Painting rims

[Fergie]

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.

Personally, I don't like aluminum colored wheels. That said, the ones in my previous post are steel wheels.

CYi5's wheels did turn out nicely.

Turns out too, that the spare wheel that came with my set is already black...less work for me.

And Doc, when you buy the correct vehicle to start off with, you don't have to worry as much about mods :elkgrin:

 

[cruiseroutfit]

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.

And that's how internet rumors get started. Considering OEM and aftermarket wheel manufactures use powdercoating on a regular basis for aluminum/alloy wheels, I'll trust their collective judgment. Chroming on the other hand :sombrero:

For giggles I did some googling, lots of inquiries about the potential over-aging of aluminum when powder coating, but zero actual experience and the science leans against. On the other hand you have big companies like Mickey Thompson Wheel, Automated Wheel, Stockton Wheel, AMS Wheels, American Racing, Racelinel etc, etc all utilizing powder coating on aluminum and all their steel (non chrome). Pretty sure one of them has an engineer or mat. sci specialist.

I'm by no means saying its right for everyone. But it sure is the preferred and proven method for me. Scratches, no problem, touch up, no problem. I just had my beadlocks re-powder coated. They started coated, had been painted several times, I even had them blasted and I repainted. This last time I had them blasted and powder-coated. Re-assembled with stainless hardware.



This is what the zinc coated hardware looked like after just a few years of Utah winters and salt deserts. Hence the stainless.

 

[Dave Bennett]

And Doc, when you buy the correct vehicle to start off with, you don't have to worry as much about mods :elkgrin:

Hmmm... if my memory serves me correctly you had a Jeep before you saw the light and bought the correct vehicle :snorkel:

Besides, I love the build as much as the journey! :sombrero:

 

[java]

if your painting with the tire on, use note cards tucked between teh wheel and tire. keeps the paint off the tire and makes masking way easy.
ive painted with std spray paint and it didnt hold up like the wheel paint.

 

[Fergie]

Hmmm... if my memory serves me correctly you had a Jeep before you saw the light and bought the correct vehicle :snorkel:

Besides, I love the build as much as the journey! :sombrero:

:snorkel: doesn't begin to cover the WJ. Reference the avatar pic for the "Striped Butte Bang!"

The build keeps us out of trouble too.

 

[matt s]

For me it was

wire wheel

mask

rustoleum

Done


To the OP. I cannot say why, but your rendition of the VW with the black wheels didn't work for me. To each their own of course. I guess it made the wheel/tires all look really small. Perhaps dark green to match the rest of the van.

 

[Root Moose]

I'm not a fan of powder coat.

Here is the salt belt it seems that once it gets a nick in it the salt goes under the powder coat and rusts underneath and it flakes off in big pieces.

Sanding then painting seems much more resilient.

That said, the ARB on the XJ has been behaving more like a painted item than a powder coated one. Maybe it is related to the quality of the piece. My powdered parts experience was with ProComp lift parts (garbage - ****** was I thinking?)

 

[cruiseroutfit]

...That said, the ARB on the XJ has been behaving more like a painted item than a powder coated one. Maybe it is related to the quality of the piece. My powdered parts experience was with ProComp lift parts (garbage - ****** was I thinking?)

Just like any other paint, prep is key and the differences between a shoddy powder-coater and a quality one are stark. I've seen ARB's powder-coating process first hand, they have it down to a science

 

[JeepN95YJ]

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.

I agree 100%. Plus I like the white letters out. :drool:

 

[R_Lefebvre]

And that's how internet rumors get started. Considering OEM and aftermarket wheel manufactures use powdercoating on a regular basis for aluminum/alloy wheels, I'll trust their collective judgment. Chroming on the other hand :sombrero:

For giggles I did some googling, lots of inquiries about the potential over-aging of aluminum when powder coating, but zero actual experience and the science leans against. On the other hand you have big companies like...

Like I said, it's a rumor, and I don't know the truth to it. It's plausible that manufacturers use a special powder with a lower melting temp than a typical small shop would use?

I don't really know, didn't care to do the homework because around here, there's no comparison on cost. $5/can, or $100/wheel. I've been quoted as high as $200 to refinish a wheel.

And why black? Well, to each his own. We now live in a world where 99% of the cars have silver aluminum wheels, or silver hubcaps. Black wheels stand out, and tend to "look the business", IMO.

 

[mtnbike28]

What I did...

My wife (new to us) RAV4 was go from

to this with only $15 in supplies. Sand, self etching primer, then rattle can.

I liked it so much I am painting the Taco's rim this color today (after Turkey) to see how it looks... if I don't like them, I would just go back to flat black.

hth

 

[86cj]

Just like any other paint, prep is key and the differences between a shoddy powder-coater and a quality one are stark. I've seen ARB's powder-coating process first hand, they have it down to a science

That is the reason I bought my ARB front bumper, it was not my first choice. My research turned up your info about the process and it was a deal maker. It still looks like new today................


I have painted two sets of steel wheels with real auto paint (single stage enamel) and good primer after sandblasting. Both sets were driven in the salty winters and lasted as good as the factory paint on the vehicle. The set on my truck are entering their 13th winter and look pretty good.

I have used most of the spray bomb type paints available today, and over the years I have decided if I can't do it right with Auto paint, plain old rustoleum holds up the best to our salty winters.

 

[Sabre07]

For me it was

wire wheel

mask

rustoleum

Done

I was supposed to have a mask on?

 

[getlost4x4]

pressure washer at work.:victory:

How'd you clean the paint off the tires?

 

[getlost4x4]

i used john deere gloss black spray paint. the stuff sticks very well.

if you use a pressure washer on the tire after the paint dries, there is no need to mask it off. all the paint came off the tires really easily.