What is going on here?

[drcoastline]

I have read many of the threads regarding refinishing Fuchs wheels. I ultimately intend to polish the wheels. I have opted to strip the anodizing using EZ off in the yellow can. I decided to start slow and run a test today on my caps. Here is what I have thus far. Can someone tell me what I am looking at feeling please.

The three caps all were sprayed at the same time using EZ Off and allowed to stand for about 15 minutes. The cap to the left and the one in the middle came out the same (like the cap on the left). The left cap has a granular feeling surface (the darker section) almost as if it is pitted. The cap in the middle has been lightly sanded with 100 grit paper so I could try and determine if I damaged the aluminum. Apparently not. The cap on the right looks to be un-effected by the EZ Off.

So what am I looking at on the cap on the left? What is the remaining anodizing the dark or light finish?



Thanks for any and all help.

DR

[morrisjm1]

From the Easy-Off web site:

"Can EASY-OFF® Heavy Duty Oven Cleaner be used on any aluminum?

We do not recommend using this product on aluminum, as it may pit and discolor it. However, it does not penetrate into the metal or remain on the surface after the recommended rinsing instructions have been followed. Utensils and appliances cleaned with EASY-OFF® Heavy Duty Oven Cleaner are completely safe for use in cooking or serving food after they have been thoroughly washed and rinsed in a vinegar and water solution."

[hesaputz]

Dark is dissolved anodize.

[Bob Kontak]

So that means the dark is aluminum?

[hesaputz]

I think the dark is dissolved coating that re- hardened. I found that to remove anodize, spray it with EZ off, re-wet after 5- 10 minutes, then rub with a Scotchbrite pad to liquify and remove the anodize. Rinse and wipe clean after.

[dw1]

I used the Easy-Off on the wheel rims, NOT on the caps. I believe the caps are far too soft an alloy to survive this treatment without significant degradation of the cap details.

My caps responded well to a combination of scotchbrite (the least aggressive "grit") and Mothers aluminum & mag wheel polish. Then I decided I didn't like the look and opted instead for the "reverse black" logo look.

[Hugh R]

Do a search on stripping anodized aluminum and you'll see most involve phosphoric acid and chromic acid. Nasty stuff, also generates hydrogen gas like a lead acid battery being charged which is explosive. Those chemicals will also pit soft aluminum. My advise is to take it to an aluminum polisher/anodizer if you don't want to eff them up.

[drcoastline]

Thanks for the responses so far.

Rubbing with Scotch brite pads didn't appear to do anything as far as cleaning. The cap on the left was rubber with a scotch Britte pad.

The center cap was rubbed with the scotch Britte as well prior to being hit with the 100 paper. It doesn't appear to have suffered any damage from the EZO. If anything I think I did more damage by using the 100 paper. should have gone much finer but that was at my finger tips.

OK so the darker color is raw aluminum? or lifted anodize? and the lighter color is intact anodizing?

[Hugh R]

100 sandpaper? Try 300/400 emery cloth.

[hesaputz]

Did you use the Scotchbrite dry, or on wet EZ off? It should be wet. You should let the EZ off soak 10 minutes or so, then rub it with the Scotchbrite to liquify and remove the anodize. If you don't get the anodize off while it's wet, it will dry into something pretty stubborn.
I haven't done center caps - maybe they're radically different alloy and coating, but the process I outlined works well on the Fuchs wheels.

[drcoastline]

hesaputz- The Scotch brite was wet or should I say the EZO didnt dry. So technically I used a dry Scotch brite on a wet EZO. I let it soak for about 15 min per another thread.

Hugh- i know. I didnt intend to sand. Thought I was only going to need Scotch brite pads. The 100 paper was a piece laying on the floor. Next time I'll use the right grit.