To polish or anodise wheels?

[gbtvr]

Hi folks, looking for thoughts on wheel refurb, have the wheels on profile image split and looking for thoughts on if outer rim should be polished or anodised. The image on my profile is anodised as manufactured, but did come as polished rim option from compomotive.

Thanks for thoughts Grant.

[PeteGriff]

gbtvr said:

Hi folks, looking for thoughts on wheel refurb, have the wheels on profile image split and looking for thoughts on if outer rim should be polished or anodised. The image on my profile is anodised as manufactured, but did come as polished rim option from compomotive.

Thanks for thoughts Grant.

Anodising is a process on aluminium which imparts a protective surface, which in most instances can protect against corrosion. If the wheels are first polished and then clear anodised there will be better protection than just polishing. A better finish will be realised by lacquering after polishing. Anodising will be a more expensive process as it is carried out electrolytically, but can provide a harder wearing surface. Hope that helps. Pete

[TVR Beaver]

As Peter says, Anodising is a ‘surface conversion’ process, initially etching and then depositing / converting the surface into a protective layer. If they have been done before the base material is okay for re-anodising (not all Ali’s are) so you should have no problems… but the bright finish will not be the same a polished and wax for example. It depends what you are doing with them.. Do they see winters etc… If it’s a dry day car, just polish them they will be fine. I have that on my Motorbike that is mainly dry weather.. Polished them about 10 years ago and they are still fine

[blitzracing]

Depends what you mean by polishing? A bright even finish is often "diamond cut" where the wheels is first painted, then put into a lathe and the paint removed with a diamond cutter as the wheel rotates. This gives a fanstatic even slightly rainbow shine to the surface. The whole lot is then laquered, and the laquer can adhear to the very fine cuts. If you simply polish you can get a mirror shine, but how well a laquer will stick I would not like to say. Not something Id do by hand either. The down side of diamond cutting is the wheel has to be 100% straight when its recut, or the rim thickness will vary afterwards. Ive never seen clear anodising?

[SteveSPG]

image often clear anodise rims anyway, it leaves a slightly duller finish, but is way longer lasting. you do have to get them pretty perfect before you anodise thou, so it is not polish or anodise, more polish, then anodise or not.....

[V8Bart]

If your going to use the car, powder coat not polish. Lots less work cleaning.

[gbtvr]

The wheels are currently anodised, looks like a clear coat on a polished rim, but not as high a shine as a "machine" polished rim, recognise the extra work to keep a highly polished rim after polishing. Car is not used in winter or wet if can be helped.
Some previous muppet has used an acid based cleaner and not removed it all so looks like water marks now, thus need repaired any way.

Polished image



Will only be doing the outer rim like the bbs's that could be ordered fit the griff.

Anodised


Looks like a clear coat cover on a polished rim, but not like the mirror finish of polishing, but a finish that is as hard as F..... And does not damage easily.

Fully understand the different finishes and chemical and mechanical differences and pro and cons of each, was just looking for a view for comments on the mirror finish vs shinny finish. Fully know the work in keeping a polished rim and have a few tricks for that.

Question is shinny or fn shinny of a mirror finish -

Sorry should have clearer with question, sorry.

[TerryFarquit]

if it is kerb vs alloy then anodised or not, kerb wins

I just had some badly pitted gotti (front) / Amil (rear) done by these guys
http://www.pristinealloywheels.co.uk/
they did an excellent job - £350 all in including refitting tyres, rebalancing VAT etc.

there are lots of people who will come to you and spray gloop over your wheels to hide the dings but these guys only do wheels and they really seemed to know what they are doing and had a lot of expensive looking kit.

Anyone know whether it was normal to have gotti and amil mix from the factory? they are both marked TVR