Another RSR Fuchs thread, Got them stripped...kind of like them without the black Options

[Mark Henry]

So I'm doing the RSR treatment to my straight but cosmetically challenged Fuchs.

First I stripped the anodising from one wheel using a caustic soda (also known as lye or Sodium hydroxide) solution, it takes off the anodizing like a champ, but hardly touches the old paint. Bottom left rim first pic has been in the caustic soda . So it was off to the hardware store for some stripper.

The stripper worked, but I had to take off the paint leftovers with the bead blaster (last pic).
They are going back into the caustic soda solution again tonight to get rid of the rest of the anodizing.

I love the finish, it has me debating whether to leave them like this or to paint the usual black background. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

[mepstein]

Easy off oven cleaner (name brand bottle) also works well.

[Mike Bellis]

Easy off oven cleaner (name brand bottle) also works well.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)
Used it many time to remove anodizing... Removes color too...

[Mark Henry]

Easy off oven cleaner (name brand bottle) also works well.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)
Used it many time to remove anodizing... Removes color too...

Any oven or toilet bowl cleaner with the active ingredient Sodium Hydroxide (lye, caustic soda, same thing) would do the job. I've done the oven cleaner trick before, but this is IMO superior as you can pull it out at any time to check the progress, if not done just stick it back in. In fact if you pull it from the tank and let it sit you can see the anodizing dissolving. Coloured anodizing is just a dye in the anodizing solution, so yes it will strip the colour anodizing as well.

This jug of lye crystals (6.6 lbs) cost $15 and I'm guessing it would do at least 100+ rims at pennies per rim. You can also use it to clean oil stains on concrete, greasy sinks, kennels, toilet bowls, ovens, etc.

mepstein @ Aug 7 2012, 05:53 PM

I used a heavy duty scotch brite pad on mine. Looks like brushed stainless. Cost less than $5 and I can always polish or paint in the future. Future touch up should be easy. Have to dig up a pic.

I've done this as well, it's a lot of elbow grease and I'd worry about over sanding areas. Also if you plan to re-anodize and any old anodizing is left over it could leave splotchy areas.

[mepstein]

Easy off oven cleaner (name brand bottle) also works well.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)
Used it many time to remove anodizing... Removes color too...

Any oven or toilet bowl cleaner with the active ingredient Sodium Hydroxide (lye, caustic soda, same thing) would do the job. I've done the oven cleaner trick before, but this is IMO superior as you can pull it out at any time to check the progress, if not done just stick it back in. In fact if you pull it from the tank and let it sit you can see the anodizing dissolving. Coloured anodizing is just a dye in the anodizing solution, so yes it will strip the colour anodizing as well.

This jug of lye crystals (6.6 lbs) cost $15 and I'm guessing it would do at least 100+ rims at pennies per rim. You can also use it to clean oil stains on concrete, greasy sinks, kennels, toilet bowls, ovens, etc.

mepstein @ Aug 7 2012, 05:53 PM

I used a heavy duty scotch brite pad on mine. Looks like brushed stainless. Cost less than $5 and I can always polish or paint in the future. Future touch up should be easy. Have to dig up a pic.

I've done this as well, it's a lot of elbow grease and I'd worry about over sanding areas. Also if you plan to re-anodize and any old anodizing is left over it could leave splotchy areas.

I agree with you, remove the anodizing first. My wheels had a lot of scratches and different finishes from front and back so the scotch brite finish blended everything together. I got the wheels cheap enough that they were good for experimenting. I didn't expect to get the thumbs up from Scotty but I think the finish looks good. It was a couple dollars for scotch brite and an hour of scrubbing vs $$$ getting refinished. I don't think the pads will remove much metal.