MY Fikse-FM10 Aluminum wheels are oxidized....how to clean?

M

mtbmtb

New member
Ok, so my Fikse FM-10s have been sitting in my garage for about 6 months. Was cleaning the garage out the other day, and noticed a greyish color on all 4 wheels. I'm pretty sure it's oxidation.



So far, I have tried mother's aluminum polish, and some other aluminum polish that claims to "instantl remove oxidation". Both products failed to work. Can anyone suggest anything else?





Here is a picture

attachment.php
 
I've been using 3M Aluminum Polish on my bare aluminum wheels and have been pretty happy with the results. A few months ago I bought some Wenol Metal Polish and a buffing wheel that attaches to my drill. After you get your wheels polished, do a final cleaning with Klasse AIO and then apply several coats of SG.
 
When you applied the aluminum polish to the center section (where most of the discoloration seems to be), did the polish turn black when you started buffing?



The discoloration pattern doesn't look like oxidation to me - it looks like something (wheel cleaner?) got on the wheel and stained it.



What were the wheels been cleaned with before being put away?



Edit - I enlarged the picture and it probably is oxidation. What part of the country are you in? Close to any salt water? When was the last time the wheels were polished?



You may want to consider using a cotton buffing wheel (Home Depot sells a 4" one that fits in a drill for a few dollars) with the aluminum polish. Just make sure you keep the buffing wheel moving to obtain an even finish, and use light pressure to prevent the aluminum from blueing from the heat generated from heavy pressure.
 
I agree. That doesn't look like oxidation. It looks like etching from some type of wheel cleaner. I love Fiske wheels. I was torn between them and getting the HRE's.
 
Sorry but it's not oxidation in my opinion.



You got some acid wheel cleaner on their or something just as bad.



What you need to do is remove the clear coat and then the metal polishes can do their job.



Get some Mar-hyde or any brand of spray paint remover and it will remove this layer of clear coat.



Be sure to take your wheels off the car so the spray remover doesn't get on you car.



You can get this stuff at lowe's or Home Depot for about 4 bucks.



I actually did this to my wheels on my 300zx and they look great.



Remember, that once the clear is removed you will have to polish the metal every few months



Metal Madness metal polish is the best metal polish. It beats Mothers ,Semi-chrome Wenol etc. Faster results with out loading you towel or buffing wheel with all that black Gunk. The site is WWW.supershinedetail.com
 
I agree, it doesn't look like oxidation. Looks more like some sort of etching.



Oxidation usually happens easily over the surface of the wheel so they just get dull.
 
stuart hicks said:
Sorry but it's not oxidation in my opinion.



You got some acid wheel cleaner on their or something just as bad.



What you need to do is remove the clear coat and then the metal polishes can do their job.



Get some Mar-hyde or any brand of spray paint remover and it will remove this layer of clear coat.



Be sure to take your wheels off the car so the spray remover doesn't get on you car.



You can get this stuff at lowe's or Home Depot for about 4 bucks.



I actually did this to my wheels on my 300zx and they look great.



Remember, that once the clear is removed you will have to polish the metal every few months



Metal Madness metal polish is the best metal polish. It beats Mothers ,Semi-chrome Wenol etc. Faster results with out loading you towel or buffing wheel with all that black Gunk. The site is WWW.supershinedetail.com
Click to expand...



Stuart, thanks for the advice. I've actually read that Fikse does not clear coat their wheels. If this is the case, can I skip to step two? Thanks again



Amir
 
If you care about the value of the wheels, you could always send them back to Fiske or a place like Wheel Enhancement to have them refinished.
 
mp996 said:
If you care about the value of the wheels, you could always send them back to Fiske or a place like Wheel Enhancement to have them refinished.
Click to expand...





I do care, but being in college does not help me in this situation (not enough $$$ in the checking account ;) ), as fikse will just tell me I will need 4 new centers and 4 new outer halfs, which will easily be almost $2k.



Nevertheless, I got it. This 3m aluminum polish kit is working great. I will post final pics when I'm done (most likely will be after finals).
 
Sorry I didn't see this post earlier. The Fikse wheels are NOT clearcoated. Aluminum polish will clean them up but it will take some time. Take the wheels off and work on them flat on the ground. You will do a much better job than rubbing vertically. Better leverage, less exhaustion. Consider a Dremel tool and a lot of their little white buffer accessory attachments. They work "slightly" faster than by hand.



Metal polishing/refinishing places (Yellow Pages) have long flexible attachments that go on the end of buffers that allow them to buff things like this easily so if you get desperate you can pay them to do it. It's not hugely expensive. Less than shipping to send it back to Fikse to do.
 
Brad B. said:
Sorry I didn't see this post earlier. The Fikse wheels are NOT clearcoated. Aluminum polish will clean them up but it will take some time. Take the wheels off and work on them flat on the ground. You will do a much better job than rubbing vertically. Better leverage, less exhaustion. Consider a Dremel tool and a lot of their little white buffer accessory attachments. They work "slightly" faster than by hand.



Metal polishing/refinishing places (Yellow Pages) have long flexible attachments that go on the end of buffers that allow them to buff things like this easily so if you get desperate you can pay them to do it. It's not hugely expensive. Less than shipping to send it back to Fikse to do.
Click to expand...



What type of damage do you think that is to his rim?
 
Hard to say exactly but it looks like it could be mostly chemical staining plus good 'ole oxidation thrown in to boot. These wheels tarnish fairly easily and certain cleaners accelerate the process.
 
I'm Sure you know your wheels better than me, but if metal polish isn't helping these stains, your wheels may be coated.



Does the towel turn black when you use metal polish on it?



I Have stripped clear off many wheels that the owners thought were bare aluminium.



Again you may be right they may be bare, but when you said the polishes wern't having an effect that sounds like a clear coated wheel.



If they are bare and these polishes were having no positive effect, then you would have best results with a buffing wheel attached to a drill.



Nice wheels, I really like the polished lip!



Good Luck!
 
I can't recall ever seeing a coated Fikse wheel, but that doesn't mean they aren't out there.



If Amir is certain an improper type of wheel cleaner was never used on them, I'd lean towards a dog lifting his leg on it, and the acidity damaging the wheel over time. It does look like oxidation, but there is a pattern to it.



He never did answer the original question about the aluminum polish turning black, but I believe it did based on the wheel not being coated. Also, I'd be interested to know the climate the wheels are in.



Aluminum polishes take time to work - and the longer you rub, the better the end result. Amir - how long did you polish with the polishes you tried?



Expect to pay $40-100 per wheel to have them professionally polished.
 
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