Originally Posted by
unworthy1
Polished aluminum is the way us C&V folks would go, cause we're not afraid of hard work, in fact we're proud of it. But the average fixie fashion victim would be better served by just spending money: take your Deep Vees to a powder coater who does custom car work. They can put on a chrome-like PC plus a clear over it that will scare small dogs and elderly pedestrians...just what you want, right? And it will set you back a few semolians (but not as much as real chrome plating on aluminum would).
well, for the record, I am neither afraid of labor (especially not labors of love or hobbies - I look forward to the work) nor am I some "fixie fashion victim." I enjoy building and craftsmanship. so, I'm not sure why your comment was directed toward me, if that was your intention.
anyways, I am planning on building a wheelset this summer and I have a few ideas, one of which is a mirror-like polished rim. I am considering cxp33 or aeroheads (or aeros if I cannot source them as stock polished). I am just curious if I were to polish such rims using the method that cyclotoine wrote about that the braking surface would lose effectiveness or be the same prior to the polishing. I know from second hand experience that non-machined powdercoated rims are terrible and loud until they are broken in...and the result is not quite attractive. I would like to avoid this. I'd appreciate your input.