Painting alloys???

[Twinpipe]

So I have a set of alloys that I would like painting. No refurbishment just a change of colour. Do I take them to...

1)Wheel refurb place as it's their speciality
2)A body shop with a paint booth
3)Any old place with a spray booth
4)Get them powder coated not painted????

What are the price and quality differences at each?

[N88]

5) give it a shot yourself!

Plenty of guides knocking around and you can get all the paint you require for less than £50. I've done mine and the finish from rattle cans is surprisingly good. If it goes tits up, then you can take it to a professional!

[northwest monkey]

N88 said:

5) give it a shot yourself!

Plenty of guides knocking around and you can get all the paint you require for less than £50. I've done mine and the finish from rattle cans is surprisingly good. If it goes tits up, then you can take it to a professional!

Definitely this.

[Twinpipe]

Yeah, I thought I'd cut out the middle man (me with a rattle can) and just do it properly the first time.

[cheesesliceking]

plastidip ftw

[V6Alfisti]

Twinpipe said:

Yeah, I thought I'd cut out the middle man (me with a rattle can) and just do it properly the first time.

I would disagree with the others, definitely take to a professional if you are at all fussy.

Perhaps my own technique but having followed the guides on one of my 'first' cars, the result was consistent and no splashes, used the correct paint but ultimately didn't have the finish or shine that I wanted.

Ends up costing a reasonable amount of time, effort and cash (a Rattle can per element...primer/colour/laquer), then the correct sandpaper, filler (if needed). Honestly just a world of pain that isn't worth it where you can get a far superior job done by even a slightly poor bodyshop on the £25/30 per corner limits.

[Twinpipe]

That's exactly what I'm trying to avoid.

[ManFromDelmonte]

I would have thought powder-coating would be the best way forward.

[edo]

Lepsons or Spit and Polish or any other reputable wheel specialist. Almost no chance of you getting a good finish yourself without investing in a lot of kit.

[Snowboy]

Assuming you can get the tyres off then most towns have a powder coater that'll do the wheel for around £100 for the set.

[Twinpipe]

No tyres on them so it opens up my options a bit.

Do we think powder coating is the way forward then??

[Snowboy]

Twinpipe said:

No tyres on them so it opens up my options a bit.

Do we think powder coating is the way forward then??

I think it is.
I'm sure other opinions exist though.

[LuS1fer]

I've done wheels in the past using rattle cans - primer, base metallic and lacquer.

It's incredibly time-consuming, stripping the old paint off and doing the prep, fiddly getting the angle right to cover the nooks and crannies and annoying when the paint pools or runs (especially the lacquer).

Rattle cans aren't cheap either and while my best result on a set of R5 GT Turbo "Turbine" wheels wasn't bad, I wished I hadn't started it. However, at the time, refurbishing was out of my price bracket and cans were cheaper and I had the time I lack now.

Now I'd pay to avoid the hassle.

[Anglade]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ek1mRhEIbHA

[lufbramatt]

One of my mates put a lot of time and effort into refurbing a set of 17" alloys, stripped them down, sprayed with base and clear, polished up nicely, they really did look superb.

Right up until the point he had the tyres changed, when all the paint flaked off.

[Twinpipe]

Anglade said:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ek1mRhEIbHA

Hahaha, he doesn't even take the wheel off the car!!!

[rb5er]

I`d get them painted at somewhere that does them day in day out.

£200 should get you a good job done unless you live oop North in which case people seem to say they get them done for 50p.

[goneape]

Rattle cans are OK for winter snotters especially in dark colours but having tried it myself, I'd draw the line there. Happy with what I've got for the purpose it was intended for but not on my good wheels, thanks.

Lepsons aren't as cheap as they used to be either, so powder coating looks like the best option.