Painting steel wheels

A

aviator8

Promoted Users
I have been searching the forum on the best options to paint wheels and cant really find the best option for what I want. I have VW steel wheels I want to do them in two tone. I have seen threads here suggesting the best paint for wheels is anything from powdercoat, to cerakote, to Oil based enamel, to SS to BC. What I cant find is why people feel one is better than others and what the pros/cons are. For powdercoat my color choices are limited and I have read that it will bubble at the joint where the inner hub is welded to the outer wheel, as well as lug nuts loosening on powder coat wheels so I have set that one to the side. Cerakote has limited color selections so that is out for me. I also want to us one of the colors on the wheel on my seat frames.

I can get enamel cheap locally in a color that works and I have base in my cars paint color along with SPI Universal Clear.
I could also go get SS or Base in the second color I want but if I am going to use my cars color it is in Base. I am sure there are multiple options here. Can anyone give an opinion on what might work best here and why it is better than other options?

One tone base, second tone Enamel, clear over both
One tone SS, second base clear over both
One tone SS, second tone base mixed with clear
 
How I would do it would be to first media blast the wheels, then apply at minimum two coats of epoxy. If everything looked good I would go straight to color. Well almost straight. Being you are doing two colors I would use base/clear. When ready to paint if the wheels are still in the recoat window I would simply shoot a reduced coat of epoxy on for sealer. 1:1:1. This would work as an adhesion promoter as much as a sealer. Then spray my first color, let it dry, mask, spray the second color, then clear. Either full gloss or satin depending on the look desired.
 
If you are making it one main color with just a pinstripe ring, I have found a good Mack striping brush and a tire changing machine works well for this. Just hold the brush in one spot and let the machine spin. Practice without paint a few times to be sure you don't have a shaky hand. You can just mount the wheel on a free spinning axel also, but the angle makes it harder to do.
 
Here is what the wheels look like and an example of where the color break is:

www.jbugs.com

VW Wheel - 5 Lug - Silver Smoothie - 5x205 - 15x5.5" Wide

Check out the deal on VW Wheel - 5 Lug - Silver Smoothie - 5x205 - 15x5.5" Wide at JBugs.com
www.jbugs.com www.jbugs.com

here is a thread that shows someone painting a two tone. Not my choice of colors but just to see the tape seam. I'd just like to so something a little more durable than rattle cans.

@Chris_Hamilton How soon can you tape over base? I'm thinking Id have to get base for both on the same day then clear the next or have two different b/c rounds one for each color.

Feels like it would be easier to do SS but I dont know what the thoughts are on mixing my body color base with UC to make my own SS for that color.
 
Easiest way is how I outlined. Singe stage would be much harder, with longer wait times. Don't do it with SS. With base you would want to spray light medium to at most medium coats. Give plenty of time to flash between coats. When finished with the first color, give it a couple of hours minimum (you could do it sooner but 2 hours is safe) then mask and spray your next color. Or wait till the next day to mask then spray. Base can be recoated days later if neccesary. When you mask, get it on, spray your color and get the mask off ASAP. Never mask then spray later. You want to have it on and off in as short a time period as possible. Use high quality tape as well.
 
Chris_Hamilton said:
Easiest way is how I outlined. Singe stage would be much harder, with longer wait times. Don't do it with SS. With base you would want to spray light medium to at most medium coats. Give plenty of time to flash between coats. When finished with the first color, give it a couple of hours minimum (you could do it sooner but 2 hours is safe) then mask and spray your next color. Or wait till the next day to mask then spray. Base can be recoated days later if neccesary. When you mask, get it on, spray your color and get the mask off ASAP. Never mask then spray later. You want to have it on and off in as short a time period as possible. Use high quality tape as well.
Click to expand...
what are your thoughts on clear over oil enamel or just avoid that completely and get the motobase?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top