The Fuchs Project: Day 1
 

I finally got around to stripping the paint off my wheels. I am going for the polished paddles look. So far, I have invested 3 hours and $6. Next step is to remove the anodization. :) :)


Wayne C.
83 SC

Before and After Shots

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads/Before 2.jpghttp://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads/after 2.jpg

Wayne,

Wheels look great!!!!!!!!..........what's wrong with the way they are now? Why strip the anodization?

have fun and regards,

Wayne-
sent you an email about the center caps. What color is your car - looks like it could be garnet red metallic...(like mine).

super job on the wheels!

Wayne,

How about before and after pics of your fingertips?;)

Great job! What are your plans for the centercaps?

Wayne,

Great job, for only three hours of work on them. I'm also thinking of taking off the anodization and going for the polished paddle look. P.M. me if you want, I'd like to take a quik look-see when your done. Hope part of that $6.00 was gloves;)
Here's mine

Good progress. Keeping in perspective, taking off the old paint amounts to about 5% of the total time it will take to finish these wheels.

Amen......I spent inumeberable hours and layers of digit epidermis.
Halfway through I thought about quitting and returning them to black centres....but the finished product is a real achievement.
89911's Fuchs are the finest I've seen!

How do you selecteively strip the paint off the area you want it?

No need to be selective. The OE anodizied coat wont budge. Its as tough as chrome.
Heres my wheels after about 20 hrs between the 2. Over this winter I plan to do the passenger side.

Kurt Williams
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads/P1010051.JPG http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads/rear wheel.JPG[/img]
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads/front wheel.JPG

Looks good for 3 hours and $6.

How much time do you think it will take to get them the way you want them?

Kurt, those wheels look great...hopefuly mine will turn out as nice.

No doubt many many hours left to go, the hard work is ahead of me but I have the next 2 weeks off...need something to do late at night after the kids go to bed :)

I'll post pics as I make progress and fingers allow ;)

Steve, did not receive your email, please resend or PM re: center caps....my can't be polished :(

Wayne C
83 SC

Wayne-
resent email to your yahoo accout along with pictures - included them below as well:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...ot painted.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...p - SINGLE.jpg

I'll just say this guys, great job. I followed some advice and had 16 of my fuchs (yep 16 of them) and had them blasted with corn starch. All the paint and anodizing is gone but now I'm stuck with aluminum that is similar in texture to 220 or 180 grit sandpaper. I have put a lot of time already going through different grade sandpaper and polishing pastes and still not there yet on the first wheel.

Moral, do not blast them. On the positive side, I'll just polish the paddles and leave the background rough. then I'll have them reanodized.

Labor and materials so far:

enviro strip $160
sandpaper $10
polisher/cable drive $150
polishing paste $80
Tylenol $10
Killians Red $40
Ben Gay $10
Jergens cream $10

ja ja ja

Fingerless in Ft. Lauderdale