Let's face it: If your mini rolls on low-profile tires, you are bound to curb your rims. Most of the time, you can fix those curb marks on your precious alloy rims with a few simple steps and minimal tools.
There are more polished rims on the market today than ever before, and all is not lost when you curb them. Metal polishing is an art that has been around for hundreds of years and has been perfected so that it is simple and easy to do. With the right products and tools, you'll be able to save your rims and the cost of replacing them.
If you have polished rims, then someone used the same process we'll be describing in this story to polish your rims to their original sheen. A key thing to remember is to use quality products and a polisher that will not exceed 3,600 rpm. This will make the process go quickly and your supplies last longer. A good quality pad and polish can make a big difference in the final look of your rims.
The products used in this story were provided by Superior Shine Metal Polishing and are manufactured specifically for soft-metal polishing. For more information, contact Superior Shine Metal Polishing using the information listed in the source box.
 This aluminum rim has been...  This aluminum rim has been curbed badly. The scuff marks run all the way around the rim and the rim looks wasted, right? No way. With a little work, this rim will look brand-new at a fraction of the cost of buying a new one. |
 The first step is to grind...  The first step is to grind the nicks and scratches |
 Next, use a DA sander and...  Next, use a DA sander and 320-grit dry sandpaper to sand the marks left by the Rolox abrasive disc. out of the face of the rim. Using an angle grinder and a brown, Rolox abrasive 3-inch disc, feather out the marks. The deeper the mark, the further out you will need to feather it out. Remember not to grind away any more material than is necessary to sand the marks flat. |
 Hand-sand the hard-to-reach...  Hand-sand the hard-to-reach areas and any other flaws in the rim with 320-grit dry paper, also. |
 Take the black emery bar metal...  Take the black emery bar metal polishing compound and apply it to a polishing pad by spinning it on the bar. The friction of the spinning pad will melt the polish onto it. Remember to use a grinder or polisher that will spin between 1,800 and 3,600 rpm so that it works fast enough to be efficient, but not so fast that excessive heat builds up on the surface of the wheel. |
 Apply the polishing compound...  Apply the polishing compound to the wheel until all of the sanding scratches have disappeared. Apply the polish at 1,800 rpm. |
 Clean all of the compound...  Clean all of the compound off of the wheel with warm, soapy water. It's important to remove all of this coarse compound so that it is not transferred to the next step. |
 We will now repeat the last...  We will now repeat the last three steps using a different compound called brown Tripoli. Also, switch a new pad onto the grinder or polisher. You must use a new pad with each different compound to keep the compound separated. |
 The final compound that you'll...  The final compound that you'll apply is called green Rouge. Again, repeat the application and cleaning steps. The green Rouge will bring out the wheel's final sheen and brilliance. |
 Apply and polish the green...  Apply and polish the green Rouge to not only the areas of the rim that you've repaired, but also to the rest of the rim. |
 Once the green Rouge is polished...  Once the green Rouge is polished and cleaned to perfection, the rim will look brand-new, and you'll have saved a ton of money. |