
plating, anodizing, & finishing Q&As since 1989
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Painting anodized alloy wheels
January 4, 2010
Q. I have a set of forged alloy wheels for an MV Agusta. They have been anodized but I am not very impressed with the overall finish. Before I take them to the best paint shop in the area, is there anything that needs to be done to the anodized surface other than scotchbrighting, etc., prior to paint.
Many thanks H. Fabian
Bike enthusiast - Shrewsbury, United Kingdom
January 12, 2010
A. Forget scotchbrighting -- if wheels are clearcoated you can paint them directly. If anodized but not clearcoated or sealed you can paint them too. In any other case you must remove finish and then pretreat wheels with some conversion coating process (simple DIY process is 1 gm tannin/1 lit water). Hope it helps and good luck! Goran Budija- Zagreb,Croatia January 15, 2010
- Shrewsbury, United Kingdom |
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Should I anodize my alloy wheels?
March 13, 2014Q. What about alloy wheels used on motorhomes? Is it wise to polish then clear anodize them with lasting results?
Dennis Finch- TRAFFORD, Alabama, USA
March 2014
A. Hi Dennis. We added your inquiry to a thread on a similar subject. If the wheels were machined out of billet aluminum (unusual today), the alloy might be of a type that anodizes well. But pressure cast aluminum alloy wheels have so much tramp ingredients, especially silicon, that I doubt that you will find their appearance after anodizing pleasing. I think you are better off clearcoating them.
Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
March 16, 2014
Thanks Ted. I am going to contact the wheel manufacturer and inquire about the alloy used in the wheels in question then, I'll post the details and ask for your comments once again.
These alloy wheels look very attractive when polished but, one dog on three legs makes a ... you get the idea.
Clear coat would work but I like to spend money (Heh-heh).
73 DF
- TRAFFORD, Alabama, USA
