Refinishing rims

[blue bus]

Hey Guys and gals.
I have a set of original fuchs that need a freshen up.
I tried my polishing wheel on the shiny parts and it would not make a mark.
I thought maybe they had a clear coat so i tried aircraft stripper on the shiny parts. Still nothing.
The shiny parts are the outer rim and petals. I just want to polish these areas and repaint the black inners.
What is on the shiny bits. It seems bullet proof.Is it anodizing that looks like polished aluminum?
Any one have any experience with these rims?
Help!!!

[Bruce]

It is indeed anodizing.
Once you strip off the original black paint from the background, you can then strip off the anodizing.
Oven cleaner is the way to go.  You should use it in a well ventilated area (outside), but the problem is, it doesn't work well in cold weather.  Maybe you could heat the wheel to about 25ºC, then take it outside and spray on the oven cleaner.  You also need to keep it "wet" with oven cleaner for at least half an hour.
After half an hour, wipe off the residue.  You will see some areas that aren't done yet, so hit it again with the oven cleaner.

[blue bus]

Thanks
i saw some forums on the web that said you need to use a light abraisive scocth brite
type of wheel , but i would rather use chemicals.

[Bruce]

You can use a scouring pad during cleanup of the oven cleaner.
You MUST use rubber gloves.  The oven cleaner really stings when it splatters on your skin.  Face, eye protection manditory too.
When you are cleaning it up, it is best to do it in your big wash tub type sink so that what comes off doesn't end up in the storm sewers.

[blue bus]

Is there a way to neutralize it like adding baking soda or something?

[BUSDADDY]

I'm pretty sure TSP neutralizes the sodium hydroxide in oven cleaner but please confirm that with your own research first.

Another option is to wet sand it off with fine grit paper, more labour but less nasties.

[Bruce]

I'm pretty sure the active ingredient in oven cleaner has a really high ph.  By rinsing it with lots of water, you will reduce the ph to safe levels.

[blue bus]

Thanks folks
As always .. very helpful

[pete-stevers]

if you want to take the anodizing off, you should take off the paint first, with a paint remover(although new paint stripper is not as good as the old stuff)
then use oven cleaner on the anodizing, i think it is the lye that is the active ingredient,(it will take 15-25 mins for the oven cleaner to do the job)
then sand with 500, 800 1200, 1500, 2500 before buffing on a wheel with a mequires polish
Or just take them to dave at shinez
it may be well worth your time
but just a thought, the anodizided wheels actually trade for a higher dollar than the  stripped and polished....

[Bruce]

..... the anodizided wheels actually trade for a higher dollar than the  stripped and polished....

Depends on who the buyer is.  VW guys will pay more than the frugal Porsche guys.

[blue bus]

Any one know  of someone who can reanodize?

[pete-stevers]

Al Reed....
but,
 might be a bit steep on a vw income

[pete-stevers]

..... the anodizided wheels actually trade for a higher dollar than the  stripped and polished....

Depends on who the buyer is.  VW guys will pay more than the frugal Porsche guys.

actually you are completely right, but this may stem from not knowing a true market value,
how often i have seen a set of phone dials or trash cans on a vw site with an asking price sometimes as high as double as seen on the bird board
now if you are talking about super rare fuches they are often the same on both vw/porsche boards
but even a lowly set of 15x6 fuches are now heading 1g plus polished or not

the reason orig anodizing is prefered is then you know there is no damage that has been fixed/welded, and polished to cover up

porsche guys arent all that bad

[Bruce]

The only reason Fuchs are high priced is because of the VW guys.  If you look at the prices of the smaller wheels (that are easily fit on VWs), they are all very expensive (except for 14s).  Then check the prices of the larger wheels that the P guys use (16x8, 16x9, etc), they are falling in price.  Because VW guys don't buy the big wheels.
The asking prices on the P boards may be the same, but the prices are set by the VW guys.
Here's an example of the P guys whining about what VW guys pay:

http://www.early911sregistry.org/forums/showthread.php?45716-Deep-7s-5k-a-pair!-Is-this-a-joke

[Chris W]

I would rather have anodizided wheels, but that's just me. Give this guy a call- Joel is his name. I have had work done by him and he is top notch.

http://www.ellisprecision.ca/index.htm

I agree with Bruce on pricing. I bought a pair of Gas Burners of a Porsche site for well under what they go for on the VW sites a few years back. Steering wheels have the same issue.

[silas]

Here's an example of the P guys whining about what VW guys pay:

http://www.early911sregistry.org/forums/showthread.php?45716-Deep-7s-5k-a-pair!-Is-this-a-joke

great thread! i love that s#!t

[Bruce]

I've seen a VW guy spend $13,000 for 4 wheels.

[70's Looker]

didnt bergs nos brms go for like 20??

[pete-stevers]

The only reason Fuchs are high priced is because of the VW guys.  If you look at the prices of the smaller wheels (that are easily fit on VWs), they are all very expensive (except for 14s).  Then check the prices of the larger wheels that the P guys use (16x8, 16x9, etc), they are falling in price.  Because VW guys don't buy the big wheels.
The asking prices on the P boards may be the same, but the prices are set by the VW guys.
Here's an example of the P guys whining about what VW guys pay:

http://www.early911sregistry.org/forums/showthread.php?45716-Deep-7s-5k-a-pair!-Is-this-a-joke

In part i could agree...
But to say the only reason fuches are climbing is because of vw guys, is not 100 percent correct statement, yes they do contribute.
but there is a set of deep 6s on the bird board for 1500...lacking center caps, and in need of refinish...today
it is an option to spend more, sure.... knock yourself out.
and to say that 16x8-9s are falling...go try to find a set....(at a reduced price)... however 16x7s are cheaper right now
Even the lowest, 14s are heading up
my thoughts on what to grab next are the ugly fugly cookie cutters...specially 15x6s because they are relatively rare...and they are the second lightest only to the burners..i love em
i just don`t like seeing guys paying twice or more the price they could if they only had looked around
(aside from the real rare stuff )

[blue bus]

The ones i picked up are 14's
I got 4 with 4 adapters and 4 center caps for 350.
The adapters are of no use to me but a good buy none the less.
I don't believe that 14's sell all that high because no one wants 14 " performamce rims ( except me apparantly)
I doubt they would ever sell for 1000 even in mint condition.

[Bruce]

I think the reason 14" Fuchs are the most worthless of all is because of the VW guys.  There are two reasons not to put them on a Beetle.  First, any tire you put on them will screw up your gearing on the highway.  Second, if you have a BJ car and you lower with dropped spindles, they don't fit.  For these reasons, they will never be worth anything.  If they fit Beetles, I think they would be very commonplace.  Who would buy a fake when 14" Fuchs are cheaper?
They are, however, a great choice for a bay window Bus.  When you bolt the adaptors to them, they have the exact same dimensions as the stock wheel, guaranteeing the fit.

It used to be that you had to pay over $2k to get the 16x8 or 9s.  Now I see the odd pair offered below $1k.  16x7s will always be cheap since they are so common.  Even though they can fit the rear of a Beetle, I think VW guys don't want them because VW guys seem to like to use truck tires, and there aren't any truck tires in 16" that you would use on a Bug. (like a 205/70/16)

Anyone can ask a sky high price like $1500 for a set of deep 6s.  IMO that means nothing regarding the value.  It's what they sell for that determines the value.

I think cookie cutters suffer the same fate as EMPI 8s in the VW world.  They are just not liked.  I think they are a great choice if you can't afford Fuchs, and they come in the perfect sizes, 6 & 7x15.  Although, they are heavier than you think.  4½, 5½, 6s and early deep 7s, and 14" Fuchs are lighter.

[pete-stevers]

first off we have hijacked a thread...
second, there are more than one market for fuch wheels... and the aircooled bettle is just one market if you need a break down...
you mentioned busses, great! there are also 914s, 911s and the odd ball water cooled guy...
you mention that 14s are worthless, only because no god fearing beetle owner would ever use them...
well bus guy guys love em, orig cw 9146 owners covet  early sets...and now the early 911 guys that want a concours car need em too
so we have dispelled the myth that only vw guys drive the market.... agreed??? ahem..
now 16x8-9s still comanding a high figure. higher than when i bought mine
but the reason that they are not as popular....is not because they don't fit a beetle chassis...but
it is simple, there are a fewer selection of tires in this width....how many tires for the street can you get wider then 245 in a 16 that are sticky???(toyo r888s)good for a couple of laps and a few trips to the pub
plus with the stresses on a wider rim, these rims are a bit more prone to failure than its narrower brethren the 16x7. We now see a lot of guys switching to 17s simply due to tire selection
So again we can assume that price is not a reflection of the aircooled vw scene...
your opinion on the value of a set of deep sixes cores being to over inflated, is contradictory to your theory,
at 1500 bucks there are three guys lined up, last time i checked, me being one, and these rims are the most rare of a deep six being wo hearts, made only one year. Deep sixes are a hot comodity..period for vw guys and porsche guys
and i maintain cookies are super cool. sixes and sevens...and one day i will weigh them against a 15x7 fuch(i just don't have the time today)
and at less than 200 bucks for an ugly set of four, you can't go wrong!!!
deep sevens...never heard of them....maybe 7r...that is unobtainium stuff
the good new is that if you are searching for a set of funky porsche wheels buy em off the porsche sites!!
any how good luck
and good night

steve

[egspot]

the good new is that if you are searching for a set of funky porsche wheels buy em off the porsche sites!!
any how good luck
and good night

steve

or you can buy my 16X7 Fuchs and spend 1k if you want on them doing what ever you want to do. $500.00

[Bruce]

I never said VW buyers set the market for all Fuchs sizes.  Only the smaller ones that you see commonly on VWs. 
The king is the 4½.  They are no more rare than a 5½, but the higher demand by VW guys runs up the price.  The only Porsche guys who want them are the odd guy who wants a single for a spare, and 67S owners.  And many of them report that they get fed up with them and their lack of performance, so they buy deep6s.
Late 7x15's prices are driven by the P guys.  Recently, SCCA allowed owners of early narrow bodied cars to use them, so everyone had to find some to stay competetive.  They are just as common as an 8x15, but since the 8s aren't allowed they are worth quite a bit less.

[blue bus]

Ok back on topic.
Heres what i discovered.
This is by far the easiest and cheapest( it's nice when those two things go together) method of stripping clear anodizingfrom a set of rims.
I'm a sheet metal worker so i fabbed up a metal water tight box big enough to hold a rim.
Add hot water and heat to 200 degrees F . I used the burner from my turkey deep fryer.
Add crystal drano 80% water 20% drano.
Cook at a constant temp for 15 or 20 mins and the anodizing is gone.
It leaves a black tarnish that can mostly be cleaned with varsol.
Then polish.
No sanding at all.
I will post pics of the finished product when i'm done
Thanks for all your help.
" give the laziest man the hardest job, and he will figure out the easiest way to do it"