wheel polishing 101, Aluminum Western's Options

[Trekkor]

I'd like to polish these to a mirrorlike finish.

How much time does it take per wheel to do it right and what should I pay to send them out?

What is the best process? fine grit wet paper all the way down to #0000 steel wool and then Mother's polish?

Thanks.

KT

[Gint]

QUOTE (RandyLok Posted: Mar 7 2005 @ 11:22 PM)

Dang Gint, that's beautiful. Thirty hours per wheel? Oh man, listen to me whine. Isn't there some kind of soft-tipped polishing bit for a power tool that would work with a good rubbing compound? The flat surfaces are pretty easy to work with a cloth wheel, but there must be some kind of decent wheel/tip for getting into the corners?

The small tips don't hold up to the real harsh cutting compunds. They fall apart. I tried the heavy cutting compounds and they suck. I found sanding to perform much better overall. I also polished the edges of all of the holes. Most polishers won't do that detail. Because that's the part that has to be done by hand. With the proper heavy duty machinery, this can be quick work to do the faces.

QUOTE (anthony Posted on Mar 8 2005 @ 02:12 AM)

At 20-30 hours per wheel you guys are doing something wrong. Al Reed will polish your wheels for like $80/each and that's the retail price and he's making money. I figure it must take him an hour at the most.

That why my last set went to Al. You didn't read all of what I said. I would definitely pay top have them done now after that one experience. I only did that one wheel. Too much work. But that experience taught me the value of Al's work.

And it took 30 hours because I had to figure out a process. I could do that now in under 20 (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wink.gif)