DIY paint wheels

[spoiler900]

ive got a 99 limited, 5 spoke 16 inch wheels, Im not sure if I want to throw down the money to powdercoat them or get aftermarket wheels, so looking at doing it the cheap way....whats the best way to deal with spray paint?

I know you gotta take the wheels off the car....sand?? how many coats?? etc...thanks guy

 

[A.Wilson013]

ive got a 99 limited, 5 spoke 16 inch wheels, Im not sure if I want to throw down the money to powdercoat them or get aftermarket wheels, so looking at doing it the cheap way....whats the best way to deal with spray paint?

I know you gotta take the wheels off the car....sand?? how many coats?? etc...thanks guy

To do it right, check this out.

Liny4Runner's Steps

The fellow I bought my wheels from did no prep, he just painted. After a couple of touchless car washing's they're already pealing.



I would not even consider powdercoat, unless you never go offroad. That is just from my own personal experience with the stuff. Black spray paint is super easy to touch up.

 

[PitbullRescuer]

I did my 5 Stars. (see my build thread.). Bought a wire brush attachment for my drill, stripped them down. Used a scuff pad for the little crevices. Washed them, dryer them with a clean towel, wiped them with presol. 3 coats of self etching primer, 3 coats of color. (Duplicolor wheel paint.). A bunch of coats of clear, probably 5 or so. They're holding up incredibly well so far.

 

[TheDurk]

I did my 5 Stars. (see my build thread.). Bought a wire brush attachment for my drill, stripped them down. Used a scuff pad for the little crevices. Washed them, dryer them with a clean towel, wiped them with presol. 3 coats of self etching primer, 3 coats of color. (Duplicolor wheel paint.). A bunch of coats of clear, probably 5 or so. They're holding up incredibly well so far.

This is pretty much what I did, same Duplicolor wheel paints(but I used acid etch, sandable primer, color, and clear)--then follow the directions on the cans. Same results--going into second winter and still perfect. I was less aggressive on the prep--I just used a red ScotchBrite pad on the good paint to rough it up. I wire brushed and orbital sanded the bubbled/rashed places. I used mineral spirits to degrease. I added three coats of sandable primer after the acid etch primer, probably made up for less aggressive prep. If you screw up mounting them, wait a week before touching anything up. It needs to cure first.

I used sandable primer, color, clear on the plastic caps. Worked fine.

I was putting on new tires, so I did them with tires off. But plenty of people have done them with the index cards or playing cards stuck in the bead.

 

[ralatkins]

To do it right, check this out.

Liny4Runner's Steps

The fellow I bought my wheels from did no prep, he just painted. After a couple of touchless car washing's they're already pealing.



I would not even consider powdercoat, unless you never go offroad. That is just from my own personal experience with the stuff. Black spray paint is super easy to touch up.

I followed Liny4Runner's advice when i did mine and it worked great, i even did my bumpers. I LOVE them black and i am very happy with the results.