Blemishes in my Aluminum Mags

[johber41]

My 66 buggy was assembled with aluminum Keystone mags. The years of sitting in storage caused them to corrode. When I clean them, they shine up real nice but they have little black blemishes in the surface. I do not want to destroy the surface with a harsh polish, but I would like to get the black blemishes out. Anyone have any polishing techniques that would be kind to my 46 year old wheels?

[Bryan Porter]

Power ball on an cordless drill and Mothers aluminum polish .

[johber41]

Thanks Bryan....I will give it a try.

[johber41]

Polished the rear wheels and they do look better, but they still have some grey-black blemishes. Took the opportunity to clean up and spray my rear brake drums.

[boltman]

Hey Jobhner:

New to the site and new to the buggy world. My buggy was mothballed for who knows how long. It had centerline wheels on it, and the seller wanted to keep them, but had a set of mags like yours he gave me. They really looked bad. I picked up a bottle of Flitz at West marine and with lots of elbow grease and old terry cloth towels they came out decent. The backs of the wheels were even worse and I put the Flitz on a scotchbrite pad and scrubbed them out. I would'nt put anything like the scotchbrite pads on the front of the wheels way too abrasive. Anyway you might try the Flitz if the Mothers isn't working.

Good Luck.
Keith

[johber41]

Thanks Keith, I have tried many different techniques but not that one. I will try. I learned from my neighbor that back in the 60's and 70's he would drive the buggy on Texas beaches while impressing the ladies. He was watching me try and get the blemishes out and he then advised me that he believes the marks are from him putting the buggy away with sea water still on them. The marks look consistent to that explanation so he is likely right. After talking to someone who knows a little about polishing metals, I was told that I would have to probably take the whole surface down a bit. I am not ready to do that! Thanks for the suggestion. What part of the state are you in Keith?

John

[boltman]

I am in Highland Village. It was a lake community on Lake Dallas before the metroplex caught them. We share a zip code with Lewisville Tx.

[MURZ]

This is what you need to do.....pick up some 1000, 1500, and 2000 grit sandpaper and wd40. Sand those puppies down using the sandpaper and wd40, using progressively finer paper until you finish with 2000. NOW polish them with a polish called Diamond Brite. You can only find this stuff at Lowes but it is the STUFF!!!!! Don't be scared to sand them...

Your common everyday fuel pump.....not mine...mine shines



Made these jokers look 20 years younger....

[boltman]

Man!! That makes my old mags look bad. I gotta try that. Looks like chrome!!!!

[johber41]

That is impressive! Thanks, I will try it.

John

[BrianB]

I expect to see these polished wheels at "THE ROUND UP"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[boltman]

Hey Murz. I stopped by Lowe's this morning and picked up a bottle of your stuff. Man I have NEVER used anything that polishes aluminum so easily. I will throw my Flitz in the trash>>>>waaay to much work with about 1/2 the results!! Thanks for sharing your find.

[johber41]

Murz has given me hope, I believe that I will have better wheels for the Roundup! See you there BrianB.

John