[Del]

I forgot to ask, how long did you let the wheels dry for before mounting the tires and driving away?

[06grip]

Originally Posted by Del

I forgot to ask, how long did you let the wheels dry for before mounting the tires and driving away?

I let the wheels dry for 18 hours before I mounted the tires. If you live in a humid climate, you would want to wait at least 24 hours.

[06grip]

Originally Posted by Majin

very nice write up and the wheels look great!

did you just paint them or did you clear them as well?

Just paint... although shooting them with a few coats of clear would be extremely easy. I did not think it was necessary in my application (although it would add yet another layer of protection).

[Ikon]

nice write up i plan on paint my wheels pink...

[tito79]

When you say to do 5 or 6 light coats to each side...

Do you spray coat #1 on one side, let dry, flip, coat #1 on the other side, let dry, flip, coat #2....etc.? If so, how long does each coat need to dry before flipping?

Or do you do all 5 on one side, let dry, flip, all 5 on the other? Again, if so how long would each side need to dry before flipping?

[80884]

I painted mine this way also. But I sandblasted them first. the wheels had a few chips so i figured starting with bare aluminum was best. Etching primer is about $10 a spray can and alows the base to stick to the wheels. Eliminates the worries of the paint falling off the wheel, chipping, flaking etc...

Went off to the roto blaster (easy way to sandblast wheels), once back wheels were preped, cleaned and Sprayed with an etching primer, very important if you want any paint to stock to bare aluminum. They looked like this once ready for paint...

Time for the factory subaru steel grey metalic base coat...
Backside first...

Frontside next...

Clearcoat is then applied and you end up with this...

mmm yummy metalic factory matched paint...

[06grip]

Originally Posted by tito79

When you say to do 5 or 6 light coats to each side...

Do you spray coat #1 on one side, let dry, flip, coat #1 on the other side, let dry, flip, coat #2....etc.? If so, how long does each coat need to dry before flipping?

Or do you do all 5 on one side, let dry, flip, all 5 on the other? Again, if so how long would each side need to dry before flipping?

Spray the back of the wheel first (5 light coats), flip wheel over while it is still wet (I used three pieces of folded cardboard under the (now wet) wheel to keep the entire lip off of the underlying tarp), spray the front, let dry.

[06grip]

80884 - Looks great. I'm interested to see how a etcher/primer holds up on bare aluminum. J

ust a suggestion... if you want to etch bare (forged) aluminum, you want to use some fairly aggressive stuff. I'd recommend a professional grade solvent/etcher, followed by a primer, and finally paint.

[80884]

This primer was recomended by a paint supplier/where i got the paint to do the wheels. It seams to work fine (4th set that was painted in 2 years) so far.

If i didn't need to blast the wheels i wouldn't have. It would have taken me more time to sand the chips and such out than to have the wheels blasted. As for holding up, the gold wheels in the background of the first pic was the first set I did, normal road chips is all that even happened to them. I even drove on them all winter in PA.

I don't have the BBS's anymore as they were sold to a fellow subaru guy in pittsburgh.

[DragonXero13]

I'm planning to you DupliColor spray paint. I'll basically tell you what I'll be doing step by step and you guys tell me if it sounds right or not.

1.Clean the wheel off with water and soap and maybe something that will get rid of all that brake dust.

2. Scuff the wheels. ( At what point do I stop, what should it look like?)

3. Spray the wheel with Etching Primer.

4. Than spray the wheel with desired color. Recoat within two hours.

5. Recoat with clear coat within 1-2 hours. Spray two coats within 10 minutes of each other.

6. Let it dry.

And repeat for the other side as well ..

Anyhting wrong with this process?

[pc06sti]

How long did you wait between each of the 5 coats that you applied?

[80884]

Originally Posted by DragonXero13

3. Spray the wheel with Etching Primer.

This is only needed if you are spraying bare aluminum. If you just scuff the wheel you won't have bare aluminum but what you will have is a surface ready for painting.

Scuffing is basicly fine scratches and it make the surface look dull. Think car that has never been waxed and is washed all the time at the car wash with the scrubbing brush.

[06grip]

Originally Posted by 80884

This is only needed if you are spraying bare aluminum. If you just scuff the wheel you won't have bare aluminum but what you will have is a surface ready for painting.

Scuffing is basicly fine scratches and it make the surface look dull. Think car that has never been waxed and is washed all the time at the car wash with the scrubbing brush.

80884 is 100% correct. Do not etch the finish of the stock BBS wheels unless you media blast them down to bare aluminum. The stock wheels already have a coating on them... essentially, they are prepped for paint from the factory. Just use a scuff pad and spray.

[06grip]

Originally Posted by DragonXero13

I'm planning to you DupliColor spray paint. I'll basically tell you what I'll be doing step by step and you guys tell me if it sounds right or not.

1.Clean the wheel off with water and soap and maybe something that will get rid of all that brake dust.

2. Scuff the wheels. ( At what point do I stop, what should it look like?)

3. Spray the wheel with Etching Primer.

4. Than spray the wheel with desired color. Recoat within two hours.

5. Recoat with clear coat within 1-2 hours. Spray two coats within 10 minutes of each other.

6. Let it dry.

And repeat for the other side as well ..

Anyhting wrong with this process?

a few tips:
1) use simple green to ensure the wheels are completely clean. If there is dirt on the wheel when you spray, the paint WILL flake off. This is where 40% of the prep time is spent… cleaning.
2) Just use a scuff pad. You can get one at any automotive paint store for $1 - $2.
3) DO NOT USE AN ETCHING PRIMER UNLESS YOU TAKE THE WHEEL DOWN TO BARE ALUMINUM. Omit this (priming) step.
4) I recommend you use a quality automotive paint that can be shot with a paint gun if you want superior results. If you plan on using a spray paint… get all your coats on within an hour (two at the most). You only need to wait ~5 - 10 minutes between coats to prevent running, and I’d recommend 3 – 4 coats of spray paint (5 – 6 coats if using a gun). Regardless, YOU NEED TO WEAR A REBREATHER WHILE SPRAYING! It is the best $25 you’ll ever spend.
5) See #4 above
6) Do not let the paint dry and then flip the wheel and spray the other side. You need to spray the entire wheel in one session (or else you risk differing levels of depth and gloss in the finish… especially with spray paint). Once you are done with one side, simply flip the wheel (I used several pieces of folded cardboard to keep the rim off of the underlying tarp) and spray the other side.

[DragonXero13]

Thanks a lot will do!

Though I really hope that I find some place that will powdercoat my wheels for 40 a peice!