How To: Paint Stock Rims

[BETRTHNU]

well for all who pm\'d me about painting their rims...here you go... :p

Helpful tools:

-Sanding disc attachment for Drill...you can do this by hand but I\'m lazy. Use 3 different levels of sanding disc or sand paper.

-Fine sand disc 160 grit..They usually come Course, Medium and Fine labled right on the package..so you need not worry about the # of the Grit...also wetsanded rims after with wetsanding paper...must keep water running over rims whe whole time you do this so ask a friend to hold the hose while you do this...or do it in a large tub with running water.

-I used 3M green automotive tape to tape off rubber since its a biatch getting paint off tires.

-Primer...not everyone uses this, but I find that it helps keep the paint on my rims...maybe just me though...

-I used the duplicolor gold paint found at Canadian Tire.(any paint will do, engine paint, high heat paint...rims do get a little toasty in the summer, so I went with the Duplicolour as its widely used as rim paint).

-Clear Coat duplicolor (again from Crappy Tire) this is optional and depends on color you chose to paint rim because if gives the rim a glossy shine. If you\'re doing flat black skip this process.

-Take wheels off of car obviously!

-Cleaned my rims with The castrol purple bottle cleaner/degreaser, front and back, found at any Crappy Tire.

-Then cleaned them with \"AJAX\" or any other sink/pot/pan powder cleaner.

-Mask the tire with the green 3M tape or any other type of tape. Also tape of the valve stems and caps unless you want them to match the rim.

-Take sand disc with drill and \"course\" disc and sand away...going from course-medium-fine. You have to be the judge of how much to do to get off any curb rash, scratches. I also used a file to get some nasty curb rash out.

-Wetsanding is the same except use your hands and keep water running over the place you sand. This will get those fine scratches out.

-Use your hands and feel for smoothness and evenness.

-Wipe dust off rims with damp cloth or high pressure washer.

-Lay rim flat on ground and Spray Primer...even strokes with can about 6\" above rim\" Do not just blast the rim with primer or paint as it will run and leave some nasty paint marks and make your rims actually look like a home job.

-Spray with even strokes...less paint is more...you can do many coats but if you FACK it up...fixing it is a days wait minimum. If you mess up then leave it for at least a day to cure before trying to sand down again and re-paint errors.

-Have a piece of cloth handy and every so often; wipe excess paint from spray can nozzel.

-Leave for about 20-30 minutes then apply another coat of Primer.

-Let dry for 20-30 minutes then start applying coats of \"gold/silver/black/whatever\" Paint at 30-40 minute intervals (this can be done at 20 mins but I played it safe)

-Re-apply coats. I did 6 coats over 2 days...I was studying for exams... :p

-IF Clear Coating...then follow same procedure as above with 20-40 minute intervals also. I did 3 coats.

-The Hard Part...Leave for 24-48 Hours before removing masking tape and Mounting on car.
I left mine off for 5 days as I was studying for exams.

from this...


to this...


happy painting...

[BETRTHNU]

[FLIPDADY]

Damn those gold wheels look good on the WB.

Excellent job Peter!

[Caz]

Nice write up, looks really good.

[invisibleCK]

nice write up and damn it looks good. Change the hood and add a bigger spoiler, and it will look like a WRX STI. sweet!

[BETRTHNU]

Originally posted by invisibleCK


nice write up and damn it looks good. Change the hood and add a bigger spoiler, and it will look like a WRX STI. sweet!

ummmmm not exactly what i\'m looking to do....but thanks.

[Diablo_6]

Rims look sweet!

[BETRTHNU]

Rims look sweet!

thanks....they are going to be black in a couple days...changing the looks of the car a bit.

[OakTownBaller]

Excellent write-up man and it looks as though you did an excellent job.

[WhiteSpeed3]

very nice job but only one prob WHEEL WEIGHTS

wen u go to rebalance them ur gonna see the colour behind it

[b]

Eagle eyes!!!!!!

Wow I didn't even catch that or the painted air valve until you just pointed that out.

I like the colour. Rims look nice.

[jaym3]

i think the hardest part of this is....waiting like a friggin week lol

[wardgroup]

Has anyone else attempted this? - I think i will be hmmm What color? im thinking black for sure... but this is totally a summer job starting on a friday...

[Fezuki]

The instructions are excellent, I followed every step and my snowflakes turned out very nice. I have a few pictures posted in the multimedia section if anyone wants to have a look before they attempt it. It's a very long process, took me 3 days as opposed to the suggested 5 but so far so good.

[chinsterr]

powdercoat FTW !


I got mine powdercoated becuase i was afraid of chipping with the paint , have any of you noticed chipping/spider webbing (if gloss was used)?

[Caz]

I painted 2 sets of rims for other cars I have owned using this method, I had a few minor chips on one of the sets, I believe this was because the spokes were flush with the outside of the rim. The other set was fine as the spokes were recessed and the rims had a lip. I never had a problem with spider webbing with the gloss. The key to the process is to use the right products, follow the directions and take you time.

[BETRTHNU]

mine were still gold with no chips. flakes, or spider webs...drove it for a summer with no issues...take your time and you wont have any of the above problems...air valve I was just too lazy, but now its back to black so it looks stock. lol

[maumau]

if anyone need helplet me know, i am willing to help out for a the price of coffee.
starbuck please

it takes time but it will come out nice
ipained mine bronze

[triumphbliss]

So I painted my stock rims and I let them dry overnight. I decided that I'd like to do another clear coat to make them really shine.

My question is.. do I have to lightly sand them to ensure the last clear coat sticks and doesnt start to chip or peel? Or can I just spray the last clear coat overtop the already dried paint?

Thanks!

[aberg83]

Going for the impreza wrx look eh?

[zoso]

i know this is an old topic, but i just did my rims and picked up a few tips,

Let the rims bake in the sun but paint them in the shade, if you paint in the sun you'll end up with a lot of paint dust, and waste a lot of paint

Get one of those pneumatic stools if you can. I took off my rotor put it in a bag, and placed that on the seat then the wheel on the rotor, with the seat extended as high as it could go, it let me turn the wheel while i painting make it it much much easier and faster. plus didn't have to bend down making it easier on my back and legs too,

Index cards, i hated them, i tried different ways to keep them there but soon or later they would come off or cover the rim just enough to make me miss spots.

[6strings]

would a little bit of bondo or filler help with the curb rash?

[Jaysan]

Use something called "JB Weld" for your curb rash.
It is sold at canadian tire and it comes in two packages. I believe it was black and red. You mix it and apply it to your rash and let it dry. After, just sand it until its smooth.

Its better than using bondo

[6strings]

Use something called "JB Weld" for your curb rash.
It is sold at canadian tire and it comes in two packages. I believe it was black and red. You mix it and apply it to your rash and let it dry. After, just sand it until its smooth.

Its better than using bondo

Thank you for the info.
Then I would prime it right?

[fletchn8n]

i have some jb weld if you need 6strings