The index trick has been around, but it is very nice to use. The chipping s*cks.

if you sand them properly and use more coats wont that prevent it from chipping? I'm very tempted to do mine tonight!:biggthump

Nice job on the rims and the color.

They sell a product called "Bull Dog" it prevents the paint from chipping off the rims.

http://www.wmbarr.com/product.aspx?catid=1&prodid=56

Stuff works great

nice job dude, never thought about the index card things and the oven spray.

Good write up here, and the rims came out looking real good, but paint should be clear coated as well to help make the finish last longer.

Paint as mentioned above by pretty white, will end up chipping in about six weeks or so, especially if not applied to a primed or sanded surface. Use at least 400 grit wet dry sandpaper on the existing rim finish before painting and the paint will stick better and last longer still. When applying clear coat use medium wet even coats and let it get tacky before applying the next coat. If done right the clear will provide a barrier for the paint.

I never thought of oven cleaner to clean the rims. I always spent way too much time degreasing them before painting and by the time I finished masking and sanding many hours had passed. Also that index card idea is sweet too. I spent about an hour on each rim masking it off before painting. Bet it took less than five minutes per rim with those cards.

Here's a pic of a rim I did with clear coat and a good sanding before the paint went on. The red trim was hand painted after the rim was clear coated and now has a couple of spots that need retouching.
http://ericlevay.com/img/sentra/big-16.jpg