polishing NB8B wheels (reposted here)

sabretooth · Postby **sabretooth** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 8:34 pm

What, like brushed aluminium?

wun911 · Postby **wun911** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 8:43 pm

I think brushed is like a mechanical process like polishing.

Whereas anodizing; is like dipping it into acid and charging it with electricity.

I would consider powercoating but its added weight.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anodising

sabretooth · Postby **sabretooth** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 9:52 pm

This whole weight thing of yours is patently ridiculous.

wun911 · Postby **wun911** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 12:08 am

I've seen NB8B wheels whith the crome polished look, but I think its a bit much for an MX5.

A brushed aluminum / anodized look would be sweet.

(Usually Im just kidding with the wight stuff)

Casey · Postby **Casey** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 6:40 am

sabretooth wrote:Is there a specific wax just for wheels? I want to keep my wheels staying this shiny.

Years ago (back in the late 80's early 90's) I used to be a huge Meguires fan until I discovered the advantages of Zymol then Swissol (Swisswax).

I still have heaps of Meguires stuff left over - for my wheels and engine bits I use their Yellow Wax paste.

Benny · Postby **Benny** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 9:34 am

Anodising for aluminium is like plating for steel.
It actually puts a tough coating on the metal, which in the case of anodising, can be done in various colours - but you can't get a bright chrome finish with anodising.
Electro plating alloys can be a difficult thing to do as aluminium does not take to plating like other metals do.
Chrome plating alloy wheels is a specialist thing as you have get a layer of copper on the alloy first, whihc requires specialist knowledge and equipment.
Once you have the layer of copper, then you can plate it to your heart's content in chrome, gold or even antique and black finishes.

sabretooth · Postby **sabretooth** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 11:05 am

OK - thanks, I'll just try some normal polish on the rims first.

Boags'MX5 wrote:
sabretooth wrote:Is there a specific wax just for wheels? I want to keep my wheels staying this shiny.

Oh, you bastard! When did you buy those???? :jealous man:

A few weeks ago - $500! And then a few days later, saboteur found an even better bargain! *shakes fist* If only I'd waited a few more days..

Still have to buy tyres for them though. Ungh!

Juffa · Postby **Juffa** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 11:17 am

Boags'MX5 wrote: [
Oh, you bastard! When did you buy those???? :jealous man:

There is a set up for grabs on ebay at the moment. I think that starting price was $400 or $500.

J

wun911 · Postby **wun911** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 11:18 am

Hey benny how do you know about anodising? Did you get this done for your wheels? May I ask where and howmcuh?

bruce · Postby **bruce** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 12:08 pm

I don't think you can anodise wheels????
Neither can you get brushed wheels.

Machine-finished is when the face of the wheels is machined very fine (circular grooves) and clear coated. It gives a shiny sort of look. Think Honda wheels.

When I had the NA wheels chromed one of them flaked (you could see the copper layer) so I took it back and he stripped it and re-did it.

Biggles · Postby **Biggles** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 12:48 am

I used Maguires Metal Polish on mine. Lasted Well for ~ 3/6 months, so made it an annual event.

Used the Maguires polishing pad on the orbital sander where ever I could to reduce the effort. And it was an effort.

satanoperca · Postby **satanoperca** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 1:15 pm

It would be quite difficult to anodise a wheel in color. The majority of anodising is a clear finish - silver. Unlike chrome plating you are not adding any coating to the aluminium surface, you are rather turning developing a layer of alumiunium oxide on the surface which is extremely hard and durable. During the process of anodising one can add dyes to achieve surface coloration. All dues have a light fastness value, how long it takes for the color to start fading. Brighter colors fad the fastest in sunlight.

There are certain grades on Aluminium that are suitable for anodising and I would be surprized that alloy car wheels would be one.

You can however achieve a very similar result by having the wheel finely sand blasted - removing all paint and then have the wheel powder coated in clear with a colored tint. This will achieve a very similar look to anodised aluminium.

Cheers

Benjamin

bruce · Postby **bruce** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 1:04 pm

Just an update. I went home and couldn't find the business card of the Melbourne wheel chromer. I know it was in the outer eastern suburbs...

Benny · Postby **Benny** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 3:17 pm

wun911 wrote:Hey benny how do you know about anodising? Did you get this done for your wheels? May I ask where and howmcuh?

I've never had a set of wheels anodised, but I have had various aluminium items anodised for work.

I have seen wheels where part of them has been anodised, like the red lip you see on some wheels.
Not sure if they are a part of the wheel or an extra ad-on part, but they sure look anodised to me.

Most consumer items that are made from aluminium are anodised, either clear or in a colour, but these itmes are usually either stamped or spun and not cast like most wheels are.

Benny · Postby **Benny** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 3:17 pm

wun911 wrote:Hey benny how do you know about anodising? Did you get this done for your wheels? May I ask where and howmcuh?

I've never had a set of wheels anodised, but I have had various aluminium items anodised for work.

I have seen wheels where part of them has been anodised, like the red lip you see on some wheels.
Not sure if they are a part of the wheel or an extra ad-on part, but they sure look anodised to me.

Most consumer items that are made from aluminium are anodised, either clear or in a colour, but these itmes are usually either stamped or spun and not cast like most wheels are.