hey buddy **** up.. i got a quick question


What did you use to prep your wheels for the coloring.. im thinking about doing this to mine.. but i need to know what i will need, so that when i hit up home depot i know what to look for..

thanks..

Use some 409 and a lint free cloth.
You might need some 2000 grit sandpaper for any little bumps on the rims.

If you want to do a really good job, have the tires off the wheels.

First, sand them good. Once they are nice and smooth, spary them with primer. If the rim still feels a little rough, sand it till its smooth, and primer again. Do this as many times necessary. But remember to let the primer dry before you sand (if you have to sand again).

Once they are ready to get painted, choose your paint. I used DupliColor engine enamel (black). Duplicolor makes a few paints specifically made for rims, but the colors are a little limited. Do light coats of paint, if you do them too heavy, the paint will run.

If you are happy with how they look now, skip this last part, but if you want to get a shiny finish, use some clear coat. I also used a DupliColor clear coat. Again, spray light coats, and use a blowdrier or heat gun on the rim as soon as you finish spraying, and they will come out real shiny.

I need to thank Rob (SE-Rican) for helping me do my rims. They would have come out better, but we rushed to finish them before it got dark outside :)

Good luck

I was just curious...I wanted to paint mine gunmetal but I was worried that if I didnt do powder coating that they would just chip and look like crap...since they look good now...I dont want to degrade the appearence. How about stopping hard on yoru brakes...the paint doesnt fade? Actually, I dont keven know if they have high temp gunmetal paint....but I am still curious.

Originally posted by Buckwilly
...the paint doesnt fade? Actually, I dont keven know if they have high temp gunmetal paint....but I am still curious.

Serban went with a glossy look.
I went with a low gloss black "CERAMIC" Duplicolor paint.
The ceramic type is thicker and doesnt "run" as bad as regular paint. Mine have not faded. Its been about 2 months.
I did about 12 light coats and NO PRIMER.

Here is Serbans rims
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid13/p3968b19cdc5d1ba4e920342341b1f956/fdd9e8a4.jpg

Here are my B13 stocks
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid13/p7ce741031daa2f729d81bb3931f32496/fdda8b08.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid13/p7be258c2bec6f20c9af05079d63fcf3a/fdda8b0b.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid13/pb5d2f8b375ecc1ffa3d774f9dbf171f6/fdda8b07.jpg

those aren't serban's rims. those are brad woolworth's from kansas. how do i know, you ask? i took the picture.

not being anal, just pointing out the rightful owner.

btw: brad's rims were powdercoated.

yeah, those arent my rims, here is a shot of mine:

http://garnet.acns.fsu.edu/~sgg8661/105-0582_IMG.JPG

I apologize on behalf of Figgy for posting incorrect information :cool:

i just saw this.. thanks serbs and figgy... they look nice... but 12 thin layers.. damn.. well i guess one wheel one day at a time.. huh.. hehe.

wish me luck..

God damn they look nice...

Originally posted by Fast91SER
yeah, those arent my rims, here is a shot of mine:
http://garnet.acns.fsu.edu/~sgg8661/105-0582_IMG.JPG



There they are!!! OOPs, I grabbed the wrong pic!!!!

You get the point!! :cool:

PLease dont apologize for me. I dont believe in apologies. :D ;)

Forget it...powder coating is looking more and more like a better alternative. Do you guys know whow much they usually charge for powder coating 4 rims..on average? Regardless all those rims look great....I just dont trust myself doing 4 of my rims like that....just to much of a risk if I screw it up.

Powdercoating is the better alternative, but the more expensive one as well. I have heard of places that do it as low as $100 for all 4 wheels, and some that charge $60 per wheel. No matter what though, you have to take off the tires on all the rims, then get them put on. Thats probably another $50 to get them off, and back on and balanced again. So if you can find a place to do it for $100 all 4, it would be worh it, otherwise, practice spray painting a few things, then when you are ready, do the rims.

BTW, I did mine with the tires still on the car. I did get some overspray on the tires, but within a day, it came off.

Maybe I will try it on some cheapo tires I have...another question....I didnt try this but will 13" 1995 gxe stock rims fit on my car...just curious and I dont want to take the rims off to do it. I have them for winter tires. But someone told me they may not fit.

I dont think the 13s will fit over the brakes, but I am not 100% sure.

:(

Now I have to get another set. I dont want my 14's for the winter. I need some steelys...I will try to see if they fit anyhow.

Buckwilly,

Its really not that "time consuming". I did mine while watching some tv. I would spray the rim with a light coat. Let it dry in the sun till the next commercial and respray it again. I did it till the rim looked good "to me". I did mine with the TIRES ON as well. :D
I didnt want to spend alot on this project. ( as well as my other projects :D ) The low gloss black was hardly VISIBLE on the tires when I did mine. And I was out in the sun. You can see from the pics.

I think there is nothing to it but to do it!!:cool:

One of the best $4 mods that I have done.:)

My issue is taht I hav ea black car and I do not want black rims...i would prefer a gunmetal or a nice looking dark grey....but I havent seen engine paint in that color...and Idont want to use just car body paint like I did my badging.

Duplicolor makes a wheel paint, its supposed to be more durable against chipping. I have seen the white, silver, and the clear coat at AutoZone, but I think thye also make a gunmetal color. You can go there and ask, maybe they can order it for you.

Since my rims are pretty small in actual mass...and surface area for painting...maybe this might work out well. I will check auto zone out today. I mean, 4 bucks as opposed to 100 bucks and some knowledge seems like a good trade off. Thanks for your help.

I was just reviewing the pics again and the B13 stockers look a lot like the color I want...is that a black or is that a grey paint on those. I like that look...