Rock-a-Lex

iTrader: (4)

Hello,

Need advice. My wheels recently started getting some slight pits/chips in the lips that are stainless steel. How do I refurbish as a DYI? I was thinking wet sanding starting with 1500 grit up to 3000 then use something like a metal polish with a Mothers Powerball Cone or something.

Please help. Thanks

zmcgovern4

iTrader: (2)

In general you've got the right idea... sand until flat, then polish to high gloss... but it depends on the severity of the defects.

Rock-a-Lex

iTrader: (4)

Thanks for the reply!

I guess I should ultimately go finer than 1500. I tried 1000 then 1500 in a small area. The pit mark came out but the White Diamond metal polish I'm using didn't take the scratches from the 1500 out; I was doing it by hand though.

The pits are small (less than half the size of a pea but not deep at all; surface only). I hope that if I keep going to 2000, 2500 then 3000 with a final polishing (w/powerball cone) that the scratches from the wet sanding will come out. I've wetsanded aluminum before and went to 2000 grit and it polished up like chrome. It appears stainless is harder to work with; the lips on my wheels shine like chrome too. It's a shame because I take care of the wheels and they look awesome with the exception of these small pits (maybe 10 - 12 and only on the rears; closer to the inner lip part). I just wanted to post up to hear from experienced people that stainless can be refurbished without professional equipment.