Provided thet you rubbed back the gloss well between each coat you should have no problems with chipping.
When painting, preparation is everything.
When painting, preparation is everything.
Painting Rims?
- Thread starter Rashid1739
- Start date
Lot older posts. But a good read.
Now I mostly paint my rims with spray can, due to cost. Im always on a tight budget.
I have found the better spray paints come from the auto parts stores. Laquer paint is what I prefer.
High heat paint with ceramic in it, works well.
yes this method does make it easier to to chip and it does not get the rim lip, if you do no take the tire off.
But if you got some dull or ugly rims. it does not hurt to spruce them up, over doing nothing at all. If a professional job is outside of the question.
Most spray can paints, do not have a good curing agent in them. It takes much longer to fully cure spray paint. Weeks !
You can also go to a auto paint place and they can mix paint 4 you and stuff with a hardner and put into a spray bottle or spray can also. The can , ect. can not sit long, or it will sure inside of the can, but can wait a day to use.
Allot of people, just do not do good prep, and thats the key to a good looking rim and good paint and clear coats, help it last longer.
But still its not gonna compare to professional or powder coating. Its just not, but for $20 you can do a decent job.
here is some pictures of my work.
here is what I do.
I like to use a wire brush on the end of drill. I get in there and just grind the heck out of it.
Then I use some 100 and 150 grit sand paper.
I use like 1 sheet per wheel.
the I use 220 and 320 grit.
I wipe the wheel off alot, get the dirt off ad old paint m inside alot, so Im just not tearing up my sand paper or leaving more scratchs.
I then put 3 to 4 coats of primer on, I put it on a little thick. I use about 1/4 of can ofpaint to start off with. t do the 3 to 4 coats. wait 10 to 15 minutes between coats. or you just gonna get runs.
I then let it dry 4 to 6 hours, maybe 8 dependson the weather. I ten wet sand wit 400 grit, often it clogs up a bit and watch the sandpaper, dipping and rinsing in water allot and checking for clogs. replace if it looks clogged.
it will stractch the heck out of the surface.
then if I ended up sanding thru the sand paper. I re-primer. repeat the sandng process.
once dry and clean. I then start to paint wth the pant I hae picked out.
I like to do light coats. I do a light coat on all the areas, tha are angled or look harder to cover. this often is where it tends to run at ad harder to cover those spots.
I liketo put on 5 to 7 coats.
Then I let dry, about the same amount of time and wet sand it. 400 grit / 600 grit/ 800 grit.
the finer you go, the better. if I sad thru. I repaint and re peat.
then I do my gloss coat !
I do 5 to 6 light coats.
I do not always wet sand, it depends how much time I want to put into it and what it looks like. Over the years. I have gotten a feel for wat will show and what I a get away with.
NOTE: The better condition the rim is in, the less paint you will need and the less work you need to do. I had some ruff rims, thatI painted black and had been painted like 3 times before me. and the prior paint jobs were done poorly and with cheap paint.
Sporty
Now I mostly paint my rims with spray can, due to cost. Im always on a tight budget.
I have found the better spray paints come from the auto parts stores. Laquer paint is what I prefer.
High heat paint with ceramic in it, works well.
yes this method does make it easier to to chip and it does not get the rim lip, if you do no take the tire off.
But if you got some dull or ugly rims. it does not hurt to spruce them up, over doing nothing at all. If a professional job is outside of the question.
Most spray can paints, do not have a good curing agent in them. It takes much longer to fully cure spray paint. Weeks !
You can also go to a auto paint place and they can mix paint 4 you and stuff with a hardner and put into a spray bottle or spray can also. The can , ect. can not sit long, or it will sure inside of the can, but can wait a day to use.
Allot of people, just do not do good prep, and thats the key to a good looking rim and good paint and clear coats, help it last longer.
But still its not gonna compare to professional or powder coating. Its just not, but for $20 you can do a decent job.
here is some pictures of my work.
here is what I do.
I like to use a wire brush on the end of drill. I get in there and just grind the heck out of it.
Then I use some 100 and 150 grit sand paper.
I use like 1 sheet per wheel.
the I use 220 and 320 grit.
I wipe the wheel off alot, get the dirt off ad old paint m inside alot, so Im just not tearing up my sand paper or leaving more scratchs.
I then put 3 to 4 coats of primer on, I put it on a little thick. I use about 1/4 of can ofpaint to start off with. t do the 3 to 4 coats. wait 10 to 15 minutes between coats. or you just gonna get runs.
I then let it dry 4 to 6 hours, maybe 8 dependson the weather. I ten wet sand wit 400 grit, often it clogs up a bit and watch the sandpaper, dipping and rinsing in water allot and checking for clogs. replace if it looks clogged.
it will stractch the heck out of the surface.
then if I ended up sanding thru the sand paper. I re-primer. repeat the sandng process.
once dry and clean. I then start to paint wth the pant I hae picked out.
I like to do light coats. I do a light coat on all the areas, tha are angled or look harder to cover. this often is where it tends to run at ad harder to cover those spots.
I liketo put on 5 to 7 coats.
Then I let dry, about the same amount of time and wet sand it. 400 grit / 600 grit/ 800 grit.
the finer you go, the better. if I sad thru. I repaint and re peat.
then I do my gloss coat !
I do 5 to 6 light coats.
I do not always wet sand, it depends how much time I want to put into it and what it looks like. Over the years. I have gotten a feel for wat will show and what I a get away with.
NOTE: The better condition the rim is in, the less paint you will need and the less work you need to do. I had some ruff rims, thatI painted black and had been painted like 3 times before me. and the prior paint jobs were done poorly and with cheap paint.
Sporty
What you should do has more to do with the surface you are starting with. If your rims are rusty, pitted and the paint is flaking off,,,,,You should take the tires off, if rust is on the outside, it's on the inside too. Media blast to bare metal and use some type of rust kill treatment, then a build up rust preventing primer (used to fill rust pitting). Spray the primer then sand it off until you are back to a smooth surface. Then prime with a sealing/pre paint primer, then you're ready for the paint. If you go to an automotive paint supply, they will be able to sale you the best paint and primers for the job. If the current finish is in very good condition and no chips or rust. Just clean the wheels with a wax and oil remover, sand with 400 grit until all the shine is dull, clean again with a pre paint solvent, wipe down with a tack cloth and paint. You should have good even coverage in 3 properly applied coats, thinker than needed paint chips easier. Take into account the temp and humidity when you are painting for the time waited between coats. Not enough time will cause improperly cured and soft under coats, too much will cause orange peel and lack of adhesion (flaking) between each coat. When the cost of doing paint work to it's best possible level is all added up, powder coating is a real bargain. If you go a step farther and figure in the cost and longevity that each finish offers, power coating is the cheaper long term option.
take ALLLLLLLL the old paint off with a wire wheel, good coat of primer, couple coats of paint, allowing to become tacky before the next coat, then some clear coat.
i don't take my tires off i just use painters tape and squeeze it tight between the rim and tire
i don't take my tires off i just use painters tape and squeeze it tight between the rim and tire
Powder coating is the best option. We have a powder coating booth at work so i get my rims and all parts powder coated free of charge and it last much longer than the can spray.
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