POLISHING ALUMIUM RIMS

[Pete Masterson]

I bought a large (5" diameter) and small (2-1/2 or 3") Mother's balls. The large one works pretty well on the main part of the recessed rims (rear) and the smaller one works around the lug nuts and on the front rims. It takes a little practice to get good at steering the small one. It's a two-handed job. Don't apply a lot of pressure -- it's more a matter of letting the ball do the work. Just get good contact and let it spin. Pull off the lug nut covers to avoid having a 'ring' of polishing compound left around the nuts. (The nut covers on my coach seem to be stainless steel -- but some were plastic.)

I used Mother's Aluminum polish. I found the paste-type better. The liquid type splattered all over. Wear clothes you don't mind getting dirty and plan a shower after you finish. Once you run the polishing ball around, it leaves a film that turns kind of dark. I used a micro-fiber cloth to buff the wheel and remove the residue, and it polished up very well.

Then it rained while I was on the road, and the wheels are all dirty again. The second time, they cleaned up faster. I need to clean 'em again, now that we're home, since it rained during the trip home, getting everything kind of grungy.

The balls held up pretty well -- lost a small chunk or two of the sponge stuff when I got too close to the lug nuts or the valve stem -- but mostly it holds together OK. I figure they're good for perhaps a half-dozen complete (6 wheel) cleanings judging from the amount of degradation. (I've done them twice.)

The polish doesn't take out any deep scratches or gouges -- that would take more serious polishing/grinding tools.

Pete Masterson

'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42 (For Sale)

<http://www.aeonix.biz/BBforsale.html>

El Sobrante CA

"aeonix1@mac.com"

On Mar 10, 2009, at 5:40 PM, Jon wrote:

What kind of luck have people here had with those puff balls that have an attachment to attach to a high speed drill for polishing there rims. They kind of look fragile and was wondering how long they will last. My rims are in decent shape but need to be polished up.