Wheel polishing advice

[LFCJosh]

got some old beat up wheels i wanna polish up.
started today on a centre cap, to get an idea on how to do it.

sanded it, not right down. then used a few different compounds and buffed it up.

its come up in a nice shine, but the surface is still very scratchy.
can i get them completely flat realistically? if i kept going down to the grades to like 2000+ would it eventually get rid of all the scratches?

P.S.
the wheels aren't going on a clio.

pics

when i started

shiny but scratchy, cant really see the fine detail

 

[couzens]

bloody good effort that! keep going up the grades!

 

[LFCJosh]

cheers man.
if i go down the grades. by the time i get to say 2000. should be be pretty much flat and scratchless?

 

[Rob]

2k could get rid of the scratches, although a quick going over with 3k after the 2k if you can get it should make it lurverly!

 

[LFCJosh]

will it be pretty shiny as bare metal after that?
so shouldnt take much polishing?

 

[LFCJosh]

would getting these sandblasted be a bad idea?

would it have an effect on the finished result?

ive heard it can leave the wheels pitted..

 

[ipodsandguns]

id go with a finer paper.

 

[LFCJosh]

i mean to start off with, like get them blasted to 320grit, then use paper down the grades.

 

[ipodsandguns]

hmm, tried a stronger metal polish? what you using?

 

[LFCJosh]

ive not started yet, look at the first picture, thats how they are atm lol

tempted to get them blasted to save abit of time and skip the first few stages of sanding.

dunno if it would effect the final finish though.

 

[LFCJosh]

finished product

should i treat them with something before they go on the car? like a wax protection?

 

[Sheila’s’ Wheels’]

Holy s**t!! You've been a busy boy! lol.

 

[LFCJosh]

toooo beeee honest, i cheated.
started by hand but it was taking so long, and wanted to get them on my car in time for ultimate dubs on sunday.

so took them to a polishers. glad i did tbh, as they look brand new now, and the guy sorted all the kerbing too.

 

[TimR26]

Massive improvement look brand new!

 

[Laura]

cheat!!

but good work

think youll need to make the centre bore bigger before u fit them tho... or is it the other wat round can never remember lol

 

[Laura]

how much did it cost btw?

 

[LFCJosh]

ive got a polo now laura. so fit should be fine....im hoping anyway!
£100 for all 4. good i thought @ Rainbow polishing in brum.

 

[Laura]

i have a set of rh cups i want doing

 

[LFCJosh]

think the prices vary a little bit, but they are fair and their work is awesome.

proper back alley little workshop haha but their really good.