noglider 

I'm not adding much content here, but I agree that the idea is genius. I'm not a shining fanatic, but it is occasionally necessary, and this is a great idea. It uses less fabric and less polish than other methods.

dddd

Heh, my 1962 Continental wears it's original leatherette shiners to this day. Nice polish on the barrels but no action up on the flanges!

I've used the toothbrush with Simichrome to some useful effect, but some sort of powered brush wheel or, say, a foot-long toothbrush head that could be stropped across the spoked flanges would put sparkle down pronto.

noglider 

I put a rubber band around the hub whenever I'm building a wheel. It doesn't shine the hub, but it makes people say, HUH?

67tony 

After several uses, are you able to clean the felt pad?
If so...how do you do it?

16Victor

I've done four wheels and have left it dirty, it works fine. I use a soft cotton rag to remove the black Blue Magic residue. Check the C&V Sales subforum for the for-sale post. (Mods, please LMK if I just sinned in saying that - I am not here to get rich off these things and will edit out this comment if you desire).

conradpdx

I was gunna chime in and say that I like the idea but I use the dremel as well (also brass brush wheels for cleaning too).

EhGiOeS

Wash the wheel to remove all grease and grime let dry. Fold a piece of newspaper lengthwise to fit between the spokes. Grab an end in each hand and run back and forth. No polish needed newsprint contains clay which make it something like 8000 grit sandpaper. Works on hubs too and all metals. Ed

16Victor

Absolutey have to try that...thanks.

Bikedued

Nice finger saver! Great idea! I used McMaster once, to order some stainless steel wool. I made a muffler for my RX-7 and though a little on the noisy side, produced more rear wheel power than the $250 Italian replacement I put on six months later. Sorry for the pics, just had to brag, hehehe.,,,,BD

eippo1

Great idea. Been using rags followed by a dremel w a felt wheel, but this would certainly speed up the process.

Captain Blight

I imagine you'd be able to get somewhere with laundry detergent or Dawn dish soap (Dawn is the closest thing you're likely to find to a universal solvent in the grocery store), cool water, and a scrub brush. Maybe even hot water, as the wool isn't likely to shrink a second time... is it?

16Victor

I looked at the original Wand last night after the cleaning question, and while it was laden with the blackened polish, I didn't think it needed to be cleaned further. I scraped my pocket knife blade across it edgewise to raise the slightly matted felt, and that worked for that purpose. Really though, it was working fine beforehand and I don't think cleaning it will be part of the regimen.

rootboy 

The felt is going to load up with aluminum oxide but it may not matter too much. Though the effectiveness of the tool will degrade. But I was thinking of it as sort of, disposable. I've tried a felt buff on a Dremel too and I found it a nuisance. Polish flinging everywhere and it's tough to get enough solid compound on one of those little wheels. Plus, they're only about 1/4 inch wide, or so. Takes a lot of time to cover the area that this tool will cover in a few passes. That's one reason I think it's so brilliant.

BTW Ron, personally I like the first name you gave it better. Rim Buff. "Wand" sounds too ....em.....too something.....

Anyway, thanks. Can't wait to try it.

16Victor

Yeah, I kinda figured you'd like the name that *you* gave it. Another guy said he wanted a long handled version for doing hubs, and to me, "Hub Buff" is clunky. But Hub Wand...you know, 'works like magic,' etc.

Or maybe not.

Early days. I can change it, probably to 'The Original Cheapass(tm) Rim Wand.' Or Buff.

Weird but I find myself bending down and repolishing the rims a lot lately. I'm hooked.

Bikedued

What about Buff Wand, wait, umm nevermind,,,,BD

rootboy 

Hold up there, Ron-O. RIM BUFF is the name YOU gave it. In that PM to me.

Didn't you? I can't take credit for that.

I thought it was pretty good, though.

JPZ66

For the inside flanges on the hubs (or outside for that matter) use the hand piece attachment with flex shaft attached to the dremel, and put in the appropriate buff, wheel or ball, and you can get in there fairly easily (on a laced wheel).

Joe

JPZ66

Market it to the motorcycle crowd as well. Oh and don't forget about us "little people" after you're rich !

Joe

rootboy 

Joe,
I think Ron might really go places with this thing. "Ron the Rim Wand King".

Say that fast three times....

puchfinnland

I know where to get a full set of rim wands, they sometimes come in a nice wooden box .
some people may even give them away

JPZ66

Oh yes, me too, I'm totally serious that he should make the product and market it to the motorcycle crowd. They too like to spend less time cleaning and more time in the saddle ! Also, there are a lot of chrome spoked rims out there and they are certainly a bigger crowd then us C&V'ers......

It shouldN't be hard to order the wood 'paddles' in bulk, have them imprinted with a name, and get the felts in bulk and glue them up. Small heat seal bags or zip bags and a printed header tag......

You can start selling instantly on ebay, take a rim and truing stand and go to a local show or two so you can demo it, etc.....do a YouTube video...... Sell to detailing shops, bike and motorcycle shops, etc., etc. i haven't even really put any thought into this response, and I'm sure there are other potential applications if looked at thoroughly... and a little product refinement....

Handy and simple....just needs a good marketing strategy and web page.....


Good luck !!

Joe

Catonabike

Yes they do on alot of the old cruisers. They are called shiners. That's around the hub. This is for polishing rims. They get oxidized over time and you can't use brillo pads or steel wool. It scratches them because the alloy is too soft.
Brilliant idea. I am all about saving time and $. Fingers too.