Can anyone confirm Fuch factory finish?

[mthomas58]

Can anyone confirm what the factory finish is on fuch outer rims/lips (not the black center I know it's anodized)?

I ask b/c I've seen conflicting information on searches RE polishing. Some say the the whiteish discoloration on 19 year old wheels is silver paint/ clearcoat or silver anodize vs plain and simple oxidation.

I've started working on mine by hand w/tires on using progressive sandpaper grits. The results are looking great and I've got the patience to see it through. However, the more I work them, the more what I'm taking off to get to the mirror stage looks like paint or some time of coating. If so, there's got to be a better way to strip off vs elbow grease.

I can post a pic if it helps any on a partially completed wheel.

Thanks!

[Jeff Jagusch]

I think you have it backwards, the lips are anodized and the black is painted.

By using sandpaper you have damaged the anodizing (which is very tough).
You can use Easyoff oven cleaner to remove anodizing pretty easily, then polish.

Best bet for most people is send them off to the guys that do it for a living, you will be much happier!
I know there are exceptions, but it's a long process to do them your self!

Good luck

Jeff

[dtw]

If you're getting to a 'mirror' stage on the rims, then you have stripped the anodizing and are polishing the naked alloy. They will now oxidize relatively quickly and require frequent touch-ups to maintain the mirror finish.

Jeff is definitely correct, the wheels are anodized, then dipped in black paint.

What kind of finish do you want? Original? Check out Harvey Weidman (search here on the board).

[Jeff Jagusch]

Funny thing, we sent out the wheels on the '86 (my dad picked up from you) to Al Reed for an RSR finish.
The car is painted and being put back together in Iowa as an RS replica.

Jeff

[mthomas58]

Sure enough, I had it backwards. I guess I'll try the easy off method to see If I can cut through the anodize. My objective is to repaint the centers and a highly polished mirror finish on the silver.........then on to the fan!

I'm doing them myself b/c (1) it's my daily driver and I can't send them out and (2) I want to!

Thanks for getting me back on track!

[dtw]

Jeff - you guys need to send me some pics!! I haven't gotten any in a couple months. Still waiting on mine to get back from the painter - am on my 2nd painter and nearly 3rd year of waiting. The garage is so lonely...

[slammed1000]

mark, make sure and have the fan clear powdercoated over the polish or your hard work will be flushed down the drain in just a few months. since your car is a daily driver it will turn very fast if you just polish it. for a example of what will will happen take some red scotchbrite and clean a few fan blades very good. this will shine them up pretty good. in just a few short weeks it will be back ugly again..

[mthomas58]

Progress update: Spent this afternoon polishing my rear wheels by hand. Oven cleaner helped tremendously in removing the anodizing and cut the sanding and polishing time in half. Finished stripping and polishing the rears today. Fronts next then on to repainting the black. Will do some addl sanding and polishing as I only went up 600 and I should get to 1,000 to remove the very fine scratches for a highly polished mirror finish.

Before and After:

[mthomas58]

&^%$(# Hit the wrong button

Before and After:



Four applications of oven cleaner followed by 320, 400 and 600 grit wet sand paper using WD40 instead of water followed by Mothers polish and a mini polish ball



Fronts still anodized, rears polished



Love the new ATV jack!

[Goth]

Very Nice!

[rusnak]

The whole wheel was anodized, then the centers painted over the anodize, then clearcoated.

[ttweed]

Originally posted by rusnak
The whole wheel was anodized, then the centers painted over the anodize, then clearcoated.

Clearcoated? AFAIK, there was no clearcoating over the anodized and painted finish from the factory.

[Wil Ferch]

Where do people get this info...and then make grand pronouncements "as if correct".. ??

????

Fuchs were never clearcoated.....

-Wil

[rusnak]

Originally posted by Wil Ferch
Where do people get this info...and then make grand pronouncements "as if correct".. ??

????

Fuchs were never clearcoated.....

-Wil

Will, would you like me to post the shipping label from Porsche for my brand new 9"x16"s?

I'm not the one making a pronouncement here, but I can read......

[davidppp]

Nope, no clearcoat over anodise.

Mainly because the anodise needs oxygen to work right..

Kind regards
David

[w21055]

They look great. I have been thinking of doing the same thing.

[ttweed]

Originally posted by rusnak
Will, would you like me to post the shipping label from Porsche for my brand new 9"x16"s?

I'm not Will, but I am just as puzzled as he is. Are you saying that the shipping label on your new Fuchs indicates that they are clearcoated?

TT

[Wil Ferch]

Yes....not trying to be argumentative...but HISTORICALLY...since 1965...no Fuchs wheels were ever factory finished with a final clearcoat...

I'll stand down if this started happening in 2005 ( or whatever) for newly released Fuchs. But for clarity...this was never the case before and it is well known that it wasn't in the past....

- Wil

[Wil Ferch]

As a matter of interest and in the pursuit of truth... yes, please post the shipping label that indicates clearcoat. I would also like to see if the print label was made here ( USA -side, perhaps by a re-packager)... or in Germany from the originating manufacturing ( or Porsche) source.

- Wil

[techweenie]

The confusion may be from the fact that Fuchs wheels are "clear anodized." There are various forms of anodizing, rough, clear, tinted... Fuchs factory street wheels are clear anodized; never clearcoated.