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My latest project... '04 STi BBS wheels


TheDon427

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Painting has been a hobby of mine for some time now and I've refinished dozens of wheels for myself and friends. I've repaired tons of wheels with curb rash also but again I do it for friends and family, I don't advertise it as a service. Since I do this as a hobby, I work at my own pace and don't want to rush when I work since I do everything by hand. This was my latest project...

 

They were originally silver, then some dummy "powdercoated" them black (or so he said, I think it's paint). I bought them, sandee them down to bare metal by hand and refinished the faces in oem BBS gold and kept the barrels black. Looks awesome. I'm going to be putting them up for sale this weekend once I take better pics.

 

 

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y273/Nickhead/f2aa6f5f.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y273/Nickhead/904d2c43.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y273/Nickhead/4cd073ff.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y273/Nickhead/c549db51.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y273/Nickhead/d3f74722.jpg

 

I took these pics yesterday as the clear coat was drying. The gold flake in the paint looks amazing. Kinda wish they were 18's because I'd keep them if so. I'll take pics this weekend with a digital camera instead of my phone.

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Thanks! I don't know yet. I know the going rate is around $800-$1k without tires and more with tires. I'll most likely be throwing on a set of stock WRX Potenzas. Now that I'm thinking about it, I'll put them up for $1,100-$1,200 with tires.
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  • 3 weeks later...
Thats is really good work. Over all how long did it take you?

 

At one point, I was cranking out a set of wheels every weekend. I prefer working outside, which means I typically only do this when the weather is warmer.

 

1. Wash/scrub wheels with dish soap and hose (use rubber gloves start to finish)

2. Rinse

3. Wet sand any imperfections or curb rash

4. Repair any deep gouges with metal filler

5. Sand metal filler smooth once dry

6. Sand entire wheel, inside and out

7. Wash with dish soap

8. Dry thoroughly

9. 2-3 coats of primer

10. 3-4 coats of paint

11. 3-4 coats of clear

 

 

Shoot man, nice work. You must have the patience of Gods.

 

I've been told that many, many times. I enjoy it though. However, like I said before, I like to work on my own time at my own pace. I don't have a paint booth so I work around the weather. I don't do any painting in the winter.

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Probably not. Like I said before, I'd rather not charge for my services. I'd prefer to buy wheels and repair/refinish them. This is just a hobby of mine.

 

Even if I did agree to repair/refinish a set of wheels for another member, I don't even know what I'd charge.

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Probably not. Like I said before, I'd rather not charge for my services. I'd prefer to buy wheels and repair/refinish them. This is just a hobby of mine.

 

Even if I did agree to repair/refinish a set of wheels for another member, I don't even know what I'd charge.

 

a little less than what a shop would charge, but you'd need to research that based on similar services, quality, and turnaround time.

 

your pics speak volumes.

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I have a bunch of pics of wheels that I've brought back to life. I won't take them if they're bent but a little curb rash is fine. I also don't buy wheels that are cracked but I have had wheels crack and all they do is cut into the crack to relieve the stress, weld the gap, and grind smooth.

 

A buddy of mine works at a body shop and can spray a legitimate clear coat/hardener for $75 for all 4 wheels. Not bad, but that $75 comes out of my pocket so I clear them myself if I'm reselling.

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  • 5 months later...
  • 3 weeks later...

Think you might be the perfect person to ask this..

 

I bought a set of BBS wheels in black (same as yours). PO painted them and clear coated them.. what's the best way to return back to silver that they were originally?

 

I thought about taking a wire wheel to them (attached to a drill) to get rid of all the black but I'm scared of getting right down to the aluminum and have it oxidize or start pitting.

 

Will wet sanding get rid of the 7 coats of black paint and clearcoat, or will I have to use more muscle than that?

 

I don't mind doing it.. I've got the patience.. just want silver BBS's instead of blacks. ;)

 

Thanks!

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Hate to say it but there's no practical way to remove a specific amount of paint and not damage the finish underneath. Any type of paint remover would still risk damaging the silver underneath and you would end up needing to refinish it anyway.

 

If you have the time and patience to do it yourself, your best bet is to scuff them up, prime, and paint silver. Wurth makes a silver that matches most oem silver finishes. It's a little pricey, and it's a lacquer, so you have to use a lacquer clear coat.

 

Looks like this...

 

http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/autopia_2232_18465807http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/autogeek_2235_102764037

 

Or, you could save the time and aggrevation and have them professionally powdercoated silver or any color you want. By me, it costs $75 per wheel to have them powdercoated.

 

If you're a perfectionist, I'd just have them powdercoated. It takes me forever to refinish by hand because if I notice any bubble or imperfection, I can't let it go, I start over. I'm better off buying powdercoating equipment. :lol:

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