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Technical How To Un-Polish New Ansen Sprints?

Discussion in 'Traditional Hot Rods' started by Gene's Hot Rod Parts, Apr 7, 2022.

  1. twenty8
    Joined: Apr 8, 2021
    Posts: 2,318

    twenty8
    Member

    Look on the bright side, it's much easier to remove a shine than it is to apply one.............:rolleyes:
     
  2. indyjps
    Joined: Feb 21, 2007
    Posts: 5,377

    indyjps
    Member

    Agree. If anodized or clearcoated. You need to get that off or you'll end up with a blotchy finish.
    A lye solution will strip the Anodizing, it's much more controllable than oven cleaner based on the strength of the mixture, needs to handled very cautiously.
     
  3. Rickybop
    Joined: May 23, 2008
    Posts: 9,606

    Rickybop
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Sandblast from 12' 7.38" away.
    I'm kidding.
    12' 7.62" is the correct distance.
    If you know what you're doing.
     
  4. KenC
    Joined: Sep 14, 2006
    Posts: 1,045

    KenC
    Member

    I'm in the media blast camp. Most chemical methods have some risk of over doing it. But rather than shot or glass, I'd try walnut shell media. Less aggressive and be amped up or down with air pressure changes.

    Also good for cleaning corroded carb bodies without ruining them.
     
    twenty8, '28phonebooth and Deuces like this.
  5. pirate
    Joined: Jun 29, 2006
    Posts: 1,024

    pirate
    Member
    from Alabama

    I’m in the media blast camp. Hard to get an even finish with chemicals unless you completely immerse the whole wheel. I think media blast gives you best opportunity to make all four wheels match. We used to soda blast aluminum/magnesium aircraft parts before rebuilding. Gives a nice smooth clean finish without removing metal and being overly aggressive.
     
    Last edited: Apr 8, 2022
    twenty8, '28phonebooth and Deuces like this.
  6. My Fento Gyro front runners had a spun aluminum finish and I wanted them to blend with the as-cast finish on my rear ET 5-spokes.
    I polished & taped off their lips, then had 'em glass-beaded and sprayed with Rustoleum flat antique nickel metallic.
    my fentons 05.jpg 20200609_173859_HDR~3.jpg rustoleum.jpg
     
    Last edited: Apr 10, 2022
    lippy, Bob Lowry, AHotRod and 4 others like this.
  7. Nothing dulls a aluminum wheel like full time road use during winter.Nature has a way with aluminum.
     
    low down A likes this.
  8. Deuces
    Joined: Nov 3, 2009
    Posts: 23,753

    Deuces

    :D:cool::D
     
    lostone likes this.
  9. MCjim
    Joined: Jun 4, 2006
    Posts: 954

    MCjim
    Member
    from soCal

    Trade them to guy that wants nice, polished wheels and has a pair of shitty ones...
     
    LWEL9226 likes this.
  10. I'd polish the ones you have to match, put all 4 back on, and let them "age" together.
     
  11. 1971BB427
    Joined: Mar 6, 2010
    Posts: 8,717

    1971BB427
    Member
    from Oregon

    Ansen Sprints were never "as cast" finished. They were polished, and yours just have the typical age they got over many years. I would never blast them, and damn sure wouldn't use sandpaper of any grit to attempt to age them. Vinegar sprayed on will age them, but you'll have to test how long by doing so for a short time and rinsing. Repeat leaving it on longer until you get the age you're wanting.
    Another way to etch the surface and age them is NAPA mag wheel cleaner. It states right on the spray bottle to not let it sit more than 30 seconds or it can etch the surface and remove the shine. So you could experiment with leaving it on longer until they have the desired look.
    Hopefully these new Ansens don't have any coating to protect them! If they do nothing you put on them will change the way they look.
     
    427 sleeper likes this.
  12. scuff them with a grey scotch brite paint prep pad and them polish them by hand with mothers. They will have a shine that looks well maintatined for decades, not brand new polish, bright but not too bright, dull but not too dull. did this with knock off Halibrand wheels on my 51 chevy looked great. and never had to polish them again.
     
    '28phonebooth and Just Gary like this.
  13. Budget36
    Joined: Nov 29, 2014
    Posts: 13,174

    Budget36
    Member

    I’m in the “polish the old ones” camp to match the new ones. Your car looks like it can absorb the shine without looking odd.
     
    Just Gary and Moriarity like this.
  14. Moriarity
    Joined: Apr 11, 2001
    Posts: 30,777

    Moriarity
    SUPER MODERATOR
    Staff Member

    Man, I remember back in the good old days when people wanted to make things better, it seems to me like all people want to do today is figure out how to make cars and parts look shittier than they are.... kinda sad....
     
    slayer, Crazy Steve, egads and 13 others like this.
  15. 1971BB427
    Joined: Mar 6, 2010
    Posts: 8,717

    1971BB427
    Member
    from Oregon

    Can says, "Flat antique nickel"? So which is it?
     
    Just Gary likes this.
  16. Good catch. It's flat. Post corrected.:rolleyes:
     

  17. Some of us want to drive and enjoy our rigs rather than spend all of our time polishing.
     
  18. Moriarity
    Joined: Apr 11, 2001
    Posts: 30,777

    Moriarity
    SUPER MODERATOR
    Staff Member

    I'd rather drive a shiny clean car with polished wheels.....
     
  19. Dennis D
    Joined: May 2, 2009
    Posts: 851

    Dennis D
    Member

    Find someone that can vaporblast them.
     
    ekimneirbo likes this.
  20. We do that on our older pneumatic trailers. The acid etch gives a nice light silver sheen but things stain easily after you do it the first time
     
  21. Jeff Norwell
    Joined: Aug 20, 2003
    Posts: 14,809

    Jeff Norwell
    MODERATOR
    Staff Member

    I have no answer for you.....

    I just want to see more of the GT-1 flip Top.
    Carry On.
     
    57 Fargo and Just Gary like this.
  22. I'm in the scotchbright camp

    20190604_201256.jpg

    Eagle One Mag wheel cleaner will also take the shine off and leave the aluminum with clean sheen

    20201021_160736.jpg 20190804_194518.jpg

    Bead blasting leaves a different texture all together

    20191221_144650.jpg 20200416_193906.jpg

    Then you could always polish your old rims to match the new rims

    20200119_155506.jpg
    20200121_153251.jpg
     
    Tman, egads, Deuces and 6 others like this.
  23. pirate
    Joined: Jun 29, 2006
    Posts: 1,024

    pirate
    Member
    from Alabama

    Wow those really look nice! CDBF7AC1-974F-4478-8F60-01179A443CC4.jpeg
     
    -Brent-, jimmy six and swade41 like this.
  24. Thanks, little sweat equity (all by hand) and time, usually I ran them with scotchbright and wd40

    20210215_121517.jpg

    I try and keep a variety of textures on hand

    20190602_172328.jpg
    FB_IMG_1510380805922.jpg
     
    kadillackid, Budget36, jay t. and 3 others like this.
  25. Paint all 4 of them white. Problem solved.
     
  26. Bandit Billy
    Joined: Sep 16, 2014
    Posts: 12,286

    Bandit Billy
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I seem to remember an old neighbor of mine who had a neat trick to dull polished wheels, actually it was his damn dog's trick and it wasn't really so much a trick but dog piss. The only issue is it wasn't real uniform.
     
    alanp561 and 427 sleeper like this.
  27. theHIGHLANDER
    Joined: Jun 3, 2005
    Posts: 10,245

    theHIGHLANDER
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Soda blast. Very light OEM-ish texture. But I still think shine em all up. Then paint the hole edges a contrast color...;)
     
    427 sleeper likes this.
  28. I'm in the polished camp.
     
    427 sleeper likes this.
  29. swade41 likes this.
  30. ekimneirbo
    Joined: Apr 29, 2017
    Posts: 4,216

    ekimneirbo

    It would seem logical (to me anyway) that what needs to be done is to get the clear coat off the wheel so you just have raw aluminum exposed, and the wheel will shortly look aged. I would ask the manufacturer if they know of any product that would simply disolve the clear coat.........or would they sell you some wheels that just don't have the clear coat on them.
     

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