Gartenmeister

Yes, this is a really oddball question.

So I picked up a sweet set of wheels on closeout from Velomine. Looked like silver hubs and silver rims in the photos.....and the bike has a silver thing going, so I thought the wheelset would be perfect.

Turns out the rims are actually POLISHED silver. There are other polished silver parts on the bike, so I am not opposed in theory....and I do like the shiny hubs. The problem is the rims are polished to a MIRROR- which I think detracts from the look of the bike. Before, (with very old silver Mavics) it looked classy, now it looks a bit pimped out.

Suggestions? Is there anything I can do to knock down the glare without doing damage?

Thanks.

AnkleWork

Ordinary oven cleaner will produce a nice even frosty finish on aluminium.

SquidPuppet

They are sexy in a classy, nonpimpy way. They tie in well with your brakes and headset and racks. They'll clash with the hubs if you dull them. Frankly, I'd polish the seatpost and bring it all together.

If you must though, you'll need to know if they have been anodized or clear coated over the polish. If so, the anodizing or clear coat needs to be removed first. That'll require total disassembly. To test, rub a little aluminum polish paste on the rim. If it immediately produces a black film on the rag, the rims are raw, and not anodized.

If they have no protective coating, just go in the reverse order of the polishing process. Start with 2000 grit sand paper and if that wasn't dull enough, move to 1500, and so on, until you achieve your desired level of ruined.

You might try super fine steel wool too, if you are going for a brushed look.

Achieving a uniform level of dull will be a (more than usual) time consuming challenge since the wheels are assembled.

1. Be SURE before starting
2. Try to test an inconspicuous area first
3. Be careful

Kopsis

Sanding will likely be a disaster. Even with 2000 grit you'll have a very difficult time getting something that looks uniform. If you must get back to matte silver, media blasting would be the preferred approach. A good sandblasting shop would know the right media to use for the kind of finish you want to achieve and can probably do it without disassembling the wheels. Clear or silver anodizing would also work, but you'll have to get down to bare rims.

hueyhoolihan

contributing in any constructive way would be tantamount to "aiding and abetting".

Wanderer

I agree, polish and bring it all together..

fietsbob

Ride into a sandstorm.

Most Aluminum Nice components are polished Then Anodized . leave them be ..


obsess over something else.

obed7

did you buy the wheels to ride or look at....when riding I don't look at my wheels.

AlmostTrick

I can sympathize with wanting a bike to have the right look, it is very important to some of us. I also would be afraid of messing the wheels up with any of the processes mentioned. Lets face it, if it doesn't turn out perfect, you'll likely be unhappy with the results. Then too, you have all the wasted labor and expense.

I would attempt to make them work with the high polished finish. If I wasn't satisfied I'd buy a new wheel set, and save these for another project or sell them.

FBinNY 

Don't sweat it. If you actually ride this bike, time and weather will rapidly dull the finish, to someplace between the color and finish of an aluminum sauce pan, and a dull battleship gray.

dsbrantjr

+1, time and weather are your friends.