Diamond cut wheels & powder coating...

[Rayhoop]

Does anyone know whether it is possible to diamond cut wheels and properly protect them from corrosion without ruining the looks?

The usual clear lacquer always seems to get the spider corrosion appearing underneath...
Any ideas?

Also - does anyone know of a proper powder coating firm who can do different finishes? I remember seeing all sorts of samples at one place that was local in Hayes Middx.. they had different levels of metallic fleck, flat finishes and Im pretty sure I remember seeing a flip colour sample... They used to be in the industrial estate on Chesterfield Way/Pasadena Close (near the Pump Lane estate) but have since shut down...

I want to powder coat the insides of my wheels, and get the face diamond cut (or maybe just powder coated too if the DC finish is not going to last)..

Ideas?

[Anatol]

Rayhoop said:

Does anyone know whether it is possible to diamond cut wheels and properly protect them from corrosion without ruining the looks?

The usual clear lacquer always seems to get the spider corrosion appearing underneath...
Any ideas?

The diamond cut finish has too regular a surface for the lacquer to key to it, hence it lifts and corrosion starts underneath (and the lifting spreads).

We have had some success with a (very pricey!) clearcoat designed for direct adhesion to glossy substrates such as chrome. It's used sometimes in the customising industry. Do a google for Alsacorp's Clear for Chrome (or there's a UK distributor who sell a Clear on Chrome which seems to do the same job). The long-term durability in as harsh an environment as automotive wheel use is a bit of an open question, but it sounds like the closest thing to doing the job you need.

Tol

ETA - I have a set of one-off lotus wheels that were powder coated and then had the front face shaved back, as the start of a diamond cut process would. The adhesion of the powder coat was compromised where the coated surface met the ground face at the edge - eventually flaking.

They do offer clear powdercoats, IIRC. Not sure if that will help you at all.

Tol

Edited by Anatol on Friday 4th July 12:26

[Rayhoop]

Hmm..

I think I may just be better off powder coating the whole wheel. Its a Honda Accord that will be driven daily... the wheels (epsilions) were originally diamond cut.. but corroded.

At least the powder coating is easier to look after!

[PJ S]

Welcome to the club!
Replaced with a set of Infernos (factory fit on i-CDTi Sport).
If you ever need a 2nd pair to play around with, they're sitting here.
You're right about DC wheels - finish goes in 6 months, as a refurber told me before I switched.
Wouldn't bother with powder coating either - just get them sprayed up and lacquered, and make sure not to use any thing caustic to clean them with.

Edited by PJ S on Friday 4th July 14:39