cleaning anodized fuchs and some other ??

Rob Heath · 11-02-2009, 12:58 AM

So got a set of used 16x6 and 16x7 fuchs that are going to be one of my winter projects to clean up, paint white to match the car and use these wheels as my summer wheels.

There are a lot of good posts on refinishing / painting but I still have a couple of questions:

- What do people use to clean / polish the anodized lips on the wheels? I have Maguires metal cleaner that works great on my '68 steel wheels but I don't know if it will effect the anodized surface as it says it makes "metal shine bright."

- There is some slight rash on the lip on 2 of the wheels, can I use a really fine sand paper 1200 - 1500 and take the rash out with out "polishing" the lip? See pictures (doesn't seem as noticeable looking at the wheels in person vs. zooming in with the camera.)

- Has anyone painted white over black? Have been thinking of sanding out the chipped areas of the white rather than stripping the paint off. It will be too cold to use the paint stripper in the garage and worried about the fumes in the house during the winter.

I was going to get some grand prix white paint from paintscratch.com... the primer, paint and clear coat combo rattle can set.

Thanks!!

Rob

Rob Heath · 11-04-2009, 03:52 PM

Anyone use this mag polish from Griot's on anodized wheels?

http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/...inum+polish.do

Just looking to clean, not remove the anodizing.

Thanks!

MUSSBERGER · 11-04-2009, 04:12 PM

I wouldn't use that on anodizing.

csmab · 11-04-2009, 05:31 PM

I have had good results with a product called Wheel Wax. It brought the black painted centers of my fuchs to almost 90% of new. Helped the lips of the wheels but not as much as the painted centers. I put 2 coats on all wheels. I am going to try a detail spray on the painted centers the next time I wax them to see if I can get them even better looking.

AJ88CAB · 11-04-2009, 05:49 PM

Anodizing is basically a chemical ozidation of the metal surface to create a hard (but thin) surface layer. You can not really polish it without breaking the surface and damaging the anodizing. I would agree with Mussberger not to use the metal polish on the lips either. The curb rash is thru the anodizing and can not be polished out unless you remove all the anodizing from the lips and polish the raw metal. Some folks have had success with oven cleaner (the real caustic stuff) to remove the anodizing.

Also, the paint stripper will proably ruin the anodizing if it gets on it.

To keep the anodized lips you can try rubbing with vasoline or Gibbs to help improve the appearance. It might help mask the curb rash a little too.

Rob Heath · 11-05-2009, 01:08 AM

OK thanks everyone for the input! It was exactly the info I was looking for.

Have never worked on wheels before and I am doing the do it your self / low budget version to get a set of wheels with white centers.

Will do a light sand to smooth out some paint chips on the black, leave the rash and and lips alone (from 2 feet away hard to see) and also find some caps to paint.

Will post some pictures late winter / spring when I am done.

Thanks!

11-04-2009, 03:52 PM	#2
Rob Heath Addict Rennlist Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 31	Anyone use this mag polish from Griot's on anodized wheels? http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/...inum+polish.do Just looking to clean, not remove the anodizing. Thanks! __________________ Rob '68 912 Coupe '88 Carrera Targa

11-04-2009, 04:12 PM	#3
MUSSBERGER Addict Rennlist Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: close to the edge of Middletown NJ Posts: 4,455	I wouldn't use that on anodizing. __________________ 1981SC black metallic,no sunroof, departed.(bonehead move) 2004 Cayenne, base, departed. 2005 987S Boxster, guards red, Stuttgart built, departed. 1978 SC E track car. 2005 997 black, pollen magnet.

11-04-2009, 05:49 PM	#5
AJ88CAB Addict Rennlist Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Marietta, GA Posts: 144	Anodizing is basically a chemical ozidation of the metal surface to create a hard (but thin) surface layer. You can not really polish it without breaking the surface and damaging the anodizing. I would agree with Mussberger not to use the metal polish on the lips either. The curb rash is thru the anodizing and can not be polished out unless you remove all the anodizing from the lips and polish the raw metal. Some folks have had success with oven cleaner (the real caustic stuff) to remove the anodizing. Also, the paint stripper will proably ruin the anodizing if it gets on it. To keep the anodized lips you can try rubbing with vasoline or Gibbs to help improve the appearance. It might help mask the curb rash a little too. __________________ Andrew Beldecos Marietta, GA '88 Carrera Cab 3.2 '72 914 1.7

11-05-2009, 01:08 AM	#6
Rob Heath Addict Rennlist Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 31	OK thanks everyone for the input! It was exactly the info I was looking for. Have never worked on wheels before and I am doing the do it your self / low budget version to get a set of wheels with white centers. Will do a light sand to smooth out some paint chips on the black, leave the rash and and lips alone (from 2 feet away hard to see) and also find some caps to paint. Will post some pictures late winter / spring when I am done. Thanks! __________________ Rob '68 912 Coupe '88 Carrera Targa

11-04-2009, 05:31 PM	#4
csmab User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Plano, TX Posts: 14	I have had good results with a product called Wheel Wax. It brought the black painted centers of my fuchs to almost 90% of new. Helped the lips of the wheels but not as much as the painted centers. I put 2 coats on all wheels. I am going to try a detail spray on the painted centers the next time I wax them to see if I can get them even better looking.