Painting rims

[vanderpooch]

I REALLY want to paint my rims last minute and need some color advice?

This is now:

And this is what I would like:

The bumpers and rear bumper swings are all powdercoated a textured black semi gloss finish. I'm not sure if i should paint the rims the same Black Semi or tone them down a bit with a flat and clear coat or maybe a gunmetal type color. Here in Tennessee it's really not all that common to see rigs with painted rims so i'm a little unsure what route to go.

Any advice?

 

[Rexsname]

I have had great results with Duplicolor Wheel paint. They have both a black and a gunmetal color. I know you already know this but......Its all in the prep work!




REX

 

[Dave Bennett]

I recommend a good cleaner like POR-15's Marine Clean to get all the grease/oil and brake dust off first.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Is powdercoating an option for you? Sounds like you have a coater you've worked with. I've just not seen wet paint hold up on wheels like powdercoat and its often just $20-25/wheel to have them professionally coated.

A setup we recently did in which the wheels were powdercoated to match the bumpers:

 

[Fergie]

I used "Airplane Stripper"(or something to that effect). Get the kind that comes in the rectangular can, and that you can apply with a paint brush. The spray stuff isnt as good. So, apply this snotty stuff everywhere you want the paint gone. I didmy entire wheels, front back, inside and out. Wear rubber or chem gloves as this stuff will burn if it get on you. Let the stripper dry, and you'll see the old paint bubbling off. Hit it with a wire wheel, and repeat the process until everything is clean.

Then, do a light sanding of all the surfaces that will be painted. I used 100 grit because I had some left over. Then clean the surface with some alcohol or something of that nature.

I used some wheel primer for the base coat. 2 coats all over(40SF coverage per can). Then, 4 coats of flat black Rustoleum wheel paint, then 2 coats of clear for good measure(wheel paint again).

I used the Rustoleum for mine because Duplicolor did not have flat black, but I do believe they have a color close to what you want.

My wheels started out looking like this:

And ended up like this:

Not bad for $50 for all the wheels, and $50 in paint and material.

 

[R_Lefebvre]

I have used both the Duplicolor wheel paint, and just a regular spray paint on numerous occaisions, always with good results. I've got a set of trackday wheels I painted black, and they have held up to the heat and brake dust for years with no problems. My last set I've done was for my truck, and the paint is holding up other than where the wheels is completely ground off against the rocks and the aluminum is shredded.

 

[getlost4x4]

i would paint them.

if you use this vehicle off road you won't be happy when you scrap off that powder coating on a rock.

with paint, you can touch up scratches pretty easily.

i sanded mine and cleaned them.

dried in the sun after painted.

all done

 

[cruiseroutfit]

i would paint them.

if you use this vehicle off road you won't be happy when you scrap off that powder coating on a rock.

with paint, you can touch up scratches pretty easily.

I hear this logic all the time, but where does it originate from? Powdercoat can easily be touched up, really no different than a standard wet paint. There are even powder-coat color matched touch up paints available.

Why do you think so many 'professional' companies send out their products powder-coated? Its not because its cheaper in many cases. Bikes, sliders, bumpers, roof-racks, wheels, axle housings, skid plates, furniture, you name it.

I used to be a major 'spray-bomb' fan but as powder-coating has become some much more affordable in the last few years it just not worth it to me to spend $50 in materials to try and strip and paint wheels that can be blasted and coated for $80. Your results may vary.

 

[getlost4x4]

we have one powdercoater. its +$100 per wheel.

all i have to do to touch up scratches is sand the area a little, mask it off, spray, let dry.

touch up on the powder coat would consist of taking the wheel to someone, removing the tire, having the spot hit and then sitting in an oven.

the powdercoater i was using for some diff. covers wanted everything bare metal anytime a part was being coated. he would not powder coat over existing powder coat. so with him, the whole wheel would have to be redone.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

we have one powdercoater. its +$100 per wheel.

Thats rough, we don't pay that to have entire bumpers blasted and painted. I guess I take for granite the fact we have dozens of coating companies in the area several of which are very 4x4 friendly ie their owners are in the community. If we were paying those prices I would no doubt spray can them myself too. You might check around a little and see if there are more reasonable ones.

touch up on the powder coat would consist of taking the wheel to someone, removing the tire, having the spot hit and then sitting in an oven.

Again, powder-coat touches up just fine, you don't have to blast it, you don't have to have them 'spot hit' it (can that even be done???). You just touch it up.

the powdercoater i was using for some diff. covers wanted everything bare metal anytime a part was being coated. he would not powder coat over existing powder coat. so with him, the whole wheel would have to be redone.

That is the mixed blessing. If you deal with powder-coaters that have in-house blasting, the price doesn't change much, again we get wheels done in the $20-25 range.The blasting ensures your not going to be painting over a layer of paint or coating that will fail down the road.

 

[stioc]

dried in the sun after painted.

[/IMG]

How'd you clean the paint off the tires?

 

[CYi5]

I recently used the rustoleum wheel paint along with self etching primer, turned out well.

Wire wheeled the old clearcoat off.

Self etching Primer

Paint

Finished

I love that color of VW by the way, best i've seen!

 

[R_Lefebvre]

Oh, and the other thing is... I've heard plenty of unsubstantiated rumors of the powerdercoat baking process weakening aluminum wheels. I don't have a good handle reality of that, but thought it should be discussed.

FWIW, I sandblasted my wheels to scuff up the original paint, but did not completely strip it. I haven't had a paint failure on any of the wheels.

 

[ExpoMike]

So what is the deal with everyone wanting to go with black wheels??? I just don't understand this idea. In the old days, black wheels meant you were cheap and had stock steel wheels because you couldn't afford the upgraded aluminum wheels.

Steel wheels I can almost see doing black, since not too many other colors would look right but aluminum wheels... confused...

A prime example of someone doing it right (at least in my book) is the pics that CYi5 posted of the Toyota wheels. Those came out sharp looking. Had they been black, it would be like "whatever" and ignored.

Now black centers with polished lips, that's a different story, those can look very sharp, especially a mesh type wheel but no one is talking about those.

I guess I am just not with the times... but at the same time, I love slot mag wheels so you know where my thought process is.

 

[Dave Bennett]

I guess I am just not with the times... but at the same time, I love slot mag wheels so you know where my thought process is.

Mike, FYI... 1980 called... they want their slot mag wheels back :sombrero:

Personally I like the black wheel look but I'm in the "if it ain't broke dont fix it" club since I'm buried in USEFUL mods and projects that I NEED to get done. Someday I'll get around to worrying how my wheels look and painting my flares to match.

That reminds me, back out to the garage!