How to Paint Your Wheels (the right way)

06grip · 07-18-2006, 10:24 AM

OK… so you want to paint your wheels a different color. Well, there is definitely a right way and a wrong way to do this. Your best bet (IMO the “right way”) is to use a quality automotive paint and a spray gun. This way you can control layer thickness and the level of gloss extremely well. Below is a step by step process:

1) Get the vehicle up on jack stands. Make sure you use quality jack stands that are rated for the weight of the vehicle (I left a jack by each jack stand as a secondary protection).

2) Remove the tires from the wheels (NOTE: You can tape off the tire and spray the wheel with the tire mounted... but you WILL eventually get premature chipping/cracking around the tire).

3) Clean the wheels extremely well (you will need a large bucked with soap and water, and Simple Green):
a) Wash the wheel with soap and water
b) Set it out on a towel and spray the wheel (front and back) with Simple Green
c) Move on to the next wheel
I did went through this process twice (meaning each wheel was washed with soap and water twice and each wheel was sprayed with Simple green twice)

When you are finished, wash each wheel to remove any residual Simple Green.

This is how they should look at this point:

4) Scuff up the wheel. The paint will only adhere properly to surfaces that have been scuffed (I prefer to use automotive scuff pads. I find most sandpapers to be too rough for aluminum wheels).

This is how they should look at this point:

You are now done with the prep work and are ready to start painting. You will need (do not be intimidated, any automotive paint store will supply you with some or all of these products with ease):
a) A respirator (you can get 3M modle 51P71 (07191) at any automotive paint store for ~ $25… its good for 40 hours)
b) A compressor that can work in the 40 PSI range.
c) A spray gun (if you only plan on doing this once, you can buy a $15 gun at harbor freight that will work wonderfully)
d) An adhesion promoter (I used Bullydog adhesion promoter (ETPO-123))
e) 1 Pint of Paint in your desired color – if you want this to last years, you need to buy a quality automotive paint. I used Nason Ful-Thane 2K Dupont Urethane in 1950 Chrysler Black… But any automotive paint store will be able to supply you with a quality paint.
f) Urethane reducer – unlike spray paints, automotive paints need to be reduced.
g) A hardening Catalyst – I used Nason Ful-Thane 483-15 Catalyst. Again, any automotive paint store will be able to supply you with a hardening catalyst.

6) OK… now you are ready to start painting. Lay the wheels out FACE DOWN on whatever surface you will paint on (I used a painting tarp in my garage). Fire up the compressor and let it come up to the appropriate pressure (e.g. 150 PSI in my case). NOTE: If you want you can wipe the surface of the wheels with a paint prep or alcohol… it really is not necessary with the level of prep we have gone through, though.

NOTE: now is the time to tape off anything you do not want to get a fine mist of paint on. If you are spraying in your garage and your vehicle is up on jack stands in said garage, you want to completely mask the vehicle. I ran painting tarps over the entire vehicle, taped the seams together, and taped the ends to the floor.

7) PUT ON YOUR RESPIRATOR (Paint is extremely toxic and will damage your lungs/internal organs if spray without a respirator. Spend the $25 on the respirator!!)

8) Mix the paint, urethane reducer and hardening catalyst using a 8/2/1 ratio (meaning 8 parts paint, 2 parts urethane reducer, and 1 part hardening catalyst) and pour it into your spray gun.

9) Spray the wheels with 1 or 2 quick coats of the adhesion promoter and let sit for ~1 minute.

10) Hook the spray gun up to the compressor and test the spray output against something other than the wheel (cardboard, for example). Once you are comfortable with the gun, begin spraying the wheels. I put 5 extremely light coats on each side.

Here is how my wheels looked at this point:

Oh yea… and here is why we masked the entire car in the jack stands… see all of that black paint residue on the plastic? Now imagine that being on your vehicles finish.

Here is a look at the finished product:

lackskill · 07-18-2006, 10:38 AM

Great write up! I did mine the easy way, turned out good enough for the winter rims that they are going to be...

STiSchucky · 07-18-2006, 10:42 AM

bah spray paint is the ghetto way to say how you colored your rims..

Einobaka · 07-18-2006, 10:45 AM

Nice write up!

wrx23x · 07-18-2006, 10:46 AM

nice write up! i just painted my rims yesterday the same way you did

06grip · 07-18-2006, 10:49 AM

Thanks.

wrx23x - what color?

lackskill · 07-18-2006, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by STiSchucky

bah spray paint is the ghetto way to say how you colored your rims..

so? I wanted a cheap/easy/quick fix for some damaged rims...

06grip · 07-18-2006, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lackskill

so? I wanted a cheap/easy/quick fix for some damaged rims...

Just as you have that mentality, there is nothing wrong with spray paint. It will not hold up over years of use, but is a cheap/easy/quick fix for damaged winter wheels. I wanted something that would look great and hold up for years.

lackskill · 07-18-2006, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 06grip

Just as you have that mentality, there is nothing wrong with spray paint. It will not hold up over years of use, but is a cheap/easy/quick fix for damaged winter wheels. I wanted something that would look great and hold up for years.

I see your point... to elaborate on my point, I did not have an easy way to dismount and remount the tires (which are only going to last till october anyways), I only had a limited amount of time to complete the work, and we actually used a scuffing and cleaning compound for the prep. If they last through this season I will be happy, because next year I will be running my new gram light 57fs and will be able to spend the time to do it right. It looks fine for now...

06grip · 07-18-2006, 11:29 AM

Cool... I've been looking at the gram light 57fs... nice choice.

Del · 07-18-2006, 12:14 PM

Awesome man! Bookmarked!!

speedsnice · 07-18-2006, 12:50 PM

Looks very good.

Allen504tke · 07-18-2006, 12:55 PM

Stealthy FTW!

JustinH · 07-18-2006, 12:58 PM

would it matter if you paint on gold or silver, or is it all the same end result?

06grip · 07-18-2006, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JustinH

would it matter if you paint on gold or silver, or is it all the same end result?

the color makes no difference. Just remember... it's all in the prep work. Follow the instructions above and any color you spray will look phenomenal.

07-18-2006, 10:24 AM	#1
06grip Junior STI Driver Car: 06 STi Location: In the dirt Posts: 83 Join Date: May 2006 Trader Rating: (1)	How to Paint Your Wheels (the right way) OK… so you want to paint your wheels a different color. Well, there is definitely a right way and a wrong way to do this. Your best bet (IMO the “right way”) is to use a quality automotive paint and a spray gun. This way you can control layer thickness and the level of gloss extremely well. Below is a step by step process: 1) Get the vehicle up on jack stands. Make sure you use quality jack stands that are rated for the weight of the vehicle (I left a jack by each jack stand as a secondary protection). 2) Remove the tires from the wheels (NOTE: You can tape off the tire and spray the wheel with the tire mounted... but you WILL eventually get premature chipping/cracking around the tire). 3) Clean the wheels extremely well (you will need a large bucked with soap and water, and Simple Green): a) Wash the wheel with soap and water b) Set it out on a towel and spray the wheel (front and back) with Simple Green c) Move on to the next wheel I did went through this process twice (meaning each wheel was washed with soap and water twice and each wheel was sprayed with Simple green twice) When you are finished, wash each wheel to remove any residual Simple Green. This is how they should look at this point: 4) Scuff up the wheel. The paint will only adhere properly to surfaces that have been scuffed (I prefer to use automotive scuff pads. I find most sandpapers to be too rough for aluminum wheels). This is how they should look at this point: You are now done with the prep work and are ready to start painting. You will need (do not be intimidated, any automotive paint store will supply you with some or all of these products with ease): a) A respirator (you can get 3M modle 51P71 (07191) at any automotive paint store for ~ $25… its good for 40 hours) b) A compressor that can work in the 40 PSI range. c) A spray gun (if you only plan on doing this once, you can buy a $15 gun at harbor freight that will work wonderfully) d) An adhesion promoter (I used Bullydog adhesion promoter (ETPO-123)) e) 1 Pint of Paint in your desired color – if you want this to last years, you need to buy a quality automotive paint. I used Nason Ful-Thane 2K Dupont Urethane in 1950 Chrysler Black… But any automotive paint store will be able to supply you with a quality paint. f) Urethane reducer – unlike spray paints, automotive paints need to be reduced. g) A hardening Catalyst – I used Nason Ful-Thane 483-15 Catalyst. Again, any automotive paint store will be able to supply you with a hardening catalyst. 6) OK… now you are ready to start painting. Lay the wheels out FACE DOWN on whatever surface you will paint on (I used a painting tarp in my garage). Fire up the compressor and let it come up to the appropriate pressure (e.g. 150 PSI in my case). NOTE: If you want you can wipe the surface of the wheels with a paint prep or alcohol… it really is not necessary with the level of prep we have gone through, though. NOTE: now is the time to tape off anything you do not want to get a fine mist of paint on. If you are spraying in your garage and your vehicle is up on jack stands in said garage, you want to completely mask the vehicle. I ran painting tarps over the entire vehicle, taped the seams together, and taped the ends to the floor. 7) PUT ON YOUR RESPIRATOR (Paint is extremely toxic and will damage your lungs/internal organs if spray without a respirator. Spend the $25 on the respirator!!) 8) Mix the paint, urethane reducer and hardening catalyst using a 8/2/1 ratio (meaning 8 parts paint, 2 parts urethane reducer, and 1 part hardening catalyst) and pour it into your spray gun. 9) Spray the wheels with 1 or 2 quick coats of the adhesion promoter and let sit for ~1 minute. 10) Hook the spray gun up to the compressor and test the spray output against something other than the wheel (cardboard, for example). Once you are comfortable with the gun, begin spraying the wheels. I put 5 extremely light coats on each side. Here is how my wheels looked at this point: Oh yea… and here is why we masked the entire car in the jack stands… see all of that black paint residue on the plastic? Now imagine that being on your vehicles finish. Here is a look at the finished product: This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

07-18-2006, 10:38 AM	#2
lackskill Silver Member Car: WRB GDF-E Fav Mod: Majin Location: Birch Bay Posts: 14,595 Join Date: Apr 2006 Trader Rating: (9)	Great write up! I did mine the easy way, turned out good enough for the winter rims that they are going to be...

07-18-2006, 10:42 AM	#3
STiSchucky Professional STI Racer Location: Moorhead Minnesota Posts: 704 Join Date: May 2004 Trader Rating: (1)	bah spray paint is the ghetto way to say how you colored your rims..

07-18-2006, 10:45 AM	#4
Einobaka Professional STI Racer Car: 96 Outback Wagon Fav Mod: Autobot Decal Location: Connecticut Posts: 641 Join Date: Jan 2006 Trader Rating: (21)	Nice write up!

07-18-2006, 10:46 AM	#5
wrx23x STI Driver Car: 06 CGM STi Fav Mod: kicks Location: Palo Alto,California Posts: 237 Join Date: Dec 2005 Trader Rating: (0)	nice write up! i just painted my rims yesterday the same way you did

07-18-2006, 10:49 AM	#6
06grip Junior STI Driver Car: 06 STi Location: In the dirt Posts: 83 Join Date: May 2006 Trader Rating: (1)	Thanks. wrx23x - what color?

07-18-2006, 11:29 AM	#10
06grip Junior STI Driver Car: 06 STi Location: In the dirt Posts: 83 Join Date: May 2006 Trader Rating: (1)	Cool... I've been looking at the gram light 57fs... nice choice.

07-18-2006, 12:14 PM	#11
Del IWSTI Club Level 1 Car: 2003 WRB WRX Fav Mod: Multiquote Location: Redondo Beach Posts: 23,858 Join Date: Apr 2004 Trader Rating: (1)	Awesome man! Bookmarked!!

07-18-2006, 12:50 PM	#12
speedsnice Spec C Club Car: 2005 Silver WRX STi Location: Bronx, N.Y. Posts: 1,142 Join Date: Jun 2004 Trader Rating: (1)	Looks very good.

07-18-2006, 12:55 PM	#13
Allen504tke Spec C Club Car: FaAa$TaAaAa@aru Fav Mod: JDM Goodies Location: Mars Btches Posts:* 2,301 Join Date: Jul 2005 Trader Rating: (2)	Stealthy FTW!

07-18-2006, 12:58 PM	#14
JustinH Spec C Club Car: 07 STI OBP Fav Mod: we will see soon... Location: southern orange county(la Posts: 1,392 Join Date: Jul 2006 Trader Rating: (1)	would it matter if you paint on gold or silver, or is it all the same end result?