04/23/2026
Weâve been a little quiet on here lately, been busy in the shop. But this one was worth sharing.
A while back I posted a set of wheels that were completely ruined from using acid on raw aluminum.
This is the flip side of that conversation.
These wheels came in as part of a bigger job, paint touch-up, polish, and ceramic coating. When the owner dropped it off, he asked if there was any saving them⌠and honestly, I wasnât sure how far theyâd come back.
But after a lot of time, the right chemicals, and a whole lot of effort⌠we got them looking about as close to new as you can hope for.
Hereâs the key difference:
Not all wheels are created equal.
These are a type of finish that can safely handle stronger chemicals, even both ends of the pH spectrum, when you know what youâre doing.
That said⌠We still donât recommend grabbing aggressive cleaners off the shelf and going to town without understanding what youâre working on (and using proper PPE).
Because as weâve shown before, the wrong product on the wrong finish doesnât âcleanâ⌠it destroys.
If youâre ever unsure, ask first. Itâs a lot cheaper than fixing the damage after the fact.