INTRODUCTION TO WHEEL POLISHING

THE INFORMATION PRESENTED HERE DOES NOT APPLY TO THE ZEPHYR SELECTIONS PRESENTED UNDER "KIT SELECTIONS" IT ONLY APPLIES TO THE "AUTOMOTIVE AND LIGHT TRUCK KITS" AS WELL AS THE "BIG RIG KITS" PRESENTED THERE. MANY POLISHERS DEVELOP THEIR OWN PREFERRED POLISHING SYSTEM, IN WHICH CASE THEY WILL CUSTOMIZE THEIR SELECTIONS. (WITH THIS IN MIND IT MAY ALSO BE HELPFUL TO SEE THE ACCESSORIES AVAILABLE UNDER ZEPHYR BUFFING PRODUCTS, ENKAY METAL POLISHING PRODUCTS, KEYSTONE POLISHING SUPPLIES, OR BUFFING SUPPLIES.)

THE WHEEL POLISHING KITS ARE DESIGNED FOR ON-VEHICHLE POLISHING. THERE ARE KITS FOR MODERATE OXIDATION, AND THERE ARE KITS FOR SIMPLY MAINTAINING A DEEP MIRROR SHINE. MAKE YOUR CHOICE UNDER THE "KIT SELECTION" PAGE, BASED ON THE AMOUNT OF OXIDATION OR CORROSION PRESENT. NONE OF THE KITS ARE INTENDED FOR WHEELS THAT ARE EXTREMELY CORRODED OR PITTED. ON SATIN- FINISHED WHEELS, THE KITS WILL PRODUCE A BRIGHT, LUSTROUS FINISH, BUT IT WILL NOT BE A MIRROR FINISH. DO NOT USE THE KITS ON CLEAR-COATED WHEELS. A SIMPLE TEST TO DETERMINE THIS WOULD BE TO APPLY A DAB OF POLISH TO A SMALL AREA AND RUB WITH A SOFT CLOTH. IF THE POLISH FORMS A BLACK RESIDUE AND THE METAL BRIGHTENS, YOU ARE MOST LIKELY  WORKING WITH BARE ALUNINUM. IF NOT, ASSUME THAT THE WHEELS ARE CLEAR-COATED. 

HOW THE KITS WORK

THE WHEEL POLISHING KITS USE A COMBINATION OF WOOL PADS AND FOAM PADS, OR WOOL PADS AND WOOL/SYNTHETIC BLEND PADS.  THE COMBINATIONS SERVE FOR CORROSION REMOVAL AND POLISHING. THE PADS ARE ATTACHED TO A BACKING PLATE WHICH IS POWERED BY A 3/8" DRILL. THE WOOL PADS ARE USED WITH AN AGGRESSIVE GRADE OF METAL POLISH (NUVITE "G6" METAL POLISH, OR YOUR FAVORITE POLISH), FOR CORROSION REMOVAL. THE FOAM PADS, OR WOOL/SYNTHETIC BLEND PADS, ARE USED WITH THE FINISH GRADE OF POLISH (NUVITE GRADE "S" METAL POLISH, OR YOUR FAVORITE FINISHING POLISH) ON ALUMINUM THAT IS IN RELATIVELY GOOD CONDITION. A FINAL WIPE DOWN OR POLISH REMOVAL (AFTER USING THE WOOL AND FOAM PADS) IS DONE WITH A MICROFIBER TOWEL. MICROFIBER REMOVES THE POLISH EASILY AND LEAVES A BRILLIANT SCRATCH-FREE FINISH.

THE FOLLOWING 6-STEP SEQUENCE WILL DEMONSTRATE POLISHING AN ALUMINUM WHEEL WHERE SOME OXIDATION OR CORROSION IS PRESENT (SEE THOROUGH KIT). IF YOU HAVE ONLY LIGHT OXIDATION OR HAZINESS, TAKE NOTE OF THE LAST THREE STEPS IN THE SEQUENCE. (BASIC OR STANDARD KIT).