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The great spray painted rims debate....


Perrin713

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So.... I really don't have the cash for new rims but want something different. I've heard of loads of people spray painting their rims. I've also heard it turns out terrible as all hell. I'm leaning to the don't even bother spraying painting my oem rims. Can't see a $32k car with spray painted rims haha. Anyone even try this one yet? And you had any luck?
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A local friend and member here has his OEM 5-stars painted black like his BLack Legacy. He used the rattle can approach.

 

It looks good.

 

If I were to do it, I'd use a gloss or semi gloss paint. I don't care for the flat black look, it just looks dirty and dusty even when clean. Gloss has some pop to it.

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Rattle can paint jobs can end up two ways: pretty good or really terrible. The only difference between the two is PREP. if you want to paint your wheels and you want them to look good do the following.

 

1. sand your wheels

2. clean your wheels (with acetone or similar solvent)

3. prime your wheels (seriously, prime your f'n wheels)

4. paint your wheels (multiple coats)

5. clear coat your wheels (multiple coats will help protect the color if chipped)

 

that's basically it. Don't expect them to be powdercoat durable but they should hold up pretty well.

 

i've also heard of people bake their wheels in their oven after painting for durability but haven't done that myself and dont know if it helps much.

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Learn from my mistake; I sprayed an extra set of rims I had for my Impreza. I did a lame job prepping the rims and they started chipping soon after I put them on my car. It was no big deal, I would just hit the little chipped areas with the can when it happened but it looked shoddy.

 

If I were to do that again I would have paid to have a professional paint them.

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Rattle can paint jobs can end up two ways: pretty good or really terrible. The only difference between the two is PREP. if you want to paint your wheels and you want them to look good do the following.

 

1. sand your wheels

2. clean your wheels (with acetone or similar solvent)

3. prime your wheels (seriously, prime your f'n wheels)

4. paint your wheels (multiple coats)

5. clear coat your wheels (multiple coats will help protect the color if chipped)

 

that's basically it. Don't expect them to be powdercoat durable but they should hold up pretty well.

 

i've also heard of people bake their wheels in their oven after painting for durability but haven't done that myself and dont know if it helps much.

 

I'm using this 5 step approach on some old Explorer wheels for my kid brother this weekend. Black explorer wheels with some serious winter truck tires mounted on his new white Ranger should look cool, and be a monster in the snow.

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Its easy and can look great. Just did mine a couple weeks ago. Sand, wash, prime, 3 coats paint and 3 coats clear for a like new finish. Unfortunately I don't like the color I picked for my car and I haven't gotten around to pics.

 

Use the search function, lots of pics out there already.

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Will the paint actually hold up for a few years?

 

That I can't confirm. I had the bronze for 7 months before I changed to flat black. I went through a pretty bad winter with it though, and it looked exactly the same from when I originally painted them. I did NOT use clearcoat for either color, so it's safe to say their wheel coating is pretty tough already. You can do clearcoat as extra insurance.

 

The flat black I've had for 7 months also, but I did a crappy job with it. The coats werent heavy enough so now it's flat black with a bronze pearl LOL. Looks cool to some but it seems ghetto to me. I'll be stripping the paint this summer and doing another color though...

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Duplicolor wheel paint FTW. Done both bronze and flat black. For about $10/can it's not a huge loss. You only need 2 cans for all 4 wheels.

 

seriously, duplicolor wheel paint is the sh!t, plus you get that sweet metallic flake in the paint.

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Yeah, i just spray painted the fog surrounds and did a some grille work on my car. It really is about prep work and taking your time. I had zero experience and they came out looking like they were professionally painted. Do multiple light coats, let the coats dry well, sand very lightly between coats (primer coats especially) and everything else should work out fine.
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Duplicolor wheel paint FTW.

 

Ditto, at the very very least use the Duplicolor Wheel paint clear when you're done.

 

Yes, these were done with Duplicolor Engine GOLD and Duplicolor clear, 3-4 light coats of each. This was my seconds set of wheels I had done.

http://www.wrxfanatics.com/uploads/monthly_11_2007/post-367-1195704264.jpg

http://www.wrxfanatics.com/uploads/monthly_11_2007/post-367-1195704272.jpg

http://www.wrxfanatics.com/uploads/monthly_11_2007/post-367-1195704282.jpg

http://www.wrxfanatics.com/uploads/monthly_11_2007/post-367-1195704296.jpg

http://www.wrxfanatics.com/uploads/monthly_11_2007/post-367-1195704303.jpg

http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/2999/p9300226mediumhw4.jpg

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nice work.

 

Ditto, at the very very least use the Duplicolor Wheel paint clear when you're done.

 

Yes, these were done with Duplicolor Engine GOLD and Duplicolor clear, 3-4 light coats of each. This was my seconds set of wheels I had done.

http://www.wrxfanatics.com/uploads/monthly_11_2007/post-367-1195704264.jpg

http://www.wrxfanatics.com/uploads/monthly_11_2007/post-367-1195704272.jpg

http://www.wrxfanatics.com/uploads/monthly_11_2007/post-367-1195704282.jpg

http://www.wrxfanatics.com/uploads/monthly_11_2007/post-367-1195704296.jpg

http://www.wrxfanatics.com/uploads/monthly_11_2007/post-367-1195704303.jpg

http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/2999/p9300226mediumhw4.jpg

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Duplicolor bronze

 

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n75/N_sane88/Project%20Layla/IMG_0182.jpg?t=1258747441

 

Duplicolor flat black

 

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n75/N_sane88/Project%20Layla/IMG_0017.jpg?t=1258747431

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I didnt have clear coat on the bronze either and it held up fine last winter. The Duplicolor wheel coating is really tough. I guess I'll find out in the next few months with winter how the flat black holds up.

 

Keep in mind I've got about 4-5 coats of paint on each wheel.

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