New Question on Fuchs - paint or Anodized

[Tidybuoy]

I hope I'm not sounding too dumb.

I've attached a photo of how I want my Fuchs to look. I've already posted a message asking about polishing and since then, I have acquired "another" set of Fuchs. The new set are near perfect - no curb rash or scratches of any kind. But, since they are 30+ years old, I want to get them cleaned up.

In the photo below, I thought the recessed areas were painted silver - but now I'm wondering if they are anodized.

Additionally, what exactly is anodizing? And, does anybody do this to there old Fuchs?

All advice would be greatly appreciated.....................Vern

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

The wheel is anodized at the factory--not painted.

Anodizing is a way of coating aluminum with a specific type of coating--I think it's a specific type of aluminum "rust", even!! It's an electrochemical process, in that they hook a wire to the wheel and dunk the wheel in a solution which has another wire going into it to electrically charge it. ("Anode" and "cathode" being old terms for positive and negative electrical connections--or do I have it backwards?) The solution can have a dye in it, which can color the material in a number of different ways.

DIY anodizing is, umm, not very common. (Let's leave it at that.) You'll likely want to keep the factory anodizing on the wheel. If you're going for a "stock but better" look, you might consider having the raised areas polished up real shiny and then having the whole wheel powdercoated clear. Or just leave it raw and clean and wax it regularly.

--DD

[Peter_Hinkle]

BTW, if you decide that you want to remove that factory anodizing, go get a heavy duty oven cleaner and spray the wheel heavily with it. Then bake in the oven for about 15 mins per wheel. remove (they will be very hot of course) and scrubb off oven cleaner and anodizing. A few things....#1, oven cleaner fumes are toxic!!!! be careful and do this in a very ventilated area!!!#2, make sure that the wheels cool off before you begin to work with them!!#3, see number 1 AGAIN!! #4, you might want to find an old oven outdoors or someone with one in a shop as this is kind of messy and the oven will have to be cleaned afterwards but the process absolutely works as I did it personally on mine and after you clean then all up, the anodizing comes right off with a scrub brush and some soap and water. DISCLAIMER--> Do all of this at your own risk!!!/peter

[Tidybuoy]

Thanks for all the replys.

So, can anyone tell me if the wheel in the photo is painted or anodized?

[ChrisFix]

I think that the pictured wheel is painted. The background looks too silver and the spokes look to polished. The OEM finish is more of a milky white background (looks almost like a very light etching) and the spokes are polished but not highly so.