DYI Fuchs update

[kd126500]

After reading all the great posts I decided to undertake refinishing my Fuchs and modifying them to reflect the RSR style with polished lip. Below are my learnings to add to the knowledge base.

Fuchs were originally anodized with painted face and petals.
1) Easy Off Oven spray-this did work to remove the anodization. Let it sit, I recommend not letting it dry, and use a scotchbrite pad or steel wool to help the process. More than likely two coats will be needed.
2) Tape off the rim to expose the lip you want to polish. There are a number of metal polishing compounds which will work. I created a jig to hold a felt tip marker at a fixed height and then spun my wheel on the car (while jacked up) as the wheel rotated, I moved the marker to the wheel. Established a straight line to help guide where to mask of for the lip.
3) Take the rims to get bead blasted and anodized. (shout out to Arnold Metal Finishing in Santa Clara)
4)Paint rim-This was an interesting process. I tried to use thin pin stripe tape but was getting frustrated by not being able to have a consistent line so I decided to try the pour method. Personally a much easier process and a better result. I taped the rear of the rim and used old lug nuts for the lug holes. (use a very large container to put the rims on, I used the top of a large flat plastic garbage can lid. Slowly add paint to each quadrant until the paint levels across the rim. Wait for several minutes then poke holes through the tape and let the paint drain. (there was some concern about excess paint along the outer rim bead and how to remove as a drawback of this approach. I used a small syringe you can get at art stores and used it to suck up the excess paint. This did a very good job)
5) Paint the rear of the rim-after the front dries, there might be some paint which flowed from the front to back, drips. I used paint remover and steel wool and this quickly cleaned up. Tape the petals from the front and the lug holds from the rear and apply primer and final black paint.
6) I used satin RustOleum 7777 as most have suggested as the best match.

Each wheel got better. This is not meant to be concourse quality but for $400 this is a great DYI result.

[kavadarci]

Love it

[Cory M]

looks great

[aj88cab]

Nice work... I have a couple sets of Fuchs that I want to refinish in RSR style and I would prefer real anodizing to paint. This is a great result with the durability of anodizing vs. paint.

A couple questions if you don't mind, so I can discuss with my local anodizing shop like I actually know what I am talking about...

What did they use for the bead blasting, I know...beads right But specifically what type/material if you know?

When anodizing, did they dip the entire wheel or just the front, don't know if partial (front) is even a option but I'll ask anyway.

If I understand the process, once you polished the lip, it was masked for bead blasting, then all surfaces (polished & blasted) were anodized?

Thanks, Andrew

[Trackrash]

Beautiful result. Thanks for sharing.

I might add that you must use HEAVY DUTY Easy Off oven cleaner, in the yellow can, to remove the anodizing.

If you can find out the details of the anodizing you had done, that would be great, since the time it is in the tank will greatly affect the look. Again, I agree that anodizing is really the way to go on these wheels.

[kd126500]

To the question above, I do not know what they used to bead blast or the anodization. I brought them in a photo of the look I was going for and they took it from there. They didn't add any color to the anodization.

[shawn908]

Agree with others these turned out beautifully. Inspiring for a winter project on my amateur rattle can black painted Fuchs. Will have to locate anodizing shop in Philly/NJ region.
Further - good to see Porsche projects in the kitchen - nothing but the finest work environment to paint wheels! I’ll try that, too.


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[Uwon]

What a great looking rim! Well done.
The Fuch wheels with the RS paint job is so cool looking on our cars, no matter the variant.
In my refinishing for the RS shiny lip, I did not bother to have it inodized. Instead, I put the rims on the rear hub and ran the car at idle in third gear all while rubbing a soft cloth impregnated with aluminum polish. Supper easy once set up. I have also done an annual touch up with the tires on. Had to be careful not to burn my finger as the rubbing does create lots of heat. LOL
Cheers,
Johan