Spray painting wheels

[GTCanada]

I have some pretty ratty looking Rotas that I have been using as winter wheels on a couple of Subarus. There is some rim damage / corrosion (moron installers) that would need to be sanded down to have a smooth finish.

 

Are there any do-it-yourselfers that have prepped, spray painted, clearcoated etc. using spray cans with good results? Professionally done will be too much $$ based on what the wheels are worth.

 

Thanks,

Tom

[chenc544]

Have you look into power-coating? That would be more durable. A friend of mine has a DIY setup so I assume it's not overly expensive. The problem might be finding an oven big enough to put the wheels in...

[Spec B]

Stolen off of Honda-Acura.net....

 

 

HOW TO PAINT YOUR RIMS AT HOME --TUTORIAL

 

Ok before I get started..the main thing is patience......don't go painting it then touching it soon after...Is it dry yet? Is it dry yet?,,,,,,,you know what Im talking about...I do it TO

This HOW-TO can be used to paint your factory alloys or aftermarket aluminum rims!

 

Helpful tools:

 

-Sanding disc attachment for Drill

-Fine sand disc {160 grit..They usually come Course, Medium and Fine labled right on the package..so you need not worry about the # of the Grit }

-Masking Tape {both wide and narrow}

-Primer [ if paint black then black primer..if white then wht prm if silver or grey then grey prmer.....no particular brand....the cheapest primer will do ]

-Paint [ whatever color you wish, ENGINE Paint would be a safer choice but not necessary. [ for this..get a known brand like duplicolor]

-Clear Coat [ get good brand like duplicolor or even Krylon...this is optional and depends on color you chose to paint rim ]

 

NOTE: The following instructions is based on how I painted my rims...I used Engine paint Black...NO clear coat because it came out glossy. If you attempt to paint your rims Silver...don't use Engine paint silver because it is to bright....you'll need a "Automotive Body Paint Shade of Silver" and then You WILL need to Clear Coat Rims :

 

INSTRUCTIONS

 

---Take wheels OFF of car obviously!

---Clean rims with "SPRAY NINE" cleaner/degreaser , front and back[found in supermarkets]

---Then clean with "AJAK" or any other sink/pot/pan powder cleaner

---Mask boarders not wanting to paint first with small tape then large areas with wide tape

---If painting entire rim then simply mask the tire only, best you can.

---Take sand disc with drill and "fine" disc and sand away the scratches on the Flat surfaces of rim

---Then sand rest of Flat surfaces even...feeling with hands for smoothness and even-ness

---Take another sand disc In your hand fold it in half and sand the rest of the rim to be painted

---Wipe dust off rims with damp cloth

---Lay rim flat on ground and Spray Primer...even strokes with can about 6" above rim"

---Have a piece of cloth handy and every so often; wipe excess paint from spray can nozzel

---Leave for about 15-20 minutes then apply another coat of Primer

---I painted the back of the spokes on the 17" Enkei's ALSO,so you can do same procedure for back

---Let dry for 20 minutes then put two coats of "YOUR COLOR" Paint at 20 minute intervals again

---IF Clear Coating...then follow same procedure as above with 20 minute intervals also.

---The Hard Part...Leave for 24 Hours before removing masking tape and Mounting on car

---For the record I left mine for Two days...only because I didn't have the Tuner lugs to mount it after the first day

--- If you mess up then leave it for at least two days to cure before trying to sand down again an paint errors.

[GTCanada]

Have you look into power-coating? That would be more durable. A friend of mine has a DIY setup so I assume it's not overly expensive. The problem might be finding an oven big enough to put the wheels in...

 

I can just imagine the look on my wife's face if she saw a wheel in the oven. A ghetto, not to generalize...not that their is anything wrong with that, spray bomb is the most likely, i.e. closest thing to $0, option.

[GTCanada]

Thanks Spec B. I'll give it a try. I wonder how durable it will be. Time will tell.

 

Tom

[PGT]

Duplicolor Wheel Coating. It's an acrylic spray. Seems to do a good job. I fixed some bad rash on some Rota's I sold.....used the Rota touch up paint. Had I kept them, I'd have resprayed them.

[GTCanada]

Duplicolor Wheel Coating. It's an acrylic spray. Seems to do a good job. I fixed some bad rash on some Rota's I sold.....used the Rota touch up paint. Had I kept them, I'd have resprayed them.

 

Thanks. I went to the Duplicolor site and got some good info.

 

Tom

[BDII]

Im tempted....

 

thanks for the info!

[PGT]

don't use a degreaser on clearcoated wheels. it will etch the finish. Yes, you are respraying them but it's still a bad idea.

[MarkV]

I know this is a stooooopid question, but i've seen different ways, i'm just wondering, do you guys use the specially made "wheel paint" or do you use regular paint, i.e, for body, grill, etc...?

Because I was told by my friend, who works for a paint company, that if you dont use the specially made wheel paint, and you use the regular body paint, or engine enamel, that all that motion of the wheels turning will get the paint to crack/chip, etc.

 

what's your take on this?

[PGT]

I've used both and what it comes down to is prep. I've had $3 rustoleum hold up better than $10 Duplicolor wheel paint.

 

also, I should say, it's actually helpful if you can let teh wheels sit for a week or two before using or mounting. The paint takes that long to fully harden despite what it says on the label.

[MarkV]

what im wondering though is, how long did it take until u'r paint gave out? because i tend to drive through rough areas and such, and my rims dont look like they've been messed up at all now with all those rocks and dirt brushing on em.?

 

i've been told to powder coat, but i do not in any frikin way have 200 bucks to do so

[PGT]

I did my Jeep wheels and they're doing fine (OEM but sandblasted for good adherence). The ones for my MINI (Enkei's I sanded down) chipped within a month.

[MarkV]

I did my Jeep wheels and they're doing fine (OEM but sandblasted for good adherence). The ones for my MINI (Enkei's I sanded down) chipped within a month.

 

 

Yea, thats my issue, If I sand em down myself, i'm afraid they're going to chip or get "unpainted" in a day or two with my childish antics,

 

how much, if any cost was it to sand blast em'

[20lgt06]

see my pic on post 4 -- if you take your time like i did will will come out awsome, if possible spray indoors with ventilation, becuase i did mines outside and there are a few specs of dust on of the rims when i sprayed.

 

http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=88974

[MarkV]

see my pic on post 4 -- if you take your time like i did will will come out awsome, if possible spray indoors with ventilation, becuase i did mines outside and there are a few specs of dust on of the rims when i sprayed.

 

http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=88974

 

 

they look awesome, now i just ned enough time in the day....uuhhhhggghhhh, weekends are not long enough!!!