Sand, sand, sand, polish!

[Squirrel]

I guess you can tell what I've been working on in my spare time for the last few days.  I had a spare rear wheel sitting in my garage that I've had for years.  It's been so long I can't even remember where I got it.  I started out with 400 grit wet/dry sandpaper and a bucket of water with a little liquid soap in it and sanded out mostly all of the corrosion/pitting.  Then went to 800, 1000, 1500, 3000, 5000, and finally 7000 grit paper.  Then I polished it with "White Diamond" which can be gotten at an auto parts store or online.  Now all I have to do is the other side.  This will keep me busy for a few more day, don't you think?

[Jess from VA]

So.... how much for a pair?   

[hubcapsc]

1000 and 1500... my bike would look out of place with "chrome" wheels   ...



-Mike

[OnaWingandaPrayer]

 It's a labor of Love .  Keep on sanding/buffing . It looks great !

[Jims99]

I watched a video of a guy who put it on an axel and put it against a drill press and just held sandpaper as it spun. Went all the way to the polish that way. I have an extra set of rims I’m going to try it. I’ll let you know how it works if I ever get around to it.
That looks awesome. Making me want to do mine.

[Squirrel]

I watched a video of a guy who put it on an axel and put it against a drill press and just held sandpaper as it spun. Went all the way to the polish that way. I have an extra set of rims I’m going to try it. I’ll let you know how it works if I ever get around to it.
That looks awesome. Making me want to do mine.

I saw the same video but I don't have a drill press.     So I am doing it the old fashion way, I guess.  I do have a couple cordless drills and a Harbor Freight buffing kit I may use.  Yes, polish your spare set of rims.  The rims seem to be the last thing people do on their Valks.  Of course, it you have a blacked out or mat-finished paint scheme, you may not want to polish them.  Just my opinion though. 

[Flrider]

Wheel looks great but I think you still need a little more practice so you can master your abilities.
I'll help you out and bring my wheels  

[flsix]

That sure is purddy. At least half of it.

[Squirrel]

Wheel looks great but I think you still need a little more practice so you can master your abilities.
I'll help you out and bring my wheels  

I was wondering if I would hear that from someone, Jack.  But honestly, this is something I wouldn't want to do for a living unless I had a more efficient way of doing it.  If I ever decide to do this for other Valk riders, you will be the first I tell.  But, don't hold your breath.   

[Jess from VA]

My low tech on-the-bike rear wheel polish solution (for a bagger; the front is easy), was to put it up on the jack, start it up, put it in 1st and set the throttle lock at low rpm.  Hand polish with 4-O steel wool, pads and polishes (no rings, watches or sleeves, or even gloves).  Avoiding the exhaust in your face and up your nose is a good idea.

I did 4 hours of regular on-the-ground work, in about 20 minutes. I was damn careful not to lose any fingers or hands, but did stove my fingers a few times on the slots.  The outside edge to half way in is no big deal, but reaching further in toward the axle gets.... worrisome.

I do not recommend this as physical injury is a real possibility.  And I don't do it anymore.  Now clean battle ship grey is fine with me (on the rear).  

[Squirrel]

Well, I was able to finish the disc side of the rear wheel over the weekend.  It was corroded considerably more than the other side.  BTW, if anyone decides to do this by hand, please use gloves because the tips of my fingers started to bleed due to the water/soap solution and the sandpaper I was using.  I had to take a couple of days off for my sore fingers to recover.  I then started using nitrile gloves which worked out great.  Here are some of the pictures I took during the sanding process and finally the finished product.
The following is the wheel sanded with 400 grit paper.



Then 600 grit paper.



I'm skipping the image of the 800 grit and here is the 1000 grit paper.



Then sanded with 3000 grit paper.



And finally sanded with the 7000 grit paper.



Here is the finished product.



The most sanding was done with the 400 grit sandpaper because of all the pitting and corrosion.  I still have little pinholes in the aluminum that I couldn't get out without spending countless hours of more sanding.  But, it came out pretty well in the end.  I wouldn't use any sandpaper more course than 400 grit because courser paper would put deeper scratches in the aluminum which you would have to sand out later on.  Also, when you get to sanding with the 1000 grit and finer paper, you are basically sanding out the scratches that the previous sandpaper created.  Also, be prepared to use about 1 sheet of each grade of sandpaper for each side of the wheel.  I am happy with the results and I may later on redo the set that's on my 2000 Valk.