Polishing your alloys is a reliable way to give the wheels a new lease of life. The wheels of your car are constantly subject to dust, dirt and road debris, meaning they can get pretty grubby. A well performed alloy polish can give your wheels a like-new look, and even increase the value of your vehicle!
Can you polish alloy wheels by hand?
You can polish alloy wheels by hand, but it is not always the easiest process. To do so, you’re going to need some time, a little patience, and a lot of elbow grease!
If you don’t have the time, or would like to guarantee a reliable and professional job, we recommend you use one of our local partner alloy specialists.
How to polish alloys by hand
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- First, you should clean the wheels. Start by removing sizeable chunks of dirt and debris, and finish by using an alloy wheel cleaner to remove the stubborn and engrained bits of dirt.
- An optional step, but you may want to sand your wheels down to remove any imperfections, as this will give the best shine possible to your newly-polished wheels.
- After this it’s time to apply the polish. Apply small amounts to specific sections of the alloy at a time and work the polish into the area. The reason to do this instead of just applying polish to the whole wheel at once is to avoid letting the polish dry out before being worked in. Make sure to put some elbow grease into the polishing to achieve the shiny results you desire.
- Once polished, it is a good idea to apply wax or wheel sealant to the wheel. This prevents oxidation, as well as forming a protective layer over the wheel, increasing longevity. Make sure to use a wax or sealant specifically made for alloy wheels, to avoid potential complications.
What is the best alloy wheel polish?
The best alloy wheel polish for us is turtle wax brake dust barrier. Whilst not actually labelled as a polish, we find it gives an excellent shine at a great price.
When considering the right alloy wheel polish for your car, we recommend reading a number of reviews and product descriptions. Different polishes give different levels of shine, and you need to find one which best suits your desires.
It’s also important you use an effective alloy wheel cleaner, and sometimes a wax-based polish will give you better results too.
Professional Wheel Polishing
Professional alloy wheel polishing is recommended for those who want a stress free solution to like-new wheels. Hand polishing can be tiring and time consuming, and there is a certain amount of equipment needed to complete hand polishing manually.
Professional polishing employs tools and techniques which are not usually available outside a garage, which is why the results are so much more reliable.
The professional process usually uses a number of buffing wheels which smooth out the surface. Your engineer will begin with a stiffer buffing wheel alongside course compounds, before moving to softer versions of both.
Rotary polishers are tools also often used for wheel polishing, where a polishing wheel is worked over the surface of the wheel methodically. This is usually the most effective method to restore dull alloy wheels, giving them a refreshed look. In some cases, professionals are even able to use this method to reverse the effects of rusting and oxidation. So if your wheels have seen better days, professional alloy wheel polishing is the way to go.
How to polish alloy wheels to mirror finishÂ
To achieve a mirror finish on your alloy wheels, you need to sand with a rougher grit and gradually work towards a very smooth sandpaper. We would recommend starting with 400 grit sandpaper, then progressively working through 800, 1200, 1500, and 2000. With each grit, work to remove any marks from the previous one, and you should notice your wheels getting progressively shinier.
It is vital to sand your wheel surface as smooth as possible as this will reflect light better, which is where the mirror effect comes from.