Clearcoat paint, Powder, or polish on Al wheels

[b.]

Building a set of wheels. Akront aluminum front and rear, WM style. I'm not looking for a chrome like finish, just clean bare aluminum. Since wheels are original 1970's vintage, they have been cleaned and polished to a satin like finish.

Do I clearcoat or just leave them alone? Powder or paint? Spokes are stainless steel, so no worries there. I ride maybe 50-100 miles per week, on a good week so the bike spends most of the time in a heated garage.

Thanks.
B.

[ShakerNorm]

I have checked with a couple paint companies (the actual makers, not just the distributors) and they don't seem to think that there's much paint that will stick to polished aluminum. It's possible it will with a satin finish, though. Powdercoat may be a better option, though, especially since it's baked onto the metal.

[billychop]

Clear powder is what works best but to be honest with you, if you polish it up with a high quality product (Mothers billet polish is great)it will be fine. You'll need to rub on it every now and then but nothing major. I polished my cases with it and that was about 3months and 600 miles ago and they still look like they did the day I finished them.

[Burns]

Wax works.