Removing paint from Fuchs center caps

[Hoyarunner]

The previous owner of my '70 911T painted the center caps on my Fuch wheels with flat black paint. I would like to remove that paint without damaging the center caps.
Since a magnet adheres slightly to the center cap, I am guessing that it is an alloy, not plastic. Has anyone successfully removed paint from a center cap without damaging either the center cap or its insignia? Any advice would be appreciated.

Hoyarunner

[rokemester]

I have an 87 911. I used a dremmel tool with small brass wire wheel. The center caps on my Fuchs were metal and they cleaned up very nicely. I was thinking of trying to paint them using the colors of the Porsche crest, but decided to leave them stock black.

[AVDCAV]

Gel type paint
remover
Home depot

[James Brown]

aircraft remover

[Hoyarunner]

Folks:

Thank you for the suggestions. Has anyone tried media blasting with baking soda? Just curious.

Hoyarunner

[lgowin]

I soaked mine in lacquer thinner. It worked great.

Regards,
Lawrence

[timmy2]

Like James Brown said, Spray them with aircraft paint remover. Works great.

[Fishcop]

Mechanical removal of paint will remove the anodised finish underneath (presuming it wasn't damaged prior to paint). Stick to paint remover only.

[Hoyarunner]

Folks:

Thank you for the follow-on suggestions. I'll avoid soda blasting and will go with the paint remover as suggested. Sounds like several of you have had this problem and have had success with gel paint remover or aircraft stripper before. Many thanks.

Hoyarunner

[javadog]

Aircraft stripper is pretty agressive stuff, as it typically uses methylene chloride. It's also expensive. You might want to try a citrus-based stripper first, as they are are pretty inexpensive and work much more slowly. I've used them to strip paint, glue, undercoating and a variety of things without damaging other finishes below what I wanted to remove.

JR

[Amg_only]

just did mine
Used Zip Strip 3 or 4 times
Took them back to bare metal/ chrome finish
washed with soap and water with a brush
3m scuffy pad green in circular motion
wiped with lacquer thinner
Used 3 light coats of self ethching primer
Used Dupont Nason Flat black
Turned out great, the paint is not really flat black as shown from the picture.

[porwolf]

Check this link out. Here paint was removed chemically on an anodized Fuchs wheel with excellent results:

Fuch questions

[Vollgas]

I had the same issue on my 73... Aircraft paint remover worked very well and very fast. Its designed to work on aluminum for aircraft.

[mclmk8d]

I used a Dremel on an extra center cap I used for a horn button

[PropellerHead]

I have done this several times. Once to polish, once for a steering wheel horn button (made from a center cap) and most recently last night while refinishing another wheel set.
Chemical stripper takes the paint off easily if they have been painted. Follow with a wire brush (brass) to get the remaining bits of paint and it will leave the nice black anodizing in whatever condition it was prior to paint.
If you want to remove the anodize, use 'crystal drano' and water. Let it sit in said bath for a few minutes and the anodizing will come off perfectly and leave a nicely prepared surface etch for either polishing or painting the color of your choice.
Careful as the off-gas of the mixture is very potent and wear hand/face/eye protection.
Enjoy!

[Hoyarunner]

Dear Porschephiles:

Thanks for the added suggestions. The referenced thread on "Fuchs Questions" was very helpful; thank you "porwolf" for suggesting it.

Since my "Flat 6s" were also painted by the previous owner, the advice in the "Fuchs Questions" thread may have just saved me $800 in refinishing costs on the Fuchs, which can now be used on another of the 101 Projects.

Also appreciated all of the excellent advice from the rest of you. Here is a picture of what I'm dealing with. Note that all of the chrome on this '70T Long Hood has been painted black to look like a "poor man's" SC. The black paint has been stripped by hand on the driver's side, but not yet on the passenger's side. It's been fun....

Thanks again, everyone.

Hoyarunner

[porwolf]

Hi Hoyarunner,

just a note on the Porsche black trim. That became really popular in the late 70's. At that time it was offered as a more expensive option on new cars. My original 79 Targa was the basic version at the time with the Minerva blue paint as the only option. The Targa bar was, and still is, brushed stainless steel and all the window trim are polished bright anodized aluminum and door handles and side windows are bright chrome. It all works well, also with the anodized black centered Fuchses. Actually I added the Fuchses later, the car came originally with all silver cookie cutters. I think it is a great combination for my car:



Before that car I had a 72 Targa that had used black trim just sparingly, mostly on the rear trunk screen, the Porsche name and the edges of the rear light lenses. I thought that was also a good solution:

[runner4fun]

I needed to remove the black anodizing from my center caps, and read this thread. The paint strripper really was not budging the anodizing. I'd tried sanding but was concerned I'd marr the caps.

So, I tried a couple of tablespoons of crystal drano with about two inches of water in a small plastic bucket. Dropped in the center caps and let them sit about 3-5 minutes. Lots of angry boiling and bubbling then ensued. (I did this outside, mind you.) Then I used pliers to pull the caps out. Not a speck of black on any of them. They'd been scoured of all anodizing. Amazing. That drano is some scary stuff. Thanks for the tip!!