DIY Paint Your Wheels

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02-10-2008, 12:10 AM
PogiGreg

DIY Paint Your Wheels

Today I decided to paint my OEM Galant wheels to give them a little more pop and luster. Materias needed for this is a wire wheel attachment for your drill, 320 grit sand paper, paint prep wax and grease remover, primer, and Duplicolor wheel paint. I used silver wheel paint.
http://www.springwebdesign.net/Galan...te/img_028.jpg
I started by scuffing up the wheel with the wire brush, getting into all of the nooks and crannies I could get to. Then I used the the 320 grit sand paper to get into the corners I couldn't get to with the brush. After I finished, the wheels looked like this.
http://www.springwebdesign.net/Galan...te/img_009.jpg
Cleand the wheels with soap and water, then wipe them down with the paint prep wax and grease remover. Now it is time to apply the primer. Be sure to get into all of the corners and double check before going tot he next step. I used two coats of primer on the wheels.
http://www.springwebdesign.net/Galan...te/img_013.jpg
http://www.springwebdesign.net/Galan...te/img_014.jpg
http://www.springwebdesign.net/Galan...te/img_015.jpg
The primer dries very quickly, so there is no need to wait before applying the paint. I never painted anything on my car, and my index finger started to get tired, so I alternated painting with my buddy. I applied two coats of Duplicolor paint. I waited about 30 minutes in between coats.
http://www.springwebdesign.net/Galan...te/img_022.jpg
http://www.springwebdesign.net/Galan...te/img_023.jpg
http://www.springwebdesign.net/Galan...te/img_024.jpg
http://www.springwebdesign.net/Galan...te/img_025.jpg
Let the wheels sit out in the sun so the clear can bake on on the wheels so to speak. The clear coat should protect the finish, and they should last pretty long. Here is what mine looked like after I finished.
http://www.springwebdesign.net/Galan...te/img_034.jpg
http://www.springwebdesign.net/Galan...te/img_035.jpg
http://www.springwebdesign.net/Galan...te/img_036.jpg
http://www.springwebdesign.net/Galan...te/img_037.jpg
http://www.springwebdesign.net/Galan...te/img_038.jpg
02-10-2008, 12:14 AM
bmore303

Nice job, let us know how the paint holds up over time.
02-10-2008, 12:18 AM
seth98esT

Good tutorial, but for a better stick, use a self etching primer. My painted wheels lasted about a year then when winter hit they started to flake off.
02-10-2008, 12:25 AM
DOHCstunr

yours also started out as chrome

much harder to get a good bond.
02-10-2008, 12:31 AM
98GalantDriver

i think i might try this on my hubcaps :D

now thats big pimpin baby ;)

lol :P
02-10-2008, 03:50 AM
badmitsu

Nice Tut!
02-10-2008, 10:36 AM
Serstylz2

Quote:

Originally Posted by seth98esT

Good tutorial, but for a better stick, use a self etching primer. My painted wheels lasted about a year then when winter hit they started to flake off.

Which is why wheels come off in the winter! I used self etching primer too and they came out decent
02-10-2008, 12:59 PM
4g63lover

Looks good. It looks factory.

I didn't use primer at all when I painted my Rotas and they came out great...
02-10-2008, 01:39 PM
4-G-rim

Great job.

+1 on using etching primer..I used it when I painted my Evo Enkies.

Looks like you are going to paint your 7g soon.
02-10-2008, 01:58 PM
PogiGreg

I am in the process of prepping it now. Going to do it myself. That will be another thread later.
02-10-2008, 02:34 PM
Kalamidad

Props on the tutorial. It would be cool to see a tutorial for wheels with polished lips.

Definately post pics of how they look in the car.
They look like the came out very well.
02-10-2008, 05:57 PM
AVERAGE

Wow, from the pics they look pretty good. Post pics after you mount the tires .
02-10-2008, 06:03 PM
spardavr4

Nice, they came out good. I might have to do that with my rims. I've always wanted black rims. I might leave the lip the same silverish color though.
02-12-2008, 06:04 AM
bigboy36647

Looks great, I plan on painting my rims soon. So its great to see a tutorial for this.
02-14-2008, 08:58 AM
djflex167

nice but i'm not a big fan of painting wheels!
02-14-2008, 10:24 AM
RAZ_76

They look great, good job on those.
02-14-2008, 12:21 PM
DOHCstunr

lets see some pic's of them mounted back on the g
02-14-2008, 10:27 PM
PogiGreg

I will be very soon. Right now my G isn't quite finished. She pretty naked right now. http://www.lincolnvscadillac.com//im...ies/tongue.gif Don't you worry though I will be unveilling her very soon with her new Deep Blue coat and her silver shoes. http://www.lincolnvscadillac.com/ima...bac4767983.gif
09-28-2008, 10:41 AM
muzaville

hows the paint holding?
10-03-2008, 08:43 PM
03-Galant-ES

I got bored at work and decided I feel like getting rid of the scratches and scuffs on the wheels i got from the previous owner

i have grits 40-1000 since i work in a body shop and its free im gonna wet sand down as even as i can without damaging the look of the wheel and then make the babies smooth with 600 or 800 l8r on should be a full weekend

Will post pics if possible when im done wish me luck
10-07-2008, 09:17 PM
03-Galant-ES

Quote:

Originally Posted by 03-Galant-ES

I got bored at work and decided I feel like getting rid of the scratches and scuffs on the wheels i got from the previous owner

i have grits 40-1000 since i work in a body shop and its free im gonna wet sand down as even as i can without damaging the look of the wheel and then make the babies smooth with 600 or 800 l8r on should be a full weekend

Will post pics if possible when im done wish me luck

well I was gonna start this then i ended up in the hospital so its an upcoming thing once i heal
10-08-2008, 08:46 PM
PogiGreg

Quote:

Originally Posted by muzaville

hows the paint holding?

The paint is holding fine so to speak. You really have to watch out for rock chips. But you have that problem with all wheels.