Knockoff Fuchs vs. 16" Phone Dials???
12-18-2004, 08:11 AM
#31
Race Director
Ok, the procedure would be to strip the paint off the centers first if you want the whole thing polished. Use paint-stripper goo and slather some on, when the paint bubbles, up, scrape off with plastic putty-knife or some Scotchbrite. I wanted to keep the white centers, so I masked it off with tape and newspaper.
Next is to remove the anodizing. Spray on liberal amounts of oven-cleaner (sodium-hydroxide). Since anodizing is an oxiding process, a basic solution will reverse it. Leave on for 10-15 minutes and wipe off with rag. DO NOT LET the oven-cleaner dry out. Repeat as necessary to remove all of teh anodizing.
Depending upon the finish, you'll need to polish it up a bit. Use a find polishing (not rubbing) compound like Turtle Wax Polishing Compound. This will leave a dull sheen when you've reached the equilibrium point for the grit. It has a greasy base, so you'll want to spray some cleaner like 409 on there to remove all traces of teh polishing compound.
Finally, you have a chemical polish. Use any of the ammonia-based polishes. Avoid anythign with abrasives like Simichrome. Something like Mother's Billet Metal Polish should work. This final polishing step will give it the chrome-like shine you see above.
As long as you don't do any major off-road rallies, the bare metal finish should last just fine. Some dulling will occur from atmospheric exposure, but just touch it up with the chemical polish about once a month to keep the chrome-like shine going.
Next is to remove the anodizing. Spray on liberal amounts of oven-cleaner (sodium-hydroxide). Since anodizing is an oxiding process, a basic solution will reverse it. Leave on for 10-15 minutes and wipe off with rag. DO NOT LET the oven-cleaner dry out. Repeat as necessary to remove all of teh anodizing.
Depending upon the finish, you'll need to polish it up a bit. Use a find polishing (not rubbing) compound like Turtle Wax Polishing Compound. This will leave a dull sheen when you've reached the equilibrium point for the grit. It has a greasy base, so you'll want to spray some cleaner like 409 on there to remove all traces of teh polishing compound.
Finally, you have a chemical polish. Use any of the ammonia-based polishes. Avoid anythign with abrasives like Simichrome. Something like Mother's Billet Metal Polish should work. This final polishing step will give it the chrome-like shine you see above.
As long as you don't do any major off-road rallies, the bare metal finish should last just fine. Some dulling will occur from atmospheric exposure, but just touch it up with the chemical polish about once a month to keep the chrome-like shine going.
12-18-2004, 08:16 AM
#32
UAE Rennlist Ambassador
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
great Dan, i just bought some turtle wax and was going to use it on the car, now i know i need more 
What about those scratches??? any special tools to remove them? ( i saw my tire guy here removing them with sandpaper i believe).
