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View Full Version : HOW TO PAINT WHEELS! the cheap way



SRK420a
12-06-2009, 10:09 PM
This is my first DIY so I hope I'm doing a good job for a noob :doh:good luck to myself:goodjob: i had these pics lying around so imma try this for my first time.

Materials:
1. wheels
2. bucket of warm water
3. SOS pads,Soft Scrub, and/or Scotch Brite pad
4. Towel and/or air gun to help dry
5. Your choice of paint color spray paint works trust me, and clear coat spray
6. a stand to set the wheels on
7. patience lol
8.wetsand paper 2500 grit

Ok lets get started.......

Here are my wheels i used a set of 3rd gen eclipse rims

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll289/SRK420a/DSCI0067.jpg

Step one: Clean the rims, very important
Use the bucket of warm water and the SOS pad to clean all of the dirt,grime and gunk of off the rims, if not it will show up in paint......

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll289/SRK420a/DSCI0210.jpg

Step two: Dry off the rims using the towel and the air gun if you have one. If not be patient and continue using the towel

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll289/SRK420a/DSCI0071.jpg

Step three: Get some new warm water in the bucket, get the soft scrub and the ScotchBrite pad. Go to town on your wheels
( the soft scrub and SB pad serve to scuff up the rims and get whatever dirt was left behind).
once you have scrubbed to the point where you can see very visible scratches over the entire rims its time to prep for paint.

Step four:Dry off your wheel and if you have wax&grease remover use it now. unfortunately everyone doesn't have any so just dry em off and keep yourself from putting your hands on them plz! Once you've done that tape off what you don't painted and mount them on a stand for paint.
(You can also paint your center caps as well)

Step five: Paint or apply your first coat of paint or etching coat. Once dry check for any specs of dirt. If ok continue to apply coats of paint (maybe about 6 layers for protection.

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll289/SRK420a/DSCI0172.jpg

Step six: once they are dry check for fish eyes and runs if you see none good job:goodjob:. about 6 hours for complete dry and cure, then wet sand them rims with 1000 grit and prep for clear coat the same way you prep for the paint. Once dried apply around 3 to 4 coats of it then set it out to dry.

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll289/SRK420a/DSCI0177.jpg

Step 7: After they are completely dry wet sand them with 2500 grit or just wash them once their done

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll289/SRK420a/DSCI0181.jpg

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll289/SRK420a/DSCI0179.jpg

Once your done you should get something like this.....

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll289/SRK420a/DSCI0843.jpg

I hope i did an ok job:cheers: if I need to correct something help me i wanna be a benefit to IA even though I'm young and Noobish

PURP
12-06-2009, 10:15 PM
or you can clean wheels.. sand with 320... clean again.... spray primer... let it get tacky... spray base coat/coats... spray clear if desired... put back on car and ride out...

SRK420a
12-06-2009, 10:28 PM
or you can clean wheels.. sand with 320... clean again.... spray primer... let it get tacky... spray base coat/coats... spray clear if desired... put back on car and ride out...

True i guess just puttin this up here because i didn't see a DIY for wheels and this is how i did it

Captain-Obvious™
12-07-2009, 07:37 AM
or you can clean wheels.. sand with 320... clean again.... spray primer... let it get tacky... spray base coat/coats... spray clear if desired... put back on car and ride out...

Or, buy wheels in the color that you want....

Ok, sorry.

/Assholeness.

Sammich
12-07-2009, 07:44 AM
lol @ricer v.cpt obvious

Doppelgänger
12-07-2009, 08:18 AM
Clean dirt and brake dust off? I always thought that helped the paint sick to the wheels!

Sammich
12-07-2009, 08:19 AM
Clean dirt and brake dust off? I always thought that helped the paint sick to the wheels!
silly rabbit, brake dust is strictly for EDM

Echonova
12-07-2009, 08:51 AM
Holy bent rims Batman!!!!!

SRK420a
12-07-2009, 09:00 AM
Holy bent rims Batman!!!!!

lol yea they were a bit bent but still sealed and i got them for free so cheap upgrade from stock wheels:cheers:

SRK420a
12-07-2009, 11:34 AM
Or, buy wheels in the color that you want....

Ok, sorry.

/Assholeness.

Just showing a cheap way to make factory cooler so....... yea buying wheels the color u want does serve as a more permanent solution but you cant say its a bad idea... if you can find some cool stock wheels and paint em its still a cheap upgrade

SPOOLIN
12-07-2009, 01:22 PM
atleast you dont have tires on there, im sick of seeing rims painted with the tires still on, ATLEAST BREAK THE BEAD AND GET SOME PAINT IN THERE!

hondalover00
12-07-2009, 02:49 PM
jon should get a kick out of this

SRK420a
12-07-2009, 02:52 PM
atleast you dont have tires on there, im sick of seeing rims painted with the tires still on, ATLEAST BREAK THE BEAD AND GET SOME PAINT IN THERE!

thanx man idk y they thinked this is riced i worked hard on it and i know what im doing for a changed but o well... and who paints with the rims still on the tires?

LSTurboHatch
12-07-2009, 03:13 PM
^^^ i do. index cards make that job easy, especially if you are leaving a polished lip on the wheel.

PURP
12-07-2009, 03:16 PM
atleast you dont have tires on there, im sick of seeing rims painted with the tires still on, ATLEAST BREAK THE BEAD AND GET SOME PAINT IN THERE!


index cards make that job easy

...

EL42
12-07-2009, 03:28 PM
good job,man. i so need to repaint my wheels....and so many other things.

SRK420a
12-07-2009, 05:10 PM
good job,man. i so need to repaint my wheels....and so many other things.

Thanx dawg

Master Shake
12-07-2009, 05:42 PM
pretty good write up. i pretty much did the same thing on a set of Si's. painted the inserts black with the rest polished.

SRK420a
12-07-2009, 05:47 PM
pretty good write up. i pretty much did the same thing on a set of Si's. painted the inserts black with the rest polished.

thanx man:cheers: rep^

punkr6
12-07-2009, 05:54 PM
pm ash7....he'll know what to do

you say this in every tech thread, Who the fuck is ash7 and why are you on his nuts so hard ?

SRK420a
12-07-2009, 06:03 PM
you say this in every tech thread, Who the fuck is ash7 and why are you on his nuts so hard ?

I sure dont know who he is but do you like the thread???:yes:

djpikachu1
12-08-2009, 11:19 AM
To me it actually looks good to be that cheap wal-mart spray paint :goodjob:

southside
12-08-2009, 11:38 AM
or you can clean wheels.. sand with 320... clean again.... spray primer... let it get tacky... spray base coat/coats... spray clear if desired... put back on car and ride out...The way Southside does it:goodjob:Or I just polish dat hoe
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb148/corey20072007/Picture020.jpg Ps-I used walmart 96cent paint for the insides.

collins
12-08-2009, 11:53 AM
nice write up. and yes, dopple, you have to add in all the idiot steps so you dont get people saying "dude i painted them just how you said to and it fucked everything up! wtf man!?!"
op: "did you clean them?"
other dude: "naw man, you didnt say i had to clean them! you're an idiot and a liar!!"

~facepalm~

SRK420a
12-08-2009, 12:55 PM
nice write up. and yes, dopple, you have to add in all the idiot steps so you dont get people saying "dude i painted them just how you said to and it fucked everything up! wtf man!?!"
op: "did you clean them?"
other dude: "naw man, you didnt say i had to clean them! you're an idiot and a liar!!"

~facepalm~

thanx man:cheers:

Lurker
12-08-2009, 08:56 PM
nice

SRK420a
12-09-2009, 10:01 AM
nice

thanx

YoTa_BoX
12-09-2009, 03:04 PM
Nice DIY right up man, Its cool to see people taking time to do stuff like this.

Good contribution to the website :)

SRK420a
12-10-2009, 02:38 PM
Nice DIY right up man, Its cool to see people taking time to do stuff like this.

Good contribution to the website :)

thanx man

lama08
12-11-2009, 10:45 AM
Good simple thread.. bump for reading

SRK420a
12-11-2009, 11:50 AM
Good simple thread.. bump for reading

thanx man reps for appreciating

CHRISNITTOLO
12-11-2009, 03:00 PM
Dude... they look nice... they look powder coated or something... thanks for this thread...

SRK420a
12-11-2009, 03:31 PM
Dude... they look nice... they look powder coated or something... thanks for this thread...

thanx man

sandersmb
12-24-2009, 10:13 PM
Index cards work great as long as it's not windy

Psw Jdm
12-25-2009, 04:40 PM
i took forever doing mine, sand sand sand and if you still want ur chrome lip use painters tape and wrap them bitxches up. but nice and simple write up.

SRK420a
12-26-2009, 12:55 AM
i took forever doing mine, sand sand sand and if you still want ur chrome lip use painters tape and wrap them bitxches up. but nice and simple write up.

thanx man got any pics of how they look wen you painted em?

SRK420a
02-09-2010, 09:03 PM
i did a good job i dont care what abybidy says lol

speedminded
02-09-2010, 10:43 PM
lol warm water is only going to clean off water soluble grime but brake dust, rubber, & oily finger prints will remain. The surface must be cleaned with paint thinner or mineral spirits for the paint to properly adhere.

I would recommend not painting the edge otherwise the paint may still come off when the tire is mounted. The wheel may be put in a oven after painting to harden it and speed up the curing process.

SRK420a
02-10-2010, 05:32 AM
lol warm water is only going to clean off water soluble grime but brake dust, rubber, & oily finger prints will remain. The surface must be cleaned with paint thinner or mineral spirits for the paint to properly adhere.

I would recommend not painting the edge otherwise the paint may still come off when the tire is mounted. The wheel may be put in a oven after painting to harden it and speed up the curing process.

I actually used wax and grease remover

MINI
02-10-2010, 08:16 AM
Good step by step for those who have no idea what theyre doing lol.


And yours turned out very very well.

SRK420a
02-10-2010, 11:52 AM
Good step by step for those who have no idea what theyre doing lol.


And yours turned out very very well.

thanks man i really try to help out the site

MINI
02-20-2010, 02:15 PM
I suggest using Krylon brand paint.


I use it for all my stuff and it settles perfectly.

SRK420a
02-21-2010, 08:05 PM
I suggest using Krylon brand paint.


I use it for all my stuff and it settles perfectly.

Word?
I thought about that before just never tried it. reps for actually posting a reply:goodjob: instead of jus saying one word

speedminded
02-21-2010, 08:41 PM
I suggest using Krylon brand paint.


I use it for all my stuff and it settles perfectly.I hope you mean Dupli-Color brand paint which is a subsidiary of Krylon.

MINI
02-21-2010, 09:47 PM
I hope you mean Dupli-Color brand paint which is a subsidiary of Krylon.


I don't look into stuff lol.


Says Krylon on the can. :)


EDIT: I'm talking about spray paint if people choose that route, sorry for not making that clear.

speedminded
02-22-2010, 01:41 AM
I don't look into stuff lol.


Says Krylon on the can. :)


EDIT: I'm talking about spray paint if people choose that route, sorry for not making that clear.Krylon doesn't really make a paint suitable for wheels, that's where their subsidiary company Dupli-Color comes in.

allmotorEJ8
02-22-2010, 01:56 AM
Krylon'd both sets I've done. Here's the most recent ones.

http://i580.photobucket.com/albums/ss246/Sedanman97/100_2454.jpg

speedminded
02-22-2010, 09:51 AM
The amusing part is if you go to a automotive paint supply store they will put any paint you want in a spray can for $15-20.

SRK420a
02-22-2010, 10:59 AM
The amusing part is if you go to a automotive paint supply store they will put any paint you want in a spray can for $15-20.

Very true but the purpose of this thread was to have an affordable wheel paint job that you could do using a local store.

But yea......... Thanks though, reps for giving options to the viewers

speedminded
02-22-2010, 03:43 PM
Very true but the purpose of this thread was to have an affordable wheel paint job that you could do using a local store.

But yea......... Thanks though, reps for giving options to the viewersUnder $50 to put an automotive finish on a set of wheels isn't affordable? lol!

MINI
02-22-2010, 07:06 PM
Under $50 to put an automotive finish on a set of wheels isn't affordable? lol!

Well, I'm only spending about 5 bucks and an hour of my day to paint wheels.


Honestly, I'm not going to spend more than 10 dollars on stock wheels. Just changing the look with what I have until I get a real set :goodjob:


But thank you very much for the info because I had no idea about any of that, reps. :cheers:

speedminded
02-22-2010, 07:09 PM
Well, I'm only spending about 5 bucks and an hour of my day to paint wheels.


Honestly, I'm not going to spend more than 10 dollars on stock wheels. Just changing the look with what I have until I get a real set :goodjob:


But thank you very much for the info because I had no idea about any of that, reps. :cheers:An hour to paint wheels? Why not just leave them stock since they're stock wheels and all lol!

allmotorEJ8
02-22-2010, 08:00 PM
I had to paint mine since they were already painted when I got it. They looked awful before IMO.

SRK420a
02-23-2010, 01:44 PM
I had to paint mine since they were already painted when I got it. They looked awful before IMO.

GOT A PIC OF WHAT THEY LOOKED LIKE BEFORE AND IS THAT THE 24O WITH THE SR20DE

allmotorEJ8
02-23-2010, 08:04 PM
Yeah it's got an SR20DE.

Before:

http://i580.photobucket.com/albums/ss246/Sedanman97/89%20Nissan%20240SX/100_2360.jpg

racer181818
02-25-2010, 01:32 AM
man looks really good and looks like u used a gun... good step by step thread.

SRK420a
02-25-2010, 10:47 AM
man looks really good and looks like u used a gun... good step by step thread.

thanks alot man:goodjob:

josh42191
02-25-2010, 06:15 PM
nice write up !

reps

MeanMugen
02-25-2010, 06:45 PM
does it matter if i use gloss or semi gloss? just wondering

SRK420a
02-25-2010, 06:53 PM
nice write up !

reps

thanks man hope it helps somebody

SRK420a
02-25-2010, 06:56 PM
does it matter if i use gloss or semi gloss? just wondering

Naw, it doesn't matter as long as you use the scotch brite pad to scuff it up everything will go smooth as "butta"

ricardo2537
02-25-2010, 07:53 PM
looks amazing. gonna have to do this to my disgusting and ugly rex si wheels.

SRK420a
02-26-2010, 10:57 AM
looks amazing. gonna have to do this to my disgusting and ugly rex si wheels.

good luck man lol hit me up if you have any questions:goodjob:

volk_ef9
02-26-2010, 02:06 PM
good job man looks good

SRK420a
02-26-2010, 07:21 PM
good job man looks good


thanks man

Add-dee
03-04-2010, 11:02 AM
I actually used wax and grease remover

You said that already, some just don't read... Good DIY

**when I painted my wheels they were stolen off a wrecked car I had been peeping for 4months so one day I swiped them. painted them quick and fast**.

wash twice with dawn new water the 2nd time (hoes not bucket water) Sand vigorously each wheel with 600 grit wash again with dawn. apply black caliper paint (3coats) w/ceramic let dry per directions and 3coats of clear


**this is in no way true only the paint part is**

Add-dee
03-04-2010, 11:15 AM
Pic of paint would show wheels but wife has the car at school. (F.U.V.W.)

SRK420a
03-04-2010, 08:19 PM
Pic of paint would show wheels but wife has the car at school. (F.U.V.W.)

Sweet lol paint the dog. Nice story though post wheels pics when you get a chance:goodjob:

Add-dee
03-05-2010, 01:10 PM
Sweet lol paint the dog.:goodjob:

no no, i only painted his snout and ears...:blah:

SRK420a
03-05-2010, 11:09 PM
no no, i only painted his snout and ears...:blah:

lol

Add-dee
03-06-2010, 09:29 AM
Pix of wheels, not going through the trouble of doing them all enjoy two out'a 4.
also would like to point out i painted them 3.5 years ago...

allmotorEJ8
03-06-2010, 03:22 PM
^ so u stole fat 5's :thinking:

Add-dee
03-06-2010, 10:34 PM
^ so u stole fat 5's :thinking:

Read much?... or perhaps you just don't get sarcastic funny. not that i give 2$ hits what you think but read before you make a statement like that. I smell drama and it is stinks. try to understand that funny is not only how you see it but can be attempted in multiple formats.

**when I painted my wheels they were stolen off a wrecked car I had been peeping for 4months so one day I swiped them. painted them quick and fast**.

**this is in no way true only the paint part is** (See original post) hence the ** < i did two so they would stand out!

97_luder
03-07-2010, 06:03 PM
well if anyone wants the wheels sand blasted, i have a cabinet and i'll clean them and all you will have to do is is paint them.

MINI
03-13-2010, 02:00 PM
Read much?... or perhaps you just don't get sarcastic funny. not that i give 2$ hits what you think but read before you make a statement like that. I smell drama and it is stinks. try to understand that funny is not only how you see it but can be attempted in multiple formats.

**when I painted my wheels they were stolen off a wrecked car I had been peeping for 4months so one day I swiped them. painted them quick and fast**.

**this is in no way true only the paint part is** (See original post) hence the ** < i did two so they would stand out!


Hey, don't get all over him for the way you type. In no way was the post you made legible.

SRK420a
03-14-2010, 09:21 AM
Hey, don't get all over him for the way you type. In no way was the post you made legible.


Its all cool everybody just focus on the thread lol:goodjob:

MINI
03-26-2010, 12:50 AM
I used Krylon on my wheels over a year, while pouring down rain, and never had any chipping issues. However, after a year and numerous washes, the paint started to fade. They looked great.

allmotorEJ8
03-26-2010, 01:06 AM
Man your wheels look great. Nice and shiny for sure!

Add-dee
04-12-2010, 01:20 PM
Hey, don't get all over him for the way you type. In no way was the post you made legible.

Well your right< It sounded good to me. I apologize, and stand corrected. i hope we can all get along. ;)