Removing flaking chrome??

[87coupe]

Hi all,

I have been researching refinishing my Fuchs, and have found lots of great info on the polishing process, but have not found any info on my particular situation. My Fuchs were chromed by the dealership when the car was new, and the chrome has flaked badly.

I would like to remove the chrome (what's left of it) and proceed w/ polishing the wheels. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I should go about this? Should I just go at it with a wire wheel on my dremmel? Any assistance would be great. Thanks in advance.

[87coupe]

Anyone?

[scottb]

There's a Porsche service bulletin warning against chroming Fuchs wheels. The chroming process pits the wheels and weakens the alloy.

That having been said, you should contact Harvey Weidman in Oroville (I think). He's an expert on Fuchs and will know what to do to properly remove the chrome. Alternatively, contact Al Reed in Anaheim.

[87coupe]

Are either of them really gonna want to tell me how I should go about this? I would think they, being in the business, would want to just have me bring the wheels in so they could do it. Are either of those guys on the board? I've seen both their names come up in my research on the board, but can't recall either of those names actually posting. I would much rather get some opinions from the community than bother a place of business that I am not a customer of. Other people must have had this problem ... did everyone just send them to be done by a shop? Seems unlikely *shrugs* Please help.

[bavaria911]

After reviewing your pictures, the chrome has pitted the wheels to the point that I believe a professional will be required to bring them back to a true stock image.
Unless you have the correct tools, you'll be wasting your time.
I believe you need to turn them over to a pro or sale them/trade-in for refinished ones of the same specs.
JMO

Bavaria

[Zeke]

You make a good point. Harvey does post, mostly on the Early S BBS. Al does not.

And that's very fair of you about your attitude towards "trade secrets." But, the news is not good. Not only have the wheels been pitted and possibly weakend, the chrome does not come off easily.

Usually, chrome shops remove with acid. That's out with Fuchs. You have to physically remove it by sanding and grinding and when you get done, the wheels will not be pretty.

You can't even sandblast. Most simply sand them rough and use something like an epoxy primer right over the remaining chrome. Then, some filler primer and maybe even some glazing putty. You could probably sucessfully polish the lips, but you're in for a ton of work for anything more.

[bavaria911]

Zeke...wow at the same time we give sound advice!

Bavaria

[87coupe]

Thanks for the replies guys!

To think the dealer did this to a perfectly fine factory finish really pisses me off. My folks bought this car brand new and the wheels were chromed when they got it.

So what am I lookin at price wise? I have seen a lot of people quote prices for Al Reed's work - does that price include the removal of my old chrome, or is that just the price for polishing?

[70SATMan]

Brandon,

I'd just buy a set of wheels with stock finish from one of the guys that does this stuff on the side and work out a core trade. To much headache getting these refinished for yourself.

[RickM]

IMO, this is not a DIY job. A good chroming shop will be best equipped to do the removal, if possible. That is likely who one of the polishing services will employ for the task.

[alfizzo]

brandon,

send them to a parts restoration plater. i have a nice set of hre that were plated chrome. however to strip the chrome off with hydrochloric acid attacks the AL. i sent them to my buddy at nu-chrome, they specialize in this stuff. the sand blased all the old plating away. i still had to hand grind some of the plating off. then i dipped them in nitric acid to remove any other plating remaining on the wheels. now iam polishing them to a mirror finish. even though iam a plater i do not have the right tools to get the job done. my sand blaster could never blast the old plate away and if i tried to use only acids to stip the wheels then i would have ruined them. so take them to a professional.

[scottb]

Originally posted by 87coupe
Are either of them really gonna want to tell me how I should go about this?

If that were the case, then why would people like John Walker, Dave Bouzaglo and KevinP post on this board? My experience is that people are pretty forthcoming with advice. It's good business, because in the future you'll remember them and either use them yourself or recommend them to someone else.

That having been said, I think your wheels may be too far gone to strip and polish. Your best bet at this point may be to simply have the old chrome stripped, and then have them re-chromed. Again, Porsche warns against chroming, and chroming, stripping and rechroming may weaken the wheels. You really should talk to one of the experts -- Weidman or Reed. From my experience, both are very forthcoming with advice. They're good guys!

[sammyg2]

Call Al Reed. He will tell you what it will take to get the chrome off and refinish the wheel, whether he does it or you do it. I would think he would also give you an estimate of what it would take for him to do it.
He isn't a greedy guy who is always trying to grab more work, last I heard he was up to his eye balls in work and had as much as he needed.
He is about the most down to earth, helpful business owner I have ever met or dealt with.
If he needs to see pictures of the wheels let me know. I live a mile from his shop and could print them out and drop them off on the way home.

I doubt I would be able to save those wheels without sending them off to an expert and I'm pretty handy with tools.

[RickM]

Interesting snip from an info page for Wheel Collision Center out of Bath, PA. Arguably one of the best total wheel restoration services in the country.

Excellent writeup on their services --> http://www.audiworld.com/news/01/wheelrepair/content.shtml

"WCC can also strip the chrome, repair the wheel and then re-chrome the wheel, using an independent California-based chroming shop that has proven to offer the quality levels that they prefer."

Two methods can be used to remove chrome, mechanical and electro-chemical. The latter being desireable as it will not affect the base metal.

[87coupe]

Wow, thanks for all the advice guys. I'm getting the feeling that the cost of having them professionally done is going to put me over the cost of just buying another set that is in decent enough condition for me to polish out. I'm guessing somewhere in the neighborhood of $1k to save my fuchs? Does this sound about right? BTW mine are 16x8 & 7 ... can a used pair that needs to be cleaned up a little be had for less?

These are the wheels I would really like to have if I weren't going to run Fuchs.

I haven't been able to find them in anything but the 19" ones pictured. Do they make these in a 16" or even 17"? Does anyone know if they make replicas? The ones pictured are RH and quite expensive.

Thanks for helping me out! You guys are awesome!

BTW: the car you guys are helping me out with

Funny how much better the wheels look from about 10 feet away.

[sammyg2]

Have you called Al Reed? If he charged a grand for that I would be very surprized. I'd guess around half but you would have to get that from him.
If they were mine I would not go with chrome again, I would have them polished and clearcoated. Less $$$ easier to maintain and repair later on.

[scottb]

Originally posted by 87coupe
Wow, thanks for all the advice guys. I'm getting the feeling that the cost of having them professionally done is going to put me over the cost of just buying another set that is in decent enough condition for me to polish out. I'm guessing somewhere in the neighborhood of $1k to save my fuchs? Does this sound about right? BTW mine are 16x8 & 7 ... can a used pair that needs to be cleaned up a little be had for less?

I paid about $100 a wheel to have my polished and painted. Figure another, what, maybe $50 to have the chrome stripped. So, if your wheels can be saved (and I'm doubtful), you're looking at $600 +/-. If they can't be saved for polishing, but you can re-chrome them, you're still probably looking at about $150 +/- per wheel.

A set of 7s and 8s in decent shape will run you LOTS more. Then, you have to invest your time or money to have them polished and painted. And, 8s are getting harder to come by.

[87coupe]

Oh yeah, definitely not going to be going the re chrome route. That would just seem too asinine .. eve for me So that's encouraging news on the price, I will definitely hunt down Al Reed's number (I'm sure I've seen it in my searches) and see what he estimates would be the cost.

BTW: I slapped together a 2 minute photoshop of those RH's on my car, whatcha think ..

[scottb]

Originally posted by 87coupe
Oh yeah, definitely not going to be going the re chrome route. That would just seem too asinine .. even for me

I'm not sure I'd agree with that. *IF* the structural integrity of the wheels can be maintained, re-chroming might cover some of the obvious flaws in the wheels that won't be removable by polishing.

[RickM]

AL REED POLISHING
3010 E. Coronado #A
Anaheim, CA 92806
(714) 632-3907