Refinishing wheels?

[Mark888]

Does anyone have a good, thorough write-up for how to properly refinish wheels? I'm not talking plasticote. I'm talking, removing all the old finish, prepping the alloy, several coats of high quality finish, and clear coat.

I know I could take these wheels somewhere and pay to have them powder coated, but I wanted to take the time and learn how to do this at home with an old beat up set of wheels I have. Nothing to lose, and plenty to learn.

Please teach me...

[rcprato]

I don’t have a write up but did a set of wheels years ago.
Get as clean as possible, rim cleaner, rim brightening and final wash with Dawn dish soap and let thoroughly dry.
Sand and scuff everything with green Scotch Brite pad and wipe with prep solvent used when painting a car.
Prime with self etching primer

Paint with wheel paint

And then use wheel paint clear for 3rd coat if you want
I let them sit out in the sunshine for a day to cure.
My wheels held up for 3 years before I sold them with car they were on


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[Mark888]

I don’t have a write up but did a set of wheels years ago.
Get as clean as possible, rim cleaner, rim brightening and final wash with Dawn dish soap and let thoroughly dry.
Sand and scuff everything with green Scotch Brite pad and wipe with prep solvent used when painting a car.
Prime with self etching primer

Paint with wheel paint

And then use wheel paint clear for 3rd coat if you want
My wheels held up for 3 years before I sold them with car they were on


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Very nice. So you didn't sand off all the old finish first? Mine is chipping in a bunch of spots so I feel like I won't get a good result unless I completely remove it.

[rcprato]

Then you might want to look into finding a local sand blaster to get rid of old paint, stripping with a chemical is nasty and no way I would take that on.


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[Mark888]

Then you might want to look into finding a local sand blaster to get rid of old paint, stripping with a chemical is nasty and no way I would take that on.


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And too much to sand off by hand I guess?

[TheContrarian]

I'm currently preparing a set of wheels for painting duplicolor wheel paint. I'm sanding by hand (800 grit) to basically completely dull the clearcoat finish. Probably a good 30 to 60 minutes per wheel.

[greasykid]

The very best way----Powder Coat. Had mine done over 3 yrs ago & they still look perfect. Glossy Black. $800.

[Mark888]

The very best way----Powder Coat. Had mine done over 3 yrs ago & they still look perfect. Glossy Black. $800.

That's not bad. I assume they strip everything off the wheels before they powder coat?

[rcprato]

Yes they blast before they powder coat, the way to go if you can find a place locally


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[Mark888]

Yes they blast before they powder coat, the way to go if you can find a place locally


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Thanks, gents. I'll look around.

[greasykid]

Yes they blast before they powder coat, the way to go if you can find a place locally


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Had my wheels done in Mocksville,N.C.

[Hostile]

Had my wheels done in Mocksville,N.C.

How is this post in anyway helpful to anyone? This isn’t even helpful to people that live in Mocksville.

[GoCougs1234]

Have refinished wheels - both personally and in the aftermarket. IME, neither path (DIY or pro) will do it "properly." You'll only get a remote facsimile of the factory finish with and usually only a sliver of the quality and durability. Lots goes into modern wheel finish - different paints, different (specific) colors (even for just silver), different processes - all in all much more complicated than painting the body actually. BTDT multiple times in past lives when $40 of bomb can was a compelling option vs. a $2500-$4000 set of new wheels. I'm quite particular with these things these days so now when I need a wheel "refinished" I hit up eBay or the manufacturer for a new/as-new wheel and sell the old wheel(s). YMMV depending on where your threshold sits.