The Detailers Cafe
Exterior Detailing => Wheels, Tires and Wheel-Wells => Topic started by: andrewc_11890 on December 27, 2008, 03:45:17 AM
-
So my brother is moving to Arkansas so I decided to detail his car before he drives over (it is sitting right now waiting for the NXT to cure) but I decided to use meguiars wheel brightener on his rims (he drives an 06 Mustang). They are the stock ones, and I'm not positive what they are made out of but it appears that the outer corners are possibly polished aluminum, but holy cow! My brother comes out and says what the heck did you do to my wheels?! They didn't look that shiny when I got the car from the dealership.
I have used wheel brightener on all my customers cars that I detail during the summer, but most of their wheels have been the typical stock wheel that isn't exposed metal (if you get what I am saying) or they have just been chrome. I have never done a polished aluminum, but for the record, wheel brightener does a great job on it (if that is what the wheels are.)
I am bummed I didn't get any before pictures but I'll get some after pictures of the car and wheels tomorrow once I finish putting two coats of 26 on the car (2 coats of NXT with 2 coats of 26 on top of that will protect his car from the drive from california haha :hs: )
-
That's good to know. I just bought a gallon to try out. :thumbsiup:
What part of Arkansas is he headed to?
-
I wnte to try this stuff out after seeing someone on another forum use it with great success on the inside of some pretty bad wheels. It sudsed up pretty good too when it was agitated. Is sudsed a word?
-
Unfortunately I didn't take before pictures :slam: because I didn't think it would look like this after (I wish I would have realized I had a smudge on my camera lens, that is why it is a little fuzzy) but the stuff works great on taking off heavy grime and brightening up wheels. One thing however is that when you spray it on the wheel be sure to check where the wind is blowing that way you don't have it spray back into your face. The stuff is extremely strong even when diluted and I have had to wash my eyes and mouth out a few times. To add, since it is so strong you should order the chemical resistant sprayer and after each use take it out, spray the excess in the bottle and squirt water through the sprayer or else the chemicals will eat through the sprayer, I have ruined a few from forgetting to do so. I wouldn't use it on your car every week but in detailing others cars it works well since their cars probably don't see too wheel cleaner. Here is a pic
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y190/andrewc90/IMG_1085.jpg)
-
I've simply never found a wheel cleaner that was worth a 'flip'. While I have tried WB, it was when it was in its infancy (ie: when Meg's was bringing the D-line back 'in house' back around 2004). Maybe I need to snare a sampler from Rick again and give it another go...
-
don't think I have ever tried it ..
sounds like it might be worth giving it a shot
-
I would love to use something over APC+ as it makes me nervous about getting APC on other things...like my hands...
-
You're using APC+ on wheels?!? :puke:
-
You're using APC+ on wheels?!? :puke:
No, using APC+ on tires, but it gets on wheels...
:hammer:
-
Why do you get nervous about APC on wheels, just because it would remove any wax? Because Wheel brightener is pretty strong and I doubt it would leave any wax behind that was previously on the wheels.
-
Very different types of cleaners... Don't have any time to post at the moment but, they're just very different types of cleaners (& I've seen APC splotch paint on more than one occasion).
-
I used APC+ on my wheels all the time. It did a good job and after using it every weekend for 7 or 8 months didn't see any ill effects. I wouldn't dare get it on the paint though.
I thought it was ok... :thump:
-
I have been using APC+ for awhile but every time i get the stuff out I do get nervous, I have seen it first hand pardon the pun, remove skin from my hands, not to mention remove all the wax or LSP off the rocker panels by getting wind blown...
I am a fan of APC+, no doubt but if there is a different cleaner that is more "safe" on wheels I am going to start using it or at least try it out.
My neighbor has been building up his detail products, he has APC+ and just the other day told me he said he though the finish off his Chrome Lincoln wheels was coming off in spots. That made question how he was using it. I told him to stop using it on the wheels and only apply to wells and tires or cut the hell out of it
-
Maybe we got a different formula JP. My APC+ smells rather rank, but it's pretty tame I think. Similar to SG but with more power, if that makes sense?
I'm not sure. Hmmmm
-
Maybe we got a different formula JP. My APC+ smells rather rank, but it's pretty tame I think. Similar to SG but with more power, if that makes sense?
I'm not sure. Hmmmm
No, i go through a lot of it...so its not a batch thing...maybe I am not making it clear. APC+ is way to strong so I may just cut the hell out of it...still going to get the wheel brightner stuff on my next drive into dallas.
-
How much do you dilute it? 10:1?
The only time I've ever had problems was going to 4:1.
:poop:
-
I use it at 10:1 when needed
-
I've used APC+ a lot on my tires and wheel wells, without gloves mind you, and have never had any problem with it. It'll definitely remove wax but as far as my hands go... nothing. I've used APC+ only on factory wheels.
I see guys over on Autopia that have pre soaked vehicles in APC but I don't know what brand. APC can be pretty general of a statement, but regardless it really boggles my mind that someone would spray any APC on the paint on purpose and let it soak no less.
-
I've used APC+ a lot on my tires and wheel wells, without gloves mind you, and have never had any problem with it. It'll definitely remove wax but as far as my hands go... nothing. I've used APC+ only on factory wheels.
I see guys over on Autopia that have pre soaked vehicles in APC but I don't know what brand. APC can be pretty general of a statement, but regardless it really boggles my mind that someone would spray any APC on the paint on purpose and let it soak no less.
For those who have a true understanding of the products and surfaces they are working on, it can be a very practical and useful practice. For the newbies...maybe best to stick with the consumer products and easy methods :gl:
-
For those who have a true understanding of the products and surfaces they are working on, it can be a very practical and useful practice. For the newbies...maybe best to stick with the consumer products and easy methods :gl:
Which is exactly why I won't use APC+ on wheels...
When you encounter a tiny nick in the clearcoat and the product goes to work on the Aluminum, Magnesium, or even steel, you'll realize the HUGE problems that can be caused by utilizing a product that isn't even vaguely intended to be utilized on a metal product for cleaning a metal product...
It just takes one MINOR screw up to buy an expensive wheel... I guess I'm just a 'newbie' though...
-
Ok. Bad for metal. What about Super Degreaser? I recently used APC+ side by side with Super Degreaser on my old wheels and tires that aren't on my truck right now. I actually liked the Super Degreaser better. Is it a safer product? I ask because my good wheels are polished aluminum and it's almost impossible to not get any APC+ on the wheels when you're spraying the tires.
-
The KOH (potassium hydroxide) in Super Degreaser kind of worries me as KOH is used as a metal etching agent in certain applications... while it's a very low concentration and only a 40% solution, it still gets my attention...
I cannot locate a MSDS on APC+ (only APC D-101) (Lumadar -- being that APC+ is an active product, should it be on the MSDS site?)... if it's similar to APC (and I assume that it would be), between the two, I'd probably like APC+ over SD as I think it may teeter a bit more on the acid cleaner side (lower pH) versus a caustic cleaner (high pH). Just for comparison, Westley's Bleche White is pH 13; SD (in concentrate) is 13.5.
While I still stand by and think neither are probably the best choice for this application (wheel cleaning), an occasional hit/use probably isn't going to be the end of the world but, between the two, I think the safety factor would tip on the side of APC+.
-RP-
-
Guess I'll be going back to using soap on my wheels. Thanks for the info for a newb.
-
I almost always use soap and water on wheels anyway. My area of concern was the overspray and dripping of the cleaners from the tires to the wheels. Anybody know anythingt about p21s wheel cleaner. The gel in particular? Seems a lot of people use that.
-
I almost always use soap and water on wheels anyway. My area of concern was the overspray and dripping of the cleaners from the tires to the wheels. Anybody know anythingt about p21s wheel cleaner. The gel in particular? Seems a lot of people use that.
I've used it (they sent me my first bottle after testing out some LSPs for them) and, in all honesty, it's probably as good as anything that I've used on wheels (I have repurchased it since)... the problem with that note is that I haven't found anything that really does a fantastic job on wheel grime. Like you, I almost always end up utilizing a wheel-dedicated mitt at the end of my procedure/wash.
Simply put, I've not found a product that is 'spray on, spray off' with perfection results -- or, for that case, even B+ graded results. Everything I've tried (and it's not an expansive list but, I've tried several -- mainly OTC) is a C- graded product at best (from the spray on and then off standpoint).
-
I think I'm going to give it a try when I go back to work full time. In your opinion RP, is the P21s atleast better than car wash soap? I like that the gel is supposed to cling to the wheel so you can let it do what it needs to do. I can't imagine anything working perfect without agitation. That's just something I expect to do regardless of the what I'm using to clean them. I'm just looking for something on wheels that have been let go beyond car wash soap. I've actually gone a bit off topic now. Since my main concern is finding something that is good for cleaning tires but safe for my wheels.
-
For cleaning tires, it's not all that great...
From the wheel cleaning perspective, it's better than most. Like you mentioned, I've not found anything that didn't require some agitation...
Better than going with a mitt and wash solution -- no way. Better than spraying on some soap (say, with a foam gun) and then spraying it off -- yeah, probably.
-
For cleaning tires, it's not all that great...
From the wheel cleaning perspective, it's better than most. Like you mentioned, I've not found anything that didn't require some agitation...
Better than going with a mitt and wash solution -- no way. Better than spraying on some soap (say, with a foam gun) and then spraying it off -- yeah, probably.
I have used APC+ on wheels many times, mainly on wheels that were nasty. It really seems to loosen up the dirt and other stuck on junk.
I've also used the P21S wheel cleaner and wheel gel. They also work well, but are expensive compared to APC+.
RP, what do you use on wheels that wash soap won't get clean?
-
I'll start working through the couple of wheel cleaners that I keep on the shelf...
Honestly, it's not very often that I've actually had a wheel give me a boatload of problems -- or, if it did, I had already discussed it with the client and had explained that they wouldn't likely come out perfect (ie: embedded rotor/pad pieces).
-
Unfortunately for me, most of the vehicles that I see haven't had a decent wash in a LONG time. That means the wheels are typically nasty with all sorts of dirt stuck to them. It's part of living in this area. Nobody really takes care of their vehicle very well.
-
Anyone ever try this.
http://www.detailedimage.com/Chemical-Guys-M31/Sticky-Gel-Citrus-Wheel-Cleaner-P262/m/
It's supposed to be close in performance to P21s wheel cleaner gel. I think I might give it a shot. I don't know yet.
-
Sounds similar to the late/great D-line Citri-Gel...
-
MSDS added for posting goodness....
CITRI-GEL MSDS (D-14) (http://www.dealergoodies.com/MSDS/Meguiars/Meg_D14CitriGelMultiCleaner_msds.pdf)
-
So how do you use this stuff?
(http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z217/RollingRockTX/MIsc/IMG_1603.jpg)
-
It was a favorite of mine on tires and in wells...
I'd have to tip my cards a tad and say that I'm not sure I ever used it on wheels -- or, at least I can't recall doing it.
Mind you, it's been discon'd since 2004.