DT 10 spoke - Wheel colour

[Arjxh56]

You probably already know from a previous thread that I have the DT 10 spoke sport pack wheels.. I ordered Graphite but received Silver, but for various reasons accepted the silver wheels etc.etc.

Anyway, I have spoken with a local spray shop and they will mask the DT front, key the wheel, spray graphite and then re laquer the whole wheel including the DT front. I am assured by the paint shop that this is the correct way to do the colour change and it will be as hardy and look identical to the OEM graphite wheel?

A.N.Other workshop said they would blast the wheel, powder coat the whole wheel, then re do the DT the faces again and laquer the whole wheel. This is obviously more expensive, sounds more thorough, and this guy says that the spraying of the wheel is wrong and powder coating is the OEM way????

So my questions to you guys....

• How are the factory wheels coloured graphite? Sprayed or powder coated?
• What are the pros and cons of painted wheels.. and of powder coated wheels?
• Would my Smart cover (wheel & paint insurance) be invalidated by changing the colour wither by paint or by powder coating, would they know/care if its done correclty as my order form says i ordered & received graphite in the first place!

What would you experts do?

Thanks

[mikey k]

OEMs are painted
Powder coat is A LOT more durable
No idea on the insurance

[stevewushu]

for the hassle invloved, I'd sell them and buy the right ones.

[PiloteAM]

Interesting that powder coat is more durable than the lacquered paint, I'm only familiar with it on furniture where it tends to damage quite easily - but there's nothing to compare with I guess.

I've scuffed my graphite DT SP wheels quite badly (front only), but the scuffs are from hard scrapes against curbs, I'm not really sure any finish would have made a difference.

[mikey k]

PiloteAM said:

Interesting that powder coat is more durable than the lacquered paint, I'm only familiar with it on furniture where it tends to damage quite easily - but there's nothing to compare with I guess.

I've scuffed my graphite DT SP wheels quite badly (front only), but the scuffs are from hard scrapes against curbs, I'm not really sure any finish would have made a difference.

I had a set of painted Volks that suffered from stone chips & swirl marks when cleaning, it tends to go on thicker than paint
Paint or powder coat is never going to win against a curb
These were immaculate after 21k miles of hoonage on back roads


DSCN4285 by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr

[Wobbly]

stevewushu said:

for the hassle invloved, I'd sell them and buy the right ones.

When I was looking to buy a set of Sportspack wheels, I was quoted £2800+VAT for 4 silver wheels.

And quoted £1300+VAT PER wheel for Anthracite, even the guy at the dealers said to buy the silver wheels and get them painted.

[8Tech]

As someone who both paints and powdercoats regularly, IN GENERAL, you will get a smoother finish with paint but the powdercoat is tougher but can come out a little "orange peel" even on very smooth surfaces.

For powdercoat, you cannot fade or shadow, its all one colour and thats it but with paint you can clearly do anything.

Either will quickly deteriorate once the surface is broken down to the metal beneath.

Essentially, for the best finish..........paint, for the toughest finish.........powder.

8Tech.

[mikey k]

8Tech said:

As someone who both paints and powdercoats regularly, IN GENERAL, you will get a smoother finish with paint but the powdercoat is tougher but can come out a little "orange peel" even on very smooth surfaces.

For powdercoat, you cannot fade or shadow, its all one colour and thats it but with paint you can clearly do anything.

Either will quickly deteriorate once the surface is broken down to the metal beneath.

Essentially, for the best finish..........paint, for the toughest finish.........powder.

8Tech.

Got to disagree on that
I've had several sets done by two very good coaters
Never seen any orange peel effect
The picture above is a set I had done graduating from black on the inside to silver on the spoke face
Most coaters also put a lacquer coat on for high shine
Most domestic appliances are powder coated rather than painted as it is more durable

[Lunablack]

PC is great if its applied and cured correctly.... The process is quite critical, and much easier to get wrong than paint....

Having worked with both, my preference is paint

[Arjxh56]

Update... I have been to a couple of reputable spray shops locally and due to the shape of the rims i am being told that putting the colour on is not a problem, but getting the laquer even, without build up on the ridge / groove that runs around the inside of the rim, will be pretty tricky.
Something to do with not being able to get the correct angle to spray inside of the groove without the overspray hitting the lip and building up on the other side?
Both spray shops have said they would prefer not to do it as the risk is too great for them.

What are your thoughts?
Anyone hot with a spray gun that can advise me?

Thanks

[divetheworld]

How is what you want any different to a diamond cut wheel refurb?
I thought they would paint all over, lathe cut and then lacquer. AFAIK about £85 per wheel all in from google.

[drcarrera]

I had both my front graphite DC alloys redone by Platinum in Swindon (ex - Lepsons) for about £100 a wheel. AFAIK they were painted but the finish was superb and indistinguishable from the OEM rears.

[divetheworld]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gs4XpOvxI_U

[Arjxh56]

Thanks....