Polishing Fuchs (aluminum) lips?
#1
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So, I want a mirror-like finish on the lips of these new Fuchs... 15 minutes in a 1" part with Simichrome didn't gain me much beyond a Really clean 1" spot... I'm thinking sandpaper is going to be necessary. Which grits would I be looking for, or is there another, better, method?
Thanks in advance for any advice..
Thanks in advance for any advice..
#2
Race Director
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Did you remove the anodizing first? Here's a procedure what would give you the results you want with the minimal effort...
1. mask off painted center of wheel, use one stripe of masking tape first. Then lay down newspaper and trim to overlap tape. Lay down second stripe of tape to hold newspaper in place.
2. spray oven-cleaner onto rim edge. With rubber gloves, smear the oven-cleaner to coat evenly.
3. wait 15-20 minutes and wipe off with damp rag. The anodizing should come off leaving a less-shiny whiter surface. Repeat step-2 as necessary on stubborn areas
4. use TurtleWax Rubbing Compound with lots of water on rag and buff up the new clean rim. Rub until surface is dull shine.
5. Wipe off all Rubbing Compound. Redo tape job if necessary.
6. use TurtleWax Polishing Compound with lots of water on rag and buff to chrome-like shine!
7. Finally, finish off with a chemical polish (ammonia-based) like Mother's metal polish. That's it!
You can wax the polished rim-edge to keep the shine going. But eventually, you'll have to polish it again to restore the shine (repeat #7 every 2-3 months).
There's a photo of Fuchs with polished edges here: <a href="http://members.rennlist.com/951_racerx/DannosFuchs.jpg" target="_blank">DannosFuchs.jpg</a>
1. mask off painted center of wheel, use one stripe of masking tape first. Then lay down newspaper and trim to overlap tape. Lay down second stripe of tape to hold newspaper in place.
2. spray oven-cleaner onto rim edge. With rubber gloves, smear the oven-cleaner to coat evenly.
3. wait 15-20 minutes and wipe off with damp rag. The anodizing should come off leaving a less-shiny whiter surface. Repeat step-2 as necessary on stubborn areas
4. use TurtleWax Rubbing Compound with lots of water on rag and buff up the new clean rim. Rub until surface is dull shine.
5. Wipe off all Rubbing Compound. Redo tape job if necessary.
6. use TurtleWax Polishing Compound with lots of water on rag and buff to chrome-like shine!
7. Finally, finish off with a chemical polish (ammonia-based) like Mother's metal polish. That's it!
You can wax the polished rim-edge to keep the shine going. But eventually, you'll have to polish it again to restore the shine (repeat #7 every 2-3 months).
There's a photo of Fuchs with polished edges here: <a href="http://members.rennlist.com/951_racerx/DannosFuchs.jpg" target="_blank">DannosFuchs.jpg</a>
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MMMmmmmmMMMMMmmmmmm.... that's what I want.
Guess it's off to the store for some oven cleaner today. Re-polishing a couple times a year is not an issue, and worth the price (for me). Thank ya Danno...
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#6
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I want Fuchs so badly... Nice write up Danno! I've saved it for later..
One day.I will have them. and I will polish them and clean them and touch them up until i'm dead.
One day.I will have them. and I will polish them and clean them and touch them up until i'm dead.
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Danno,
Those Fuchs look awesome. That is how I want mine to look. To reiterate Tremelune's query, what is the best method to remove curb rash? My next project has now been found.
Those Fuchs look awesome. That is how I want mine to look. To reiterate Tremelune's query, what is the best method to remove curb rash? My next project has now been found.
#10
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Eric: Someone posted a really good link a few days ago...It was an Audi site, I think, but it was a Porsche wheel...Not too useful for me because my whole rim needs love, but it went from bad to good...Lemme see if I can scare up the link...
#11
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Yahtzee: <a href="http://www.robsaudiworld.com/wheelrepair.htm" target="_blank">http://www.robsaudiworld.com/wheelrepair.htm</a>
Is it bad to spray over clearcoat? I think I might fix the rash, then just put on some silver then some clear...although it's kinda cracking...I don't have the patience for a 3-week project with no car...
Is it bad to spray over clearcoat? I think I might fix the rash, then just put on some silver then some clear...although it's kinda cracking...I don't have the patience for a 3-week project with no car...
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</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by Ken:
<strong>Can you spray on a clear coat of some sort to protect the rim after it has been polished? Or will that dull the shine?</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">I was going to ask the same thing. I want to get mine in that shape but I don't have the free time to keep doing it every 2-3 months.
<strong>Can you spray on a clear coat of some sort to protect the rim after it has been polished? Or will that dull the shine?</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">I was going to ask the same thing. I want to get mine in that shape but I don't have the free time to keep doing it every 2-3 months.
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Tremelune,
Thanks for the link. Although, I don't know if that would work with my Fuchs, since the rash in on the polished lip, and his wheels were painted.
Thanks for the link. Although, I don't know if that would work with my Fuchs, since the rash in on the polished lip, and his wheels were painted.
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#14
Burning Brakes
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I polished the Fuchs on my SC. I used a procedure like Danno describes, but it zero success. The wheels I started with were really nice and the anodizing was fully intact. After trying many different chemicals like oven cleaner and anodize remover from Caswell plating I ended up sanding through it. I did this in my spare time over the course of the last year. I'm willing to say I spent 24 hours start to finish. Polishing the pedals adds major time and made paint work even more challenging. I spent about 1 hour per wheel applying masking tape and newspaper.
<img src="http://lilray.com/porsche/images/stoutfuch.jpg" alt=" - " />
<img src="http://lilray.com/porsche/images/scsmallshot.jpg" alt=" - " />
More Pics <a href="http://lilray.com/bigfuchs/" target="_blank">Here!</a>
<img src="http://lilray.com/porsche/images/stoutfuch.jpg" alt=" - " />
<img src="http://lilray.com/porsche/images/scsmallshot.jpg" alt=" - " />
More Pics <a href="http://lilray.com/bigfuchs/" target="_blank">Here!</a>
#15
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One more thing, I have seen a set of polished Fuchs that had been powder coated clear. It was a sweet set up. Cleaning was as simple as spitting on a rag and wiping. No maintenance was required to maintain the luster.