• Hi Guest!
    You can help ensure that British Car Forum (BCF) continues to provide a great place to engage in the British car hobby! If you find BCF a beneficial community, please consider supporting our efforts with a subscription.
    There are some perks with a member upgrade!
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Subscribers don't see this gawd-aweful banner
Tips
Tips

Cleaning Wire Wheels

Share this page

R

Ray Smith

Jedi Hopeful
Offline
Anyone have suggestions for cleaning and polishing chrome spokes? I know that there is no easy way, but perhaps some of the forum members might have some useful tips.

Ray
 
ray,take a look at www.detailsupplydepot.com its the maguires line of cleaning products,i think youll find most guys have there own special /favorite cleaners,devices etc,lots of new spray on walk away stuff out today,then theres always the neighbors cat-sorry pbraun. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/savewave.gif
 
you could look into phosforic acid as is used to brighten up ali bits, or i can send the gr8 dane over to wash em all b4 you rinse em!
 
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/savewave.gif
Hi Ray go to Hendrix Wire Wheel and get their one step WW cleaner . No better product available that I know of.---Keoke
 
Hello Ray Smith, the cleaner that British Wire Wheel used to sell was the best i ever used. I don't know if it is still the same but you could try them. BUNDYRUM.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Hello Ray Smith, the cleaner that British Wire Wheel used to sell was the best i ever used. I don't know if it is still the same but you could try them. BUNDYRUM.

[/ QUOTE ]

Same cleaner Just a different distributor BundyRum.He is over on the other coast----Keoke /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yesnod.gif
 
For detail work around the spokes, a baby toothbrush comes in quite handy. Wash as much as you can from the back side before tearing your fingers up in the spokes. Then hand or spin dry.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Anyone have suggestions for cleaning and polishing chrome spokes? I know that there is no easy way, but perhaps some of the forum members might have some useful tips.

Ray

[/ QUOTE ]

Ray,
One of the best tips I ever acted upon was to pull the wheels, clean them with whatever cleaner or method works best then to seal the inner spoke nipples with clear silicone sealant. This keeps the goo from seeping back out to dirty up the things again. The solvent I use is simple green citric based sprayon. This also works well for degreasing engine and other parts in place and I feel much more eco frendily than using a harsher eco-unfriendly solvent. For ploishing any chrome or metal I use magic blue in a tube with a red shop rag. FWIW
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/driving.gif
Tracy
 
Mine were first covered in 2 feet or Manhatten grease. I scrapped most of that off and then just went at them with degreasers etc.

Now that they are clean, all I use is a spray on wheel cleaner found in any auto store. ALL the dirt is gone. Rinses well. A soft cloth is all that I need to make them shine.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Thanks to all for the great tips. The spray on, rinse off, stuff sounds like my cup of tea.

Ray

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes Ray, you will not be disapointed and be sure and get one of Hendixes wire wheel cleaning brushes too they work a treat.---Keoke- /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif
 
Any of this stuff safe for painted wheels? They make a great soft brush used to clean under refrigoraters. Its brushel are 18 inches long. The first 6 inches is small diameter (1 inch?) then it goes to 2 inches. Cheap and works well if the wheels are off.
 
Hi TH, No the specific Chrome wire wheel cleaner we are talking about is not compatible with painted wire wheels.That brush U mentioned is a good one and is available from sears. I have one of them too.But the one from the Wire wheel suspects can be shaped to clean behind the spokes at the rim interface. OH! the Sears brush is great for debugging the radiator too.---Keoke
 
I`ve heard that a bottle of congnac will ensure that this job is fun to do, the first wheel will be great, the last wheel will probably not be so shiny. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thirsty.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
Any of this stuff safe for painted wheels?

[/ QUOTE ]

Hi T.H.,

If you go to your local Pepboys, Kragen, etc. and look for the spray on, hose off wheel cleaners. I've used a variety of them over the years on the Healey and on our BJ9 (in this case a Saab) with painted wheels. Just make sure they list that it is o.k. for clear coat and painted finishes (I'm assuming yours are factory finish .. repaints with spraycan may not hold up to the chemicals). Lately have used Blue Coral brand and it works fine. The Saab kicks out so much brake dust that there is no way it will work with out using a sponge or brush but it does make the job go quicker.

Cheers,
John
 
I was in the same position but tried a product I bought from Schucks auto and it performed beautifully. Took off every bit of road grime and brake dust. The wheels looked new again. The product was Eagle-1 Wheel Cleaner: Chrome & Wire - cost was about 6 bucks. Spray on - wait 30 seconds - rinse - repeat if necessary.
 
Back
Top