Painting steel wheels
Discussion
What's the best DIY way of re-painting steel wheels. I want to repaint a black set to white as winter wheels, so would need to be as hardwearing as possible and not like rubbish after a few weeks use.
I've been quoted £45 per wheel from a professional powdercoater which seems expensive. Would gloss hammerite work? Would the original finish need to be stripped back first, or abraded?
I've been quoted £45 per wheel from a professional powdercoater which seems expensive. Would gloss hammerite work? Would the original finish need to be stripped back first, or abraded?
Key to a good paint job is surface preparation. I’d definitely get them shot blasted. Then paint asap, they’ll rust before your eyes. Hammerite isn’t to bad, I’d spray it, adding a thin coat each time it gets tacky. When you think you’ve got enough, leave 24 to dry. Now the best bit, pity it’s winter. You need to gentle bake it. In the summer, just putting them in the sun works fine. Winter, it a warm oven job, but you stand the chance of making it stink afterwards. A nice sunny day if you’ve a conservatory works if you get them in the sun. As an alternative, a 2 pack epoxy paint is pretty tough.
vrsmxtb said:
What's the best DIY way of re-painting steel wheels. I want to repaint a black set to white as winter wheels, so would need to be as hardwearing as possible and not like rubbish after a few weeks use.
I've been quoted £45 per wheel from a professional powdercoater which seems expensive. Would gloss hammerite work? Would the original finish need to be stripped back first, or abraded?
Doesnt seem expensive at all for someone who knows what they are doing assuming they will prep the wheel properly first. I've been quoted £45 per wheel from a professional powdercoater which seems expensive. Would gloss hammerite work? Would the original finish need to be stripped back first, or abraded?
If you want the finish to last good prep is essential and all traces of rust needs to be removed. Have the tyres removed and get them grit blasted then etch prime then paint. Some prefer powder coating but the only problem with powder is it only needs a small scrape, rust and water will get underneath it and it'll start to flake off.
I had some 15 inch 406 steels on my old 205
I first had them shot blasted at £20 each then 2 coats of filler primer then sanded down then a few coats of zinc primer then more sanding,then white primer more sanding and then finally a few coats of paint then laquer
The finish was good and durable but tbh I wish I took up the offer of £40 per wheel from the shot blasters to powder coat them.
I first had them shot blasted at £20 each then 2 coats of filler primer then sanded down then a few coats of zinc primer then more sanding,then white primer more sanding and then finally a few coats of paint then laquer
The finish was good and durable but tbh I wish I took up the offer of £40 per wheel from the shot blasters to powder coat them.
I sprayed the wheels on my old MR2. I bought them secondhand (Rev 5's) and they had already been painted in Silver so it was fairly easy, i.e. no kerb marks to remove or anything. I imagine steel wheels are pretty much the same, make sure the surface is as perfect as you want them to look with de-greaser, a wire brush and several grades of wet and dry paper.
Then spray the primer, I used 4 coats and sanded again after leaving overnight to dry. Apply the top coat (I used 4 layers again) and leave to dry. I then went over with 1500 grit wet and dry and lacquered. They came up a treat and a year later when I sold it they still looked good, (albeit with a few chips on).
Then spray the primer, I used 4 coats and sanded again after leaving overnight to dry. Apply the top coat (I used 4 layers again) and leave to dry. I then went over with 1500 grit wet and dry and lacquered. They came up a treat and a year later when I sold it they still looked good, (albeit with a few chips on).
You can easily paint any wheels (alloy/steel) for £20 with just using poundland paint (they only do black and white colour).
This is with 2 cans of primer each and 2 cans of colour each, sanded with 800 between primer coats and 1500 between colour coats then finished with a good quality lacquer from my local parts shop which is £4 for a big can:
Bish Bash Bosh, jobs' a good 'un.
This is with 2 cans of primer each and 2 cans of colour each, sanded with 800 between primer coats and 1500 between colour coats then finished with a good quality lacquer from my local parts shop which is £4 for a big can:
Bish Bash Bosh, jobs' a good 'un.
Last summer my '87 escort steelies were looking a bit tired/rusty, so I stripped them back to bare metal with a wire cup brush and plonked a can of hammerite gloss black on them (no primer or lacquer).
I wasn't looking for perfection and it's not, but for £15/two days labour, I have four black steelies that so far have lasted over a year with no scuffing or corrosion. and they look dead swish when clean.
The slight imperfections in the paint are only noticable if you get really close up and have a look (and who's going to give a s
t on a muddy old escort).
Depends what standard you're looking for really. Don't know where you'd get white, hammerite only did black iirc
I wasn't looking for perfection and it's not, but for £15/two days labour, I have four black steelies that so far have lasted over a year with no scuffing or corrosion. and they look dead swish when clean.
The slight imperfections in the paint are only noticable if you get really close up and have a look (and who's going to give a s
t on a muddy old escort).Depends what standard you're looking for really. Don't know where you'd get white, hammerite only did black iirc
Edited by storminnorman on Friday 16th November 19:43
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