Polished Fuchs

[craig245t]

When I bought my SC the Fuchs were a bit tatty. I stripped the wheels, polished the outer rims and painted the centres black.

Very happy with the result but I'd seen polished "petals" in California the year before and fancied trying it to see how it looked.



I stripped the wheels again (Nitromors is now a pointless product and barely works - one wheel took over 5 hours to strip!!)



I found an excellent product locally and stripped the black paint of the centre of the wheel in an hour! I then polished the wheel using various grades of wet n dry before polishing by hand and machine to produce a good finish.



A bit of masking then primer and satin black to produce the finished wheel.



I really like the result but will run with 2 nearside wheels polished and 2 offside wheels original until I decide for sure. Would have cost a fortune to have done professionally but all it cost was a bit of materials and some tired fingers.......

[Blamecanada]

Looks great. Im thinking of doing the same thing. What was the product you sourced locally? Irn Bru? Ha Ha.

[zedsn]

I thought that the black was annodized and if so wouldn't come off with paint remover. Are yours the real deal?

[craig245t]

Blamecanada - Yes Irn Bru....... it's made from girders don't you know! Actually Starchem Synstrip......made in Scotland and bought from body shop supply company.
Zedsn - yes real deal. Heard stories about using oven cleaner to strip of anodising which has no effect. Strip any lacquer and paint then progressively sand polish to alloy finish.

[darrin]

Originally Posted by zedsn

I thought that the black was annodized and if so wouldn't come off with paint remover. Are yours the real deal?

believe the factory anodization was applied to the unpainted portion of the fuchs (anodization gives it the more matte silver cover) and that the black (or other colored) centered are painted.

[craig245t]

Originally Posted by darrin

believe the factory anodization was applied to the unpainted portion of the fuchs (anodization gives it the more matte silver cover) and that the black (or other colored) centered are painted.

What he said........

[craig245t]

Fitted the wheel and moved the car outside to check it out in daylight.

Hate it!!

It makes the car look cheap. Looks great on other cars Ive seen but i think the original black centres on the red car are the way to go.

Now where did i put that black paint........

[zedsn]

I agree with you. If the car had more chrome like door handles etc. you might be able to pull it off. I would stick with the black centers but you did good work polishing them.

[kyngfish]

Just a thought, but if you want something different have you considered all black? I saw a set that were all black with a small white 2-3 inch strip on the lip. Kind of reacecar-ish but I thought it looked subdued and "I'm gonna kick your ass" all at the same time. I think black looks great on the red cars.

[craig245t]

Just glad I didn't strip all four!!

[craig245t]

Zedsn......you nailed it. Black centres look correct because of all the black on the car already.

[matthewb0051]

Just a suggestion: before you re-paint, try a frosted look. Take fine steel wool to the petals, taking them back to a brushed/frosted look. Alternatively, you can use silver paint to get same look. You can leave the outer rim polished or brushed, your choice as well.

Worth a try to see if you like before going to paint.

[Arne2]

I don't care for full polish on Fuchs at all, but the black centers to me hide the classic shape of the wheels. I had mine re-anodized that way instead.

[Fast Freddy 944]

Originally Posted by craig245t

Fitted the wheel and moved the car outside to check it out in daylight.

Hate it!!

It makes the car look cheap. Looks great on other cars Ive seen but i think the original black centres on the red car are the way to go.

Now where did i put that black paint........

I'm a thinkin' that's why the Germans painted the center of those wheels in the first place.

[MBAtarga]

I prefer the polished petal look. I get lot's of compliments!

[Ayles]

Polished lip with matte center

[bgyglfr]

Originally Posted by craig245t

Fitted the wheel and moved the car outside to check it out in daylight.

Hate it!!

It makes the car look cheap. Looks great on other cars Ive seen but i think the original black centres on the red car are the way to go.

Now where did i put that black paint........

I don't think it's the polish itself that looks bad. I just think 16x6s don't work with the polished petals. The large flat section throws it off. If you have 16x7 and 8s I think it would look much better with the polished petals.

[AHudson]

Originally Posted by MBAtarga

I prefer the polished petal look. I get lot's of compliments!

I can see why! Nice job there.

Originally Posted by bgyglfr

I don't think it's the polish itself that looks bad. I just think 16x6s don't work with the polished petals. The large flat section throws it off. If you have 16x7 and 8s I think it would look much better with the polished petals.

That's seriously observant. I agreed with the OP of that photo until you said that, now I see that difference.

Here's mine. I chickened out of the 'strip and polish' on my factory Turbo wheels, so I had them wrapped. Yes, that's vinyl. Been on a year or so.

Sorry bout the sideways pic. Mods can straighten if so inclined.

[MBAtarga]

Originally Posted by craig245t

A bit of masking then primer and satin black to produce the finished wheel.



I really like the result but will run with 2 nearside wheels polished and 2 offside wheels original until I decide for sure. Would have cost a fortune to have done professionally but all it cost was a bit of materials and some tired fingers.......

Every fuchs I've seen with polished or anodized petals and rim has the black foreground paint covering over the bottom flared edge of the petal. Looks like you masked off the full sides and ends of the petals. Compare your masking lines to the photo in Arne2's post.