Painting Rims

**Polyal** · 02-02-2005, 04:53 PM

Hey people..

I was just wondering what is the best method to paint some rims?

Is this a job for the pro's? (panel beaters) I know sand blasting is a pretty robust method, but I was wanting to know what could handle a couple of gutter stracthes etc. Not that I am going curb hunting, but sh!t happens from time to time.

Thanks.

PS - can this please not be moved into a remote area

:

EA2BA · 02-02-2005, 05:18 PM

powder coating is the best method

kooky · 02-02-2005, 05:18 PM

here's a quote from my post in the photoshop section: hope this helps

seriously shane, have a crack at painting them yourself. It will cost you a grand total of around $40 to $60 to do them rather than $40 to $60 for each rim in powdercoat, additionally the powder coat will chip very easily.

Sand them back so as to remove any scratches and gutter rash, pay close attention to the wheel stud area.
Apply a coat of etch primer (1 can should cover them all)
Apply a coat of standard primer
sand back lightly with 800 - 1000 grit paper
apply 2 colour coats (2 cans of color should be plenty)
lightly block sand back the colour coat with 1500 wet & dry paper
Now heres the trick:
empty 3/4 of a can of clear onto each wheel then leave to sit in the sun for half a day

7 days later you can hit them with some cut and polish to take off the orange peel effect.

tickford2001 · 02-02-2005, 08:15 PM

couldnt have said it any better myself kooky, i would always go for that method over the powder coating - and these days you can even buy a VHT mag wheel paint that is supposed to be even more chip resistant

no matter what you use it will chip eventually, so why bother with the extra cost of powder coating? youre better off saving your money, and then being able to do it again in another couple of years and still be in front price wise

Casper · 02-02-2005, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dellboy999

powder coating is the best method

no, I looked into it more and it chips way too easy. Kooky's method is better and proff 2 pak is the best. they all can be scratched but the paint is more durable.

TIKFD6 · 02-02-2005, 09:52 PM

Thats the way ive always painted my rims darren.
;)

JADED6 · 03-02-2005, 03:28 AM

Never understood why you'd sand back the colour though. It'd make it dull (i think)

**Polyal** · 03-02-2005, 09:53 AM

well i have a set of old ROH's, and I dont particluarly want to get some new rims, so a freshining session is in order.

What sandpaper should I use? IS it a biatch of a job? I take it ill have to go to the wheel shop so they can take the tyres off then?

kooky · 03-02-2005, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polyal

well i have a set of old ROH's, and I dont particluarly want to get some new rims, so a freshining session is in order.

What sandpaper should I use? IS it a biatch of a job? I take it ill have to go to the wheel shop so they can take the tyres off then?

No need to remove tyres, mask around them.
Use 120 to rub them back to start with. Its time consuming but if you take your time and do it right the results are rewarding.

Remember to lightly sand back your undercoat so as to cover any light gutter rash. Plenty of light coats so the paint doesnt run.

Follow the steps outlined above for proceedure.

Yes sanding back the colour coat does dull the paint, but it gives a nice flat surface to lay on the clear coat. Then when or if you use some cut and polish on the clear you wont have to worry about breaking through the clear coat.

**Polyal** · 03-02-2005, 11:12 AM

thanks heaps kooky!

does anyone have any pics of thier handy work?

kooky · 03-02-2005, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polyal

thanks heaps kooky!

does anyone have any pics of thier handy work?

Ill see if I can scrounge a couple up for you.

fordel · 03-02-2005, 03:08 PM

i like the sound of that

i want to paint my rims white, i think they would set of the blue of my car quite well

chris

tickford2001 · 03-02-2005, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fordel

i like the sound of that

i want to paint my rims white, i think they would set of the blue of my car quite well

chris

yes the white wheels would look really good on your car!

TIKFD6 · 03-02-2005, 11:54 PM

Chris, they would look great.
You saw my car with the white wheels didnt you?

JADED6 · 04-02-2005, 03:26 AM

JCXR8 painted his AU2 xr wheels gold. Some pics in his gallery.
He is fairly handy when it comes to spraying car "bits" so maybe PM him aswell, combine that knowledge with the above info and you should be set

**Polyal** · 04-02-2005, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fordel

i like the sound of that

i want to paint my rims white, i think they would set of the blue of my car quite well

chris

yeah if I brought some different rims (some 5 spokers) then Id do white aswell. Im going black, and ill change my red bumper stripe thing to black aswell. Should look meaner..the lights will be tinted a bit too!

kooky · 04-02-2005, 09:39 AM

same method I mentioned earlier produced this result:

**Polyal** · 04-02-2005, 11:05 AM

thats looks awesome..exactly what I want to do. So did you do the back (inside) aswell?

I imagine this is going to take a while :(

kooky · 04-02-2005, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polyal

thats looks awesome..exactly what I want to do. So did you do the back (inside) aswell?

I imagine this is going to take a while :(

Inside done to match but you dont have to be as carefull. just to clarify that pic is not my car.

Yes it will take some time to do it properly but a day of your time you can save a lot of money and you get the satisfaction of doing it yourself.

Remember take your time and have a production line going, you find that by the time you have 1 coat finished on the last wheel you can lightly sand then start painting as you go. Oh make sure you paint and sand in different areas. you dont want the dust on you freshly painted wheels!!!

The wheels above were painted with 4 other sets so you can imagine the 20 wheels stacked in the driveway!!

I painted the side indicators on my rex using the same method using a colour matched pressure pack I had made up, with the clear coat rubbed back with rubbing compound, then polished you cannot tell that it wasnt painted in the factory.

Its just paint, if you get a run, let it dry, cut the run off with a razor blade, lightly sand it back and have another go. You will be an expert at the end of it and you wont think twice about doing it again.

see below for driveway pic.

**Polyal** · 04-02-2005, 11:58 AM

yeap it will probably take me a weekend!..lol

Only issue that I can see myself having is the sanding part at the start. The rims have copped a bit of a bashing over the years (ive had the car for about 5 months), so in some spots its going to be tough. Those rims in that pic look new.

Thanks for the advice, very handy indeed!

BTW..dont have a pressure pack..do I need one? I was just going to use cans like I did on my interior/rocker cover

kooky · 04-02-2005, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polyal

yeap it will probably take me a weekend!..lol

Only issue that I can see myself having is the sanding part at the start. The rims have copped a bit of a bashing over the years (ive had the car for about 5 months), so in some spots its going to be tough. Those rims in that pic look new.

Thanks for the advice, very handy indeed!

BTW..dont have a pressure pack..do I need one? I was just going to use cans like I did on my interior/rocker cover

Sorry my bad, pressure pack <-> can of paint, same thing!! Take time with the preperation this will yeild great results. Even if it does take you a weekend dont worry the results will be worth it.

Maybe spend one day sanding and prepping undercoat ready for the colour coat, then next day colour and clear coats. Its handy if you have a small fan heater and heat the rims before each layer of paint, helps dry quicker.

Alteratively lay them out in the sun and do them. You do need to be patient though if you rush it youll fvk it!!

JC · 05-02-2005, 03:18 AM

Kooky - the method you used is pretty much the same as mine. How did you get the masking tape to stick so well to the tyres - mine kept coming loose.

Also, does any one have any idea what Holts or Power Plus paint codes are for Shadow chrome - I know it's a deep metallic grey, but anyone know any specific colours or codes? Even something that's close will do. I think the speedy's are due for a bit of JC paint magic!