Wheel detailing question . . .

[rcl4668]

The folks who installed my clearbra were fine tuning it today (removing bubbles, etc.) and cleaned my Viper afterwards. When cleaning the wheels they used a bristle brush which has left a bunch of hairline scratches on the wheels. The scratches look like swirl marks and are for the most part not so deep that they 'catch' my fingernail when I drag my nail across the surface of the rim. Also , the scrathes appear confiend to the front facing surface of the rim.

Question 1: I would ordinarily take my porter cable orbital and a good polish like 3M Imperial Hand glaze to polish out the scrathes and then follow with a good coat of wax. Are the standard 10-spoke rims clearcoat and therefore polish safe? Or do the wheels have some other type of coating (they are obviously polished but still look like they have a clearcoat). If my procedure is unsafe, what do people do to polish the wheels/remove scratches?

Question 2: Has anyone used the Mother's Powerball to detail their wheels? If so, what product do you use on the powerball(polish, metal polish etc.)?

Thanks for your help.

/Rich

 

[Volltage]

They have a thick clearcoat on them and are not easily fixable, like just polishing them. I have been told by 2 places that repair wheels that the clear would have to be removed, repolished, and then recleared. However they clearcoat that DC uses is not easy to match so you would have to have all 4 done so they all match.I was told about $120-$150 for each wheel. Hope this helps and all goes well.

Todd

 

[PaViper]

They are clearcoated and can be treated just like a painted surface, just be aware of the brake dust on them. I have not tried the powerball, but would be curious to see how it works

 

[mjorgensen Woodhouse]

The wheels are actually clear powdercoated that is why they cannot be "repaired" without a complete refinish. We have also found that it very difficult to match the factory shine when repairing. The powdercoat is buffable but does not respond as well as a standard clearcoating.

Mark Jorgensen

 

[BADVENOM]

What idiot would use a bristle brush to clean the wheels when theres a clear coat on them..now they have to be repaired by a qualified company that does wheel polishing and recleared..Unreal!

 

[Quarter Turn Fastener Man]

Remember the very first time you used a cordless drill-----it's the same when you use MOTHERS.COM Power Ball. I use it only, www.qtrturn.com

 

[rcl4668]

Quarter Turn --

What polish do you use on the Mother's Powerball? I tried using 3M Imperial Hand Glaze (basically a nonaggressive glaze or polish) on one of the wheels by hand this morning and it did remove many of the scratches. My arm and shoulder, however, are about to fall off. Thanks.

/Rich

 

[jpas]

My stock 2005 SRT10 wheels are just raw aluminum. I just finished polishing them with a high speed buffer and compond. Do the 06 rims coupe rims have a different finish? I prefer the raw aluminum, it is easy to fix any nicks or marks.

 

[Quarter Turn Fastener Man]

RICH, THE STUFF I USE IS MOTHER'S POWERMETAL, IT gives directions for "POWERBALL AND ********" . I GOT IT WITH THE MOTHER'S POWERBALL. THE WHOLE IDEA OF USING THE POWERBALL IS-------------ITS SO EASY. SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT 800-230-3030 SELLS THE POWERBALL FOR $24.95 AND POWERMETAL $8.95. www.SUMMITRACING.COM I DON'T THINK YOU'LL BE DISPOINTED

 

[rcl4668]

Thanks again to everyone who replied. I buffed out the scratches almost entirely by first applying a product called P21S Multi-Finish Restorer and then buffing and then applying 3M Imperial Hand Glaze with a Porter-Cable orbital buffer. Buff out, follow with a coat of wax and the wheels actually look good as new.

You can get both products from www.carcareonline.com

/Rich