garaged?
I don't really mind having to clean them at the end of every day that I drive it (which is not that often) I only use it at every weekend (if it's not raining)
I was not sure if rain water left on them or water left on them after washing them would cause a problem, if I put my car in the garage after cleaning there will always be some residue water lurking around the split rim joins somewhere waiting to start the corrosion perhaps or is the water OK sitting on the raw Ali?

 

[stats007]

This sort of finish?

 

[cleverdicky]

Give this firm a ring

http://www.poligratuk.co.uk/index.html

 

[stats007]

Some photos of the AMG 2-Piece wheels:

Before:

One of the 96 bolts to be cleaned:

Rim after stripping, paint and lacquer:

Adding a wheel sealant to the freshly painted finish:

All done - threadlocked and flange sealed to keep water out:

 

[television]

Thanks stats they are the wheels that I have, seeing the corrosion between the 2 pieces I think that I will run something into the gap.

Your work looks excellent thanks for the super pics

 

[BRABUS R230]

Thanks stats they are the wheels that I have, seeing the corrosion between the 2 pieces I think that I will run something into the gap.

Your work looks excellent thanks for the super pics

I second that!

 

[television]

I second that!

As you say,, that corrosion could be eating away, and work its way up front, and start creeping round to the face.

Sealing it badly is worse then nothing, so does one remove all of the screws and waxoil , and then put back together, its the only way I think

 

[stivesvelo]

Re: the corrosion, on boat rigging you have stainless fittings on alloy spars (mast etc) & I have seen a special 'grease' used when assembling, to prevent corrosion (yellow if I remember). Don't know what it was as I haven't been near to a boat for years, but a boat chandler might have something to help with the stainless to alloy fastenings as they live in a very hostile environment. Maybe someone here is a yachtie & knows what it is.

Rob

 

[100%Bitch]

Re: the corrosion, on boat rigging you have stainless fittings on alloy spars (mast etc) & I have seen a special 'grease' used when assembling, to prevent corrosion (yellow if I remember). Don't know what it was as I haven't been near to a boat for years, but a boat chandler might have something to help with the stainless to alloy fastenings as they live in a very hostile environment. Maybe someone here is a yachtie & knows what it is.

Rob

Something like this?

http://www.klueber.com/