Always do before spraying!!!
- Wet and dry sandpaper 240gr-2000gr or higher if you can
- Metal polish for aluminium
- Cotton polishing cloth(s) - for buffing
- Lambs wool/old fleece
Below is how to get up really bad rough lips. If yours are just dirty then use 800/1200 grit, then proceed with Autosol etc
1. Make sure there is no lacquer or paint on the rim - either by stripping the wheel of the paint, or sanding by hand.
2. For really bad corrosion, sand back to bare metal with 120-240grit, for good condition use 800grit.
3. Now start wet sanding... with 240 and working up to (400, 800) 1200.
4. Next get a scouring pad or wire-wool with some Autosol/metal polish on. Go round the rim a few times.
5. Buff off, and repeat if necessary.
6. Now more wet sanding with 1200, then 1500... and 2000 if you can get some..
7. Then use some metal polish on a piece of wool/fleece, and go round each rim a few times.
8. Buff off, repeat if necessary.
Job done! They should be almost mirror polish! For an even better finish you're going to need a power tool with a metal polishing buffer on - but I prefer by hand. You can just repeat the last buffing as above as many times as you can, or everytime you wash the car etc.
Before...
After sanding...
After buffing
After another buff and sprayed...
Spraying...
- Paint stripper (not always needed)
- Sand paper 120gr
- Wet and dry sandpaper 240gr-2000gr
- Metholated spirits or prep wipes
- Metal primer
- Colour paint
- Lacquer
- Polishing compound
- Pack of playing cards
You want a well vented and warm/hot room, smaller the better, a spray mask is essential, and a bucket of water (helps trap dust).
1. I rough up with 120-240grit sandpaper, and get rid of any scratches and chips in the process.
2. Clean the wheel with paint prep wipes or metholated spirits, to get rid of dust/dirt/grease.
3. Use a pack of playing cards to stick round the rim - saves a lot of masking and time, plus they're re-useable!
4. Then apply etch/red oxide/zinc or another corrosion preventing primer.
5. Give it at least 3 coats, I turn the wheel 90degrees each time to stay even, or in this case 45degrees as the spokes are set at 90. Go horozontal with the spray each time. Leave to dry for a few hours so its completely dry.
6. Wet sand with 800grit paper. Apply another layer of primer to make sure the whole wheel is covered and no imperfections, leave to dry for a few more hours. This is the most important layer, so needs to be done right!. If you are really anal and have extra time, lightly wet sand with 800grit paper to get an even smoother finish.
7. Apply colour, in the same way as primer, making sure the whole wheel is covered. It can be tricky as some wheels are a PITA to get paint in all the spokes. Do it gradually, and don't sand the colour!
8. Before last coat of the colour is dry, apply first coat of lacquer, same way as previous. Leave to dry for an hour at least. Apply at least 2 more coats of lacquer, repeating the previous method.
9. When all lacquer has been applied, let it dry for as long as you can, at least 48hrs to be sure.
And that's about it! Any questions - just ask!
Rim sanded...
Wheel sanded...
Cleaned, playing cards round rim...
Black applied...
Done!
BUT, these are done with hard waring satin finish, so no need to lacquer.
Or am I talking rubbish 
