Best Wheel Paint?

I've painted several wheels. All I did is to an internet search on wheel paint. The key is the proper prep. Sand, prime. The smoother the prime the better the final coat.
I recently used the dupi-color brand. Internet search and reading took me 30minutes.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003E2AC0E/ref=oss_product

 

I've used Duplicolor wheel paint with good results. Just make sure you clean and prep the surface well and after you're done, Spray a high heat matte clear coat on them so that they're protected. Also try not to let them get wet for about a week so that paint can harden.

 

I'd suggest getting a set of hub caps. People have them for sale. Painting wheels is a pain-- -- sand- clean- prime-paint-paint-paint then wait to dry. Times 4. WAIT----
Don't you already have a set of caps ?

 

I would "Powder Coat" them.

 

Absolutely, good point. Powder coat is the best "paint". I assumed low cost.

 

Check around. The place I had powder coating done came down $150 for cash no tax. They were hurting. It's pricey but one time where paint can chip/wear with even a rotation.
I had good luck but it took me twice to do it right. Sand well, prime well, sand, prime, coat thin coats. Paint will be more like $60 and time will be many hours. Get a high heat paint. Black is the easiest and best to recoat later.

 

FWIW, DIY Powder Coat.
Involves baking wheel in your oven:

:noidea:

When I had my rims powder coated the applier said that alloy
rims needed to be baked at a slightly lower temp than steel
items to prevent, I think he said "micro-cracking." That was quite
a while ago and unfortunately I don't remember any details.

If you try it, please post pictures on how it turned out. :rockon:

 

The question isn't if powder coating is better. It is by far. It's also 5-6 times more expensive which follows with most diy vs having it done.
I've had good results with painting and their several choices. If powder coating is out of the price range at least have the powder coat place sand blast the wheels. That saves lots of time. One of my prii still has the orginal painted wheels from 50kmi ago. As I said I had to redo my botched job but the second time with lots of effort paid off. I've also used the dupi-color on the ugly wheel rings and brought new life to what I was going to remove. Still going strong with 40kmi on the wheel rings. I use a brush on the wheels and my daughters stands up to the weekly cheap car wash massage.

 

Let's take a few deep breaths...

Now, that fells a whole lot better.

I have dealt with the paint vs. powder coat issues, including cost
comparisons. I elected to go with the full job being done by the applyer:
chemical stripping; masking; base, metalflake, and clear top coat:



It may be cheaper to DIY.
How would you know?
Do some basic research.

The Youtube video I posted earlier is not well titled at all. If you watch it,
you will find it is a primer for DIY powder coating in a home workshop.

The most difficult part other than stripping the OEM coating may be
finding a used-but-good electric oven for the required parts baking.

Someone who is interested in the best coating but at DIY costs will
need to continue the research... after all it's a DIY project.

Enjoy.

 

We are just talking the wheels. An oven with the powder coat materials might as well have a pro shop do it.
As geeter mentioned. Cost is a factor.
A pro powder coat would be ~$400. I've had it done and talked them down from $560 with cash.
Powder coat is best. Paint can be done correctly if you take the same amount of dyi time as powder coating dyi BUT powder coating is still the best of the two.
I tried the paint route. It took time and turned out very well. It took time. Since I have several prii I bought another set of wheels to work on. Made a small paint booth for just the wheels and used a cheap sprayer. I had a friend sand blast the remaining two wheels. Saved me lots of time vs sanding in the cracks. I had another set of car wheels powder coated. Took a week and came out very nice also. Not had any problems paint or powder coat. I did mess up the first wheel and resanded and painted it (taking time). All turned out well painting. I would say take the time, paint it. If it doesn't last (mine are going on 50kmi) then powder coat.

 

My old man, used to say..

"Yez getz whatz yez pay fer"

Which in this case, how long do you think a $30 buck paint job is going to last vs. An smalla investment that's always going to look good, and sure as hell is stronger and more durable than $30 paint job! I have a powdercoat shop I do business with over in Burbank. I will walk in with an odd job, but the thing is my parts are powder coat ready. Masked where necessary, lightly sanded, wiped down with a solvent, I then wrap the suff in plastic, drive on over, drop it off, I pick it up the next day!
Call around, you might be amazed what a deal you can get, and powdercoat is the way to go!!
What ever you decide, Good Luck!! and take and post a PIC!!!

 

If you relly want to paint them than any of the high quality rustoleum paints will work fine. They have some textured metallics and all kinds of metallic finishes. Painted my center caps hammered silver --- beutiful professional looking finish. Lots of colors if you want to make a statement. Have fun.

 

As I said, I've done the paint route. You will spend $180 in time preping the wheels and you can stand back and admire your work. The easy route is do the powder coat.