wheel restoration question

[big-b]

What is the proper finish for the spokes and hubs? I think the hubs are polished, if so are they polished even on the outside of the hub that is in between the spokes?

Brian

[G-Man]

Brian

Opinions will differ and indeed it sometimes depends upon the year your bike was made,

Spoke nipples were often nickel-plated brass, which give a slightly yellowy look to them. Sometimes steel nipples were used and zinc plated with yellow passivation.

Spokes zinc plated with clear passivate layer (sometimes light yellow passivation). An alternative is cadmium plating but this is banned in some parts of the world due to toxicity of cadmium (a heavy metal.

The hubs were fairly roughly polished and clear coated (lacquered). If you look at NOS hubs or brake plates you will find that the factory did not spend much of their time polishing these. The 'shine' was produced by the lacquer. The finned area between the spokes, if that is what you meant in your question, was left untouched so bead blasting or wire brushing will return a natural look to that area.

In the end, it depends upon how you want your bike to look. Some folks get really excited about polishing alloy parts but the factory simply didn't have the budget to do that, whatever you see on show bikes.....

G

[big-b]

Thanks G. That's what i was looking for. I should be able to do the polishing work my self.

Brian

[G-Man]

Brian

You're welcome. For hubs I usually finish with what we call a 'satin finish' mop on my polisher. It's a kind of abrasive pan scourer in the form of a polishing wheel. It gives a fairly authentic finish and gives a good key for the clear coat.

G