Finally! Painting OEM Wheels

[4Running Daily]

Thanks Fightman! I'll be doing the exact same color with a couple exceptions.

I'm only doing two wheels at a time.

Well I'll let the pictures explain it.

Photo 1) Wheel before (Clear Coat Peeling off)
2) Jacked it up
3) After wire-wheeled it
4) Tape around the wheel
5) Use some cardboard and duck tape to make this thing.
6) No Photo, but after primer I wet-sanded with 400 grit. Tomorrow will spray another coat of Primer.
7) After another coat of primer and sanding again, painted the inside of the wheels with Rust-Oleum Hammered Gray Paint. 2 Coats of that and the inside is done.

 

[Whackmaster]

They are going to look good...Use playing cards or business cards in between the wheel and tire. Saves a lot of time...

 

[BrianSD_42]

nice dude!

 

[TheDurk]

Doing the INSIDE too? Wow, now I feel like a real lazy schmuck. I thought about that for two seconds when I did mine...naaaah...don't need to do that.

 

[4Running Daily]

This will take a while to do. I'm in school until 3. So probably won't be done for a week.

 

[fightman80]

Can't wait to see what you come up with man! I also used playing cards....only did so halfway through the job though.....as I didn't know about the trick until after.......

 

[4Running Daily]

thanks guys! I'll do the front with playing cards.

 

[eduardo_kang]

I need to do mine, they look terrible.
What kind of wire brush did you use? was i the type that will fit into a standard 3/8 or 1/2" drill chuck?

Thanks!

 

[4Running Daily]

I need to do mine, they look terrible.
What kind of wire brush did you use? was i the type that will fit into a standard 3/8 or 1/2" drill chuck?

Thanks!

Whatever Wire wheel I had in my garage. The all work, you're just trying to get the clear coat off. Ya I just put it in my drill.

 

[4Running Daily]

Inside Painted

Look at the sides

 

[Mudtallica]

Looks good but will the paint "truly" stick to the aluminum.?? I'd love to do mine but I figured the first bit o'gravel would just screw it all up... The last time I painted some steel wheels, I just took some KY jelly and smeared a coat all the way around the tire.. Worked pretty good.. Just my 2 cents..

 

[4Running Daily]

Looks good but will the paint "truly" stick to the aluminum.?? I'd love to do mine but I figured the first bit o'gravel would just screw it all up... The last time I painted some steel wheels, I just took some KY jelly and smeared a coat all the way around the tire.. Worked pretty good.. Just my 2 cents..

'

If you take your time to sand, paint coats, and use the right clear coat. It will usually stick.

I'll try your Jelly thing tomorrow!
(Playing cards didn't work the best.)

 

[BrianSD_42]

Did you use a self etching primer? If not then I still wish you the best of luck but it might not hold up.

 

[4Running Daily]

Did you use a self etching primer? If not then I still wish you the best of luck but it might not hold up.

Yes I did.

Rust-Oleum from Home-Depot

Edit: I just checked and I'm actually using Primer Filler from Rust-Oleum. So if it doesn't work then, I'll just have to do it again.
It's my Daily Driver and won't see too much off road use.

 

[4Running Daily]

Finished One Wheel.

 

[Volley]

Looks good!

 

[99 sr5 highlander]

Looks great! That's definitely on my list of things to do. Either that or tundra split-spoke wheels.

 

[fightman80]

Nice work.....can't wait to see some good day shots of them all done! :bluejump:

 

[tinman]

I'm diggin' it! Looks good. MUCH better than the weathered aluminum look for sure.

 

[4Running Daily]

Thanks Guys. Probably this weekend everything will be done, center-caps and all. I'll even wash it.