P21s gel eating thru wheels?

Got some wheels to be cleaned. So I spray some P21s on, let them on for about 3 min and rinse.

After I rinsed, here's how the look.

http://s180031152.onlinehome.us/subaru/IMG_2348.JPG

http://s180031152.onlinehome.us/subaru/IMG_2349.JPG

can P21s really eat up wheels like that? Wheels were really dirty so I couldn't tell if it was like that before.

 

did you by any chance spray it on dry and let it bake?

 

you should always take extra care when using any wheel cleaner on unfinished wheels. Strange that P21S would do that, but have you tried polishing them to remove the etching

 

I never had problems with this cleaner before ...

Anyways, I'm polishing them with my PC and some opt metal polish. Seems to be working, but it's taking a while

 

It looks more like you uncovered some heavy water staining uncovered after cleaning the wheels. It looks like the owner cleaned the wheels or had them clean without ever towel-drying them. Could also be that the P21S Gel dried on the rim...maybe re-washing the wheel with soap and water will clear it up?

 

Re-clean them and it did nothing.

I'm beginning to think they were like that before, since I barely did anything on the rims.

Like I said, they were very dirty at first ...

 

update, if I go apply some OPT metal polish very lightly, it will remove most of them. If I apply too much pressure, the surface become very "marred". Re-polish gently and it becomes shiny again.

this is a nightmare

if anyone can suggest another product or method to ease this up? Would be nice to hear you out.

 

thank you P21s Multi-Finish restore!!!!!

I'll post picture of the wheels complete.

 

were the wheels hot by any chance?or did you let the P21S dry on the wheels before rinsing?

 

Not hot at all, in the garage all day.

I literally left p21s soak in for a good 3 min, That's all.

 

They were probably water stains. P21S Gel is usually the go-to wheel cleaner for the Porsche enthusiasts.

 

you will have to polish them back out.

are these chrome plated OEM or aftermarket..

 

Yeah, it's long and tedious, but that's one I'm doing with P21s restore finish.

whew

 

Phil, these are chrome plated OEM.

 

the only way you're going to polish them out is with patience, a fine metal polish like Optimum's, and lots of MFs/applicators - they will keep turning black on you and as soon as they do, they'll start marring the areas you've already polished all over again. It definitely is a nightmare, i feel your pain

you could try the P21S polishing soap - being liquid (kinda) based it shouldnt turn the sponge black so quickly

this is the reason good quality polished wheels are clear coated or anodized these days

 

Tried OPT, but P21s multi finish seems to do a very good job so far.

 

Good luck on this project, looking forward to seeing some pics of the finished result. Definitely sounds like a tedious process.

 

With metal polish, less is more. Use a tiny bit of polish. Rub it out until it almost disappears. Post pics when you are done. If thats chrome and not aluminum, then the P21S didn't do it. P21S was developed for coated anodized wheels so it shouldn't hurt chrome at all.

 

I've been beating my brains out trying to get Harley-Davidson Vivid Black to finish marr-free for a long time. It's the softest, most miserable clearcoat I've ever encountered. What's this got to do with those wheels? I'll get to that....

Researching problematic soft clears I ran into an article where someoneoranother had similar problems with an '07 Jet Black BMW. Even a wipedown with a soft, plush MF was leaving marks. He eventually came up with a polishing process where he used no MFs at all. Got no clue how that was accomplished! :shead:

Another article had Nick Chapman unable to get 205 to finish on soft, black CC no matter what pad or technique he used. He went through anything and everything in his arsenal and eventually came up with the last-ditch idea of using yellow LC with 205 since he'd tried everything else. He achieved a mirror finish. Who woulda thunk it? :shakehead:

Point is, sometimes you have to think outside the box and leave behind the tried and true techniques and materials. My current dilemma had me wondering, which box?

So, what's this have to do with those wheels marring when you polish 'em? I'm still working in that direction... :shakehead:

After another brain-beating session on the Harley it was looking good until I hit it with the Brinkmann. Then, as usual, I wanted to simultaneously puke and tear my hair out. :deadhorse: I walked away for a break to take my recently washed MFs out of the cool dryer. This was the occasional vinegar-rinse session. Vinegar in the rinse removes all soap residues and returns fabrics to their original fluffiness, softness and absorbancy, it's a natural fabric softener. I originally tried it with old bath towels and was so astounded by the results all my MFs and most clothes now get that occasional treatment.

While I'm folding MF I marveled at the renewed softness... especially the Cobra WWs I got for Christmas. The light bulb came on and I wondered about residue removal with the WWs!?! I'd been getting marring in the direction I was polishing using anything with new, Meg's foam applicators and leaving other marks wiping off residue with my plushest, QD-misted MFs.

Back in the garage I found a 4-pack of new MF applicators I'd picked up at Autozone and had never even unwrapped. What I never noticed since I hadn't opened the package is that the 2 grey ones were regular low-pile MF, the 2 orange ones had a brushed, flannel-like finish. Aha! :thumb:

Armed with the super-soft applicators and the rejuvenated Cobra WW I went back to work by hand. M205 finished flawlessly under the Brinkmann. Recalling a recent article Mike Phillips wrote regarding working with vintage, delicate paint I made multiple applications of Meg's #7 and the pure polish rewarded me with an even better finish. Just for grins I tried a test spot with my usual polishing MFs... yep, there's the marks again. :yikes: A reapplication wiping off the residue with the WW and again the finish was flawless. :applause:

Long way to go to make the point, if the tried and true isn't working getting those wheels to finish marr-free try something else. Had I not been folding my recently resoftened MFs and noticed how soft the WWs were I probably would've never thought to try them. As for the super-soft applicators, I've never seen them before anywhere else. Time to head to Autozone to stock up. We all know what happens when you find something you really like that works well, it gets discontinued or turns into unobtanium! It's a conspiracy I tell ya!

TL

 

^^^ haha, yes! You really do have to think outside the box.

Here's what I could accomplish on those wheels.
-P21s multi-restore
-OPT metal polish (very lightly worked in)
-Klasse AIO for protection, very thin thin layer applied. Too much pressure, and it was marring the finish again.

Best I could do:



Client was very satisfied of the outcome,

UPDATE:
I think I figured out what cause the etching. I always diltute my P21s gel to 3:1. This time, I did it with normal tap water instead of distilled water. I did one mix with distilled and the other one with tap water. What do you know, distilled water one came out perfect. mmmm ....