Anodising...

I've been reading this post, and I have read these before too.

http://www.pelicanparts.com/ultimate/Forum3/HTML/004348.html

I think I need a full "This is anodising" thread now.

I know that the trim on my car is anodised aluminium. So I got it polished and then anodised - about US$4.00 a piece for the anodising. It is shiny clear anodising and I was also offered matt. (The quality is directly proportionate to polishing, btw).

My question? Once you guys have stripped your wheels then polished them, why not get them anodised again? This is what I am planning to do, but since no-one else does it I suspect I am missing a major reason not to. I see only advantages (ie it will remain looking great for another 10+ years with simple washing).

What am I missing? Just what is anodising anyway? Would matt anodising match the original finish on the wheels - I have reasonably early Fuchs.

Thanks!

Cam

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Cameron Baudinet
1975 911S

Hi Cam,
I've had about 25 rims anodised. You're absolutely right that it is tha best finish on a fuchs.
The rim will get shinier if polished before, but it will keep a slight milky shine, like the originals. All Fuchs were anodised originally.
If you intend to paint the centers, you can tape the rims and get the centers bead blasted, which will give you a nice slightly coarse surface to which the paint has a very good adhesion.
Anodising is the deposition of a thin coat of aluminum oxyde on the surface under controlled condition. It is extremely durable, fearing only sandpaper in the everyday life.
BTW if you have strange tastes, you can get them anodised about every color. I've seen a set color coded to a gray car in thia way, looked surprisingly good.
GeorgeK

Look at bike parts to see what colors are available. If you had three piece with Fuch centers, you could have the centers annodized black, and the rims annodized clear. That was the point of my post to Chuck and the clear coated Fuchs.

CamB:

The only reason I have not reanodized is that I think it will dull out the work I have done. Advantages are that I can re shine the wheel, but certainly the wheel is exposed more so than if it had anodizing, so there's that. I also don't want a repeat of why I stripped and polished anyway: the seemingly inevitable peeling and discolorization that *some* anodizing goes through. Let me say that a good anodizing shop will probably obviate the problem, but it only took one idiot with any sort of caustic solution to wreck the anodizing. Bleche White, Simple Green, any brake dust dissolver SEEMS to ruin the wheel and cause spots.

Jw

For those with annodized wheels, P21S is the solution for cleaning -- I use it on all my wheels. Check http://carcareonline.com/ and http://carcareonline.com/wheel_care.html for information on products and tech articles on preservation/restoration. Larry Reynolds has visited our region to give presentations on various aspects. Also, don't let car wash soap see annodized Fuchs.

Alan

To follow up on Alan, this is from Larry's Website:
How do you determine if your wheels are painted/clear coated or anodized? The painted/clear coated finish is smooth to the touch and the anodized finish feels slightly rough. If you have any doubts, one method of testing the finish is to touch the tip of your tongue to the wheel. If you taste metal, it is usually anodized. If you taste almost nothing, it is usually clear coat. (I had a $1.00 bet I could get you to lick your wheel)

Yeccchhh!

I've seen too many cats back up to the wheels to ever lose my dollar to you big guy!!

Another thought: Is the anodizing from the factory a way that Porsche insured itself against problems with the Fuchs? That is, does it protect Porsche in some legal or warranty way to do this, or is it just because it IS a good idea on the merits?

Jw

Thanks guys.

I will definitely go the anodising route. It is an easy decision for me because I just want the stock look back (my wheels have been "updated" to fully black centres rather than polished spokes).

Cam