fuchs

mr.flat6 · 11-12-2002, 03:10 PM

1981 911sc

the black paint/coating is peeling off my fuchs. I'd like to strip them of the black down to the metal. Has anyone done this? What did you use to remove the black coating?

Tx!john

88911coupe · 11-12-2002, 03:22 PM

Just went through this and can offer help. DON'T waste time $ on regular paint remover. I finally found some aircraft paint remover designed for metal and it did a great job. I'll get the name when I get home and post it. Wheels now ready to be painted something other than black.
Later

mr.flat6 · 11-12-2002, 03:29 PM

thanks! Did it take a lot of elbow grease?

88911coupe · 11-13-2002, 07:17 AM

The product is by Mar Hyde and it's called "Tal (something) II" It specifies that it's for removal from metal. Worked infinitely better than regular paint remover. For some reason on mine the back wheels were MUCH easier than the fronts till I tried the Mar Hyde product. It really cleaned them up nicely.
Later

warment · 11-13-2002, 07:35 AM

I would suggest Aircraft Remover as well. This stuff is great! Removing all of the black paint may still be a problem, as the paint that is used is very, very durable. Use something like a toothbrush with the aircraft remover so that you don't scratch the anodized coating. It may take several applications/brushing. Once you are done, make sure that you wash the wheel thoroughly, and then use a degreaser. I don't know exactly what paint to recommend. A lot of guys on the board use Wurth brand.

I am in the process of polishing the fuchs on my 73. I just finished the 3rd wheel. It is a lot of work to remove the anodized coating on the rims.

Bill

mr.flat6 · 11-13-2002, 07:39 AM

Thanks all........I found the web site for Mar Hyde and the product is called Tal Strip II made by Bondo.

John

david914 · 11-13-2002, 08:24 AM

Anyone try using "aircraft remover" to remove the clear anodizing on the lips so that they can be polished? I hope to refinish my wheels with polished lips and black centers this winter.

89911 · 11-13-2002, 09:58 AM

Generally wont work on the anodization. That stuff is tough. Thats why they put it on in the first place. Try using a medium sized wire wheel on an electric drill and remove it that way. Use a dust mask also. Once remove, the work has just begun. In my long history of fuchs polishing, you will find out A; the finish is relatively pit free and can be polished out from 180-220-400-600-1000-1500 wet/dry paper or B; Your wheel has the dreaded acne pits which can only removed by hours of hand sanding with 180 or lower paper to remove before working up the scale. Even the best wheels may have a few of these pits.
The removal of these is the difference of a good looking wheel at 10 feet and one the looks good from 1 foot.

J P Stein · 11-13-2002, 12:34 PM

To remove anodize, use oven cleaner.....Easy Off works for me......no affiliation, stock ownership, yada...

.

Spray it on & let it sit till the anodize turns dark gray....15-20 minutes....hose down.... a scotch brite pad takes off the residue.

The stuff *appears* to have no effect on the aluminum.
Wear gloves....it does have an effect on skin. Don't breathe the fumes.....etc.......don't let the smoke worry ya. It'll stop.

89911 · 11-13-2002, 12:59 PM

I've done the easy-off(not quite) way. It worked but I found it took more then a few cans and minutes. When I just got finished with my latest set, I found a small wire brush on a dremel just took it off as fast as it took to run it over the area's. Just seemed faster and less messy. One other item I am using this time is an etching primer prior to painting. Should give a good bite into the aluminum to avoid chipping from stones. I am currently almost finished in redoing 951's 8's and 9x16 into RS style polished petals and lips.

88911coupe · 11-13-2002, 01:07 PM

The Mar Hyde stuff had NO effect on the anodized section of my rims. Is there any particular type of self ectching primer I need to look for? Still have not decided what color to go with but I'll leave the outer rim as is. I picked up some "hammered finish" silver paint and tried it on the wheel caps and it looks very nice. Trying to imagine the centers with the same color.

Jdub · 11-13-2002, 01:07 PM

The Easy Off did not work very well for me. Really what you want is straight lye to do the job quickly and "easily." Start by using a 50/50-to-water combination and use EVERY precaution in the book to protect yourself.

As a veteran of handsanding, going to a chromer and having the anodizing stripped in a tank, and sending the wheels to Al Reed I have got to throw in the towel and tell you that Al Reed is the ONLY way to go.

Many told me this, I hedged, I hawed, I thought about the weekends I had used to finally get my 6/7's shiny and happy and the money I had saved doing this. I won't do it again as the price was simply unbeatable compared to the rough and aching hands and tool depreciation, the inhaled particulates, the caustic chemicals, and the downtime from the family or other Pcar projects. That's my recommendation: go to Al Reed.

John

89911 · 01:58 PM

Oh no, the Al Reed vs. yourself debate again!!! Sound like your garage is getting more hazardous then a "home crank lab"! The self etching primer I got at an automotive paint supply house. Just get the shade that matches you final paint.

scottb · 11-13-2002, 02:12 PM

The absolute best way to strip paint and/or anodizing from your wheels is:

AL REED

dheinz · 11-13-2002, 03:31 PM

I wish I lived in California so I could go to Al Reed. When is he opening the Pittsburgh shop?

scottb · 11-13-2002, 04:08 PM

Eddie: If you can afford to have your car up on jack stands for a couple of weeks, have your local tire shop dismount the tires and then you can send the wheels to Al via UPS. People ship him wheels from all over the country, and they're suprisingly light without the tires on them so the UPS charges aren't outrageous.

Scott

89911 · 11-13-2002, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dheinz
I wish I lived in California so I could go to Al Reed. When is he opening the Pittsburgh shop?

I think Lou Reed would have better luck with those wheels, Eddie!

scottb · 11-13-2002, 04:26 PM

Take a walk on the wild side...send the wheels to Al.

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

Al Reed Polishing
30 10 East Coronado #A
Anaheim CA 92806
714-632-3907

FYI....300 bucks to fully polish a set of 16x7 and 8s, AND he has a set of loaners for locals.....come down and drop off the wheels, get a loaner set to use for the four-five days that it takes to do the job....

Jdub · 11-14-2002, 06:11 AM

'89:

Well maybe I took a *bit* of license there, but I do believe that the work involved versus Al's work makes him the choice. Done both, so can speak from both sides of the fence.

I do appreciate the attitude of doing it yourself though - that's been my mantra from day one. However, having gone through the 6/7s over the course of a month or so I would really rather spend the bucks at Al's and move on to other projects on the car. It is also very nice to talk to such a great guy. We discussed the Angels and his personal favorite team, the Dodgers. You'll have to ask him why!

Take some pics of those wheels when you are done: they sound like they'll be quite the set!

John