How to Polish 3-Piece wheel?

I e-mailed my pic to 2 local wheel refinishers. They do not work on 3-piece wheels.
I'd love to do it myself if possible anyway. Tips for polishing the faded aluminum on my 3-piece wheel? I'm told it's risky to separate the wheel.
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Well if it is 'bare' aluminum, uncoated/no clear/anodizing/etc, you can use some metal/aluminum polish and do it by hand. Or you can try to use a drill attachment and a Mother's power ball or similar and go that route.

It is going to be very labor intensive...but well worth the end result!

Keep us posted.

 

Thanks Jerky. I appreciate the tips. I picked up a buffing kit from Harbor Freight today and will update soon. Not sure if these are coated or not. Nothing is peeling anywhere.

 

^^^^You got it tough guy! Keep us posted...

 

Any updates

 

It will be another few weeks but I will definitely post my results with pics when I get around to it.

 

Finally started on the wheels today and already seeing results. I chose Blue Magic 400 Metal Polish Cream. The wheels had been neglected so I decided to apply by hand first. This is a before/after using less than 1/2 of a 7 oz. can on one wheel. I used a terry cloth towel, which seemed to take off the deposits better than microfiber. Each time I applied the product, it would turn the deposits into a black liquid stain on the rag. Even when the wheel appeared to be clean, I'd get more deposits off. In less than 45 minutes I'd say I'm 75% closer to a mirror shine with the first wheel.
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Nice results!!! They are going to look killer when all done!

 

These wheels cleaned up nicely!

On more damaged wheels with scratches or pitting, I usually sand to 2500-3000 and then polish with a high speed drill attachment and green jeweler's rouge, followed by a quality metal polish like Meguiar's Billet. I've polished wheels, steering wheels and even valve covers to a mirror this way.

 

I use super fine steel wool(0000) to apply . Gives much better results because it removes more deposits.

 

If your wheels are uncoated then the metal polish will turn black on the rag being used. If no color change then you are on a surface which has been clear coated.

 

Never use a microfiber towel when polishing aluminum!
It will pit the surface, even if it is hand rubbed or a machine buffer. It puts many small to medium size pits that must be sanded to remove. (I put pits in a brand new set of RV Alcoa's so large that I had to use 40 grit on a DA sander to get deep enough to remove them all)
I only use a terry cloth towel or buffer cover when polishing un-coated aluminum now.

Now I use the green, yellow, purple and white buffing wheels on an adjustable speed buffer with the proper jeweler's rouge for the first polish then use your favorite cream polish each time. It also helps to stay up on them. If you let them sit for a long time before touching up, the more elbow grease they will need.