Wheel polishing

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TORONTO, Ont. – Polishing. It’s one of the most tedious tasks involved in getting a show truck ready to be judged. Especially when it comes to wheels, which aren’t likely going to stay clean for very long, anyway.

The frustration of trying to keep wheels looking brand new is exacerbated when they’re on an everyday working truck. However, Steven Motta, product manager with VIS Polish, says more owner/operators and image-conscious fleets are beginning to let this increasingly popular machine do the dirty work for them.

“The techniques used to polish (by VIS Polish) are not significantly different than what you’d do by hand,” Motta claims. “The machine follows the exact same process, but because it’s a machine, it can apply more force and it never gets tired. It doesn’t have Monday mornings or Friday afternoons so it always produces a very high quality.”

VIS Polish can shine up a wheel in half an hour to an hour, depending on the condition of the wheel, Motta explains.

The machine has been around for about three years and there are over 100 installed throughout North America (about 10 in Canada).

Motta says there’s no risk of damaging the wheel, because the machine is able to detect when too much force is being applied. Currently, it’s designed only to work with aluminum wheels. Even if you’re not a show-goer, Motta said truck owners should shine their wheels at least once a year.

“We suggest that when you change the rubber on the truck, that’s an ideal time to get your wheels polished,” he says, adding the machine can polish wheels with or without the tires on.

While a growing number of show trucks are relying on VIS Polish machines to get prepped for the show, most of its customers are still regular everyday truckers, Motta admits.

“The majority of work is people with pride in their vehicles that want to keep it looking like it did when it was new,” he says.

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