Fuchs finish question
 

I'm going to restore my Fuchs wheels and I'm a little confused on finishes. What is the difference between polished and anodized? I like the look of the gloss polished paddles and lips with black background, but wonder if anodizing will dull the finish. From a maintenance perspective is the anodized easier to keep clean? Any guidance would be appreciated.
Thanks
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1610500321.jpg

The original finish is anodized, not polished. Porsche never offered them polished.

Yes, the anodized finish is softer and not mirror-like.

Anodizing is lower maintenance. Mild soap and water for normal cleaning, and an occasional treatment with petroleum jelly is all that is needed. Polished wheels will tarnish over time, and will need to be lightly re-polished occasionally.

The anodized finish is can be permanently damaged or stained by harsh chemicals, either acidic or caustic. You want to use pH-neutral cleaners, and never clean them in the sun or when they are hot. Of course, these same cautions also apply to polished wheels, but fixing stains is easy on polished wheels, while damaged anodized finish has to be stripped and re-anodized, it can not be repaired or restored.

To me, the glossy polished finish looks wrong on Fuchs. The softer look of the anodized finish is part of the classic look of these wheels. But it is your car, and the only person it really needs to please is you. (Until you decide to sell, anyway.) Mine (in these pictures) are anodized. Silver car is my '72 911T with 15x6, Chiffon car is my prior '84 Carrera with its original 16" re-anodized in the early style.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1610501476.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1396229720.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1396229784.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1413678927.jpg

^^^^ What he said. Minor point, though - the wheel will need to be polished AND anodized. In that order.

I agree with the above- I do not like the polished look on the Fuchs wheel. Just looks wrong. Here is one of my Weidman finished Fuchs - perfection in my opinion. http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1610552390.jpg

True. The entire process is - strip, polish, anodize, mask and paint.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1610555441.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1610555441.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1610555441.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1610555441.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1610555441.jpg

The original finish was anodized with the petals solid blackhttp://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1610557078.jpg
I think the anodized petals was an option or was used on earlier cars.
For me the polished just looks better.http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1610557200.jpg

Hard to argue with the polished wheels on Ed's old car:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1386329526.jpg

I like the petals and lips polished on a hot rod...but if I had had an original car they would be as delivered. Black or anodized lips and petals.

To me, anodized are easier to clean...but when they get bad, they need refinishing to bring back...while a little polish and black paint can quickly bring the polished petals and lips back into shape.

I'm in the polished camp


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1610595216.jpg

i like them all and i also like to be able to change by mood so my 8th and 9th are totally black and now i`m in progres doing 7&8th-shipping it for anodising- this set it will stay the way you see it no paint..

Ivanhttp://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1610614581.JPG
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1610614581.jpg

Can someone provide an approximate cost for a good (not concours) fuchs refinish (reanodize & paint petals & “backgrounds” black)? Thank you!

$250-300 each

Thanks very much!
Bob

All factory Fuchs wheels are first polished, then anodized, otherwise the bare aluminum would corrode.

Thanks to all for the information!