My Eco RSR Fuch Refinish - Special Thanks to KiloDawg

[JackMan]

Hi all

It's possible to redue your own Fuchs.

I read all the threads, pestered a few people and spent way more time than I should have redoing the wheels, but it was a blast.

The pro's deserve what they get for refinishing wheels. It's alot of work.

Here's what mine look like after the following:

1. Aircraft stripper to remove paint.
2. Oven cleaner to remove anodization.
3. Sand lips with the following grits: 220, 320, 400, 600, 800, 1000
4. Polish lips
5. Mask lips and sand blast
6. Prep, prime and paint

I found it helpful to "warm" up the wheel prior to using the aircraft stripper and the oven cleaner. I did this by putting the wheel in a cardboard box with a hairdryer set on high. It took three coats of aircraft stripper to get all the paint off. I found the best scrubbing pad to be the 3M scour pads used for stripping furniture available at Lowes. It took two coats of the oven cleaner, yellow can, to get most of the anodization off. What paint and anodization didn't come off, came off easily in the sandblast process.

I scraped the paint and anodization with all sorts of odds and ends. The sandblasting took care of all of the little nicks in the wheel that came from the scraping with implements.

I masked the polished lips with green 3M tape and then sandblasted. I haven't decided if I'm going to clearcoat these, leave em like they are, or put a thin coat of vaseline on them....

For the record, these wheels are polished lips with sandblasted bare aluminum petals/rims and black paint in the webs. The black paint is a VHT type paint used by engine builders and matches Rustoleum 7777. The paint does take a few days to get a really, really hard finish. The dryed paint matches that of my factory fuchs that are on my car now. The paint is called IPC, Industrial Protective Coating 86499 Semi Gloss Black. It's manufactured for Parts Associates. You can find it at www.pai-net.com. I got this stuff from an engine builder friend of mine.

Thanks to all that helped. And a big thanks to KiloDawg.



wj

[kilodawg]

They look absolutely great!

Best thing is that you took it up a notch. From the paint to the sand blasting if I get the opportunity to do another set I'll be the one Emailing you! I just wish I could see them in person...

The satisfaction of having done them yourself can't be beat.

[911pcars]

My concern is for the sandblasted surfaces if left exposed to brake dust and the atmosphere. Periodic waxing may be all you need. I would think that, like polished Fuchs, there is an amount of maintenance required. But unlike polished surfaces, you don't want to change the existing surface finish by rubbing on it with chemicals and cleaner waxes.

Let us know how it goes, but they certainly look great now.

Sherwood

[kilodawg]

Sherwood brings up a good point on cleaning the sandblasted surfaces. I'm not sure that I would wax them though. You don't want to change the surface by waxing and or polishing away the finish over time.

It might take some experimentation as to which product(s), techniques and tools works best. Could be a foaming metal cleaner and degreaser, a liquid degeaser or something similar followed by a good rinse. For application a soft brush like a shower back brush, or a synthetic kitchen brush might work. The key would be something that doesn't scratch but allows the cleaner to work into the pits of the sand blasted finish without altering it....

Time spent on working up a plan for upkeep will be just as important as the plan it took to finish them....

[boba]

Those look Great.

You might consider Gibbs for the unfinished AL.

http://www.roadsters.com/gibbs/

[billybek]

Could you clearcoat the whole face and forget about the issues of brake dust and oxidization?
Would that change the appearance of the mat finish too much?

[DW SD]

Originally Posted by boba

Those look Great.

You might consider Gibbs for the unfinished AL.

http://www.roadsters.com/gibbs/

My Lindsey wheels were finished by media blasting. They looked great until one touches it with a dirty finger.

The Gibbs product attracts brake dust like a bum on a ham sandwich, white on rice, feather to tar. In other words: It is ill advised.

I think they must be annodized, painted or powder coated to have a finish which will hold up to brake dust, finger prints, etc.

Mine look like cr@p.

Doug

[billybek]

Oh ya, they do look great!

[JackMan]

I agree with you all regarding maintenance. That's why I'll probably be clearcoating these puppies. For now, they are sitting in my office at home.

The good news here is that if I screw up the finish I feel more than confident to: strip the paint, media blast and then have them anodized, then paint the webs.

Thanks again, once I get the wheels mounted, I'll get some pixs.

wj

[JackMan]

Hey

One concern is that the clearcoat "yellows" after awhile. How long does it take to "yellow"? I live in NE Ohio and use the car as a daily driver in good weather, little rain and no snow.

Also, what about masking off the polished lips and only spraying clearcoat on the inside of the wheel?

wj

[bob tilton]

For my Scotch-Brite wheels I have found the best cleaner to be mineral spirits.
BW - the wheels look stunning!

[FastCarFan]

They look great JackMan. I can't wait to see them on the car.

Can I drop my wheels off at your house this weekend? Can you have them done by April?

[kilodawg]

To back up what Bob said on my Scotch-Brite wheels I use Naptha with really good results. I don't know why I didn't mention that in the earlier post. You might find that Naptha or mineral spirits are all you need and you can skip the clear coat....

[JackMan]

KiloD

So basically you guys are suggesting you can drive these wheels with no clearcoat, just clean em with naptha or mineral spirits?

Hmmmm.

I'm going to clearcoat one wheel, see what it looks like. I have to clearcoat something, I bought a can of the stuff. If I don't like it, I can always redue the wheel.

wj

[JackMan]

FastCarFan

You're welcome to drop off the wheels anytime. I can turnem' around in a few days. Don't forget to bring a check for $1,000. LOl.

Actually, if you just want to do a quick repaint of yours, we could knock that out in an afternoon. Just scuff up the paint with a 600 grit, tape em and shoot em with a rattle can.

wj

[JackMan]

Bob

Are your scott brite wheels bare aluminum or anodized?

wj

[JackMan]

ok, just went downstairs and cleaned a wheel with mineral spirits. I think I'm gonna skip the clearcoat.

wj