How to properly paint wheels

[Tony Z]

So a lot of threads have asked about how do you do wheels the correct way.

Well here is the the right way to do wheel refurbishment as per the "Old Toppies"

1st you send the rims out for sand blast.
Next you have the whole wheel powder coated with the colour you want the hub to be.
Then you mask off the hub, Make sure you drop the masking tape into the grove, before sticking it to the wheel, so that it sits right down in the grove, as shown here;-





You may have noticed that the powder coating will not go into the grove/ joint line, this is normal and will be sorted later.

Now paint the uncovered edge of the rim, making sure you spray right to the bottom as well as over the edge of the rim, as you do not want a white ring between your rim and tyre.







When dry, remove the masking carefully, as it may still have some wet spots, and you do not want to smear the paint now.





You will find you land up with a terrible edge line, that looks like S#it, and bumps from the sandblasting and powder coating.

Fear not, that is where experience comes into play.......

You now take a syringe, fill it with the paint used on the wheel, and start applying it to the wheel.





Make sure you have a steady stream coming out, and make sure the tip of the syringe, stays on the painted edge, NOT the grove, as it will flow in by it self.

If you do not keep it on the painted edge, you will land up with high spots, and smears where you do not want them, then you have to start all over again.

Take it slow, and make sure you wipe the front of the syringe perfectly clean before coming over the rim, as one drop could spoil the whole show.

If you do not have it all covered, or you have messed up, go around again, with more paint, and make a new edge line higher up.

When you done, it should look like this.......









Thanks for looking

Herman

[calooker]

I have done many wheels, after sandblast and 1 coat of etch primer, I seal the joint/seam with quality paintable acrilic sealer, very simple, no fuss, smoothed out with your finger then paint, never had a wheel rust in that area.

[Hloni]

Thanks Tony for pulling this into here.

If one were to paint the wheels, NOT powdercoat, would one need a high-heat paint or a standard automotive paint will do? I'm looking at a 2 tone too - match body, so not a standard "chrome/alu/ finish.

[Tony Z]

@retrovan

[retrovan]

Thanks Tony for pulling this into here.

If one were to paint the wheels, NOT powdercoat, would one need a high-heat paint or a standard automotive paint will do? I'm looking at a 2 tone too - match body, so not a standard "chrome/alu/ finish.

Hi Hloni,

A std auto paint will do, not as robust as Powder, but if applied with a etch primer, then base coat then clear coat, the wheel will be perfect.

just allow for the correct flash off between coats.

The only must is that you clear coat it to seal it from Dog Piss

Herman

[Hloni]

Will surely seal it. Thanks Retro!

[bugspray]

Yessss clear coat!! Redid a set of rossies but wanted a satin look. 2k satin black was used without a clear coat too keep the satin look.

Paint scratched like a mofo! Have to find satin clear or a Matt clear and redo now

[RebeccaB]

excellent post. thank you.

where do I get my Wheels sandblasted and painted in Cape Town or nearby? and how much will it approx cost?

Thank you

[73type2]

There are a couple of places close to you, e. g. Powder Coating World, Link Close, Montague Gardens.

[73type2]

A couple of years ago I paid R450 per rim sandblasted and powder coated.