Painting Rims...

[alien]

Got some bare steel rims (custom made) - is it worth powdercoating them or should i just primer and coat with a spray can???

I was thinking of using some of that stuff that does engine parts (gloss black) rather than dishing out on powdercoat...

what are your thoughts? or should i stop being a stinge? lol

[5inchgq]

Stop being stingy

I'm about to get some steel rims sandblasted before I buy and fit weld on bead locks and they will be powder coated as will the lock rings.


They should last heaps longer than my last rattle can paint job. Even with sanding, undercoating and a decent spraycan the paint went to sh!t really quickly.

[steve patrol]

depends who does the powder coating... some of them dont cleanit properly before spraying it making flake off after a knock... Ive used black cold gal spray on my rims, no undercoating, 2 year on the rims are fuct but the paints still good. just make sure you clean all the wax and grease off properly!!!

When painting anything its 90% prep work 10% painting.

Cheers

steve

[alien]

where abouts did you get the black cold gal? or is that just 'rust guard' or similar?

I've used black rust guard to do my whole rear bumper - its stayed on great, but has faded to a matt dark grey over the last 2.5 years, not what i want for my rims =)

[zooker]

I took my time sanding back my old set of rims then sprayed them with I think black killrust. Lasted well for 2 years until I sold the car. And only cost about $14 per rim

[coxy321]

I've used metal armour in the past with good results, but as said, you need to spend some time prepping them.

[alien]

how was the prep done? just to be super sure.

right now the rims are bare steel, just had the centers welded in.

[alien]

out of curiosity... looks like i might be able to get plating done... either zinc or chrome (black).

any reason i should swing one way or the other? (powdercoat vs plating) ? obivously you can touch up black powdercoat, but would the plating not be far stronger?

[BundyRumandCoke]

I've used Charcoal Hammertone paint, bought from Supercrap. Turned out OK, and the paint hides a multitude of sins. Touch up is also easy, if, or should that be, when they get scratched.

[coxy321]

how was the prep done? just to be super sure.

right now the rims are bare steel, just had the centers welded in.

Clean the shit out of them, then clean them again. Start with brake cleaner, then go to a wax/grease/prepsol cleaner with appropriate rag. Hit it with some sand paper or a flapper disc to smooth out any rough bits and remove any surface rust. I'd etch prime it first, although its not completely necessary with Killrust/MetalArmour, i feel that it does help (why wouldn't it??).

Allow the etch primer to set and bite in, just read the cans label for a full curing time. Once its cured, wipe over the surface with some 600/800 sandpaper (dry is less messy) to clear off any dags, then clean it up again with wax/grease/prepsol cleaner and appropriate rag.

Once this is done, you can now hit it with the colour paint. Don't over-do it! Many lighter coats is better than one heavy coat that takes weeks to cure and looks like shit. Take your time, and read the can to allow for proper curing time before another coat of paint is applied. I think MetalArmour is within 20 minutes for an immediate re-application, and 72 hours for a "full" curing time, however i have left some things for 1-2 weeks just to be sure, to be sure.

You might also find you need to wipe off some dags with the 600/800 grit sandpaper between coats to remove any dags, and don't forget to prepsol before applying paint.

Another thing i have done in the past is to run a bead of sylicone between the rim and centre crevice (use a similar coloured sylicone, of course). This stops shit getting in there, as i've found most rims start to rust out from this crevice due to sand/dirt sitting in there.

Saying all of that, if you can get GOOD powdercoating - DO IT! The finish is much nicer, and someone else has to do all of the work.

[alien]

haha yeah i thought as much - thanks heaps for the mega write up dude.

Sounds like podwercoat is going to be the way to go, as i doubt i'd be able to get into the little folds etc in the rim with paper - they get to use a sandblaster! =)

Anyone got thoughts on powdercoat vs plating? doing a call around this morning to gather pricing, i'm assuming plating will cost more but not sure.

[alien]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH WHAT A JOKE!!!

called around some powdercoaters, average price to paint only was $50-55/rim - however i found the guy that did my last rims, he's $30ea to prime and paint.

out of curiosity i also called 'Ultrachrome' who do a black chrome plating, they wanted $1200-1300 PER RIM and i'd have to get the centers removed! hahahahahahahaha