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

good luck to myself

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

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......

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

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

ry 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.

Step six: once they are dry check for fish eyes and runs if you see none good job

. 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.

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

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

I hope i did an ok job

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

Originally Posted by PURP

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

Originally Posted by PURP

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

Originally Posted by Doppelgänger

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

Originally Posted by Echonova

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

**SRK420a** · 12-07-2009, 11:34 AM

Originally Posted by Captain-Obvious™

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

Originally Posted by SPOOLIN

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

Originally Posted by SPOOLIN

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!

Originally Posted by LSTurboHatch

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

Originally Posted by EL42

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

Originally Posted by Master Shake

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

rep^

**punkr6** · 12-07-2009, 05:54 PM

Originally Posted by hondalover00

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

Originally Posted by punkr6

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???

**djpikachu1** · 12-08-2009, 11:19 AM

To me it actually looks good to be that cheap wal-mart spray paint

**southside** · 12-08-2009, 11:38 AM

Originally Posted by PURP

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

Or I just polish dat hoe

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

Originally Posted by collins

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

**Lurker** · 12-08-2009, 08:56 PM

nice

**SRK420a** · 12-09-2009, 10:01 AM

Originally Posted by Lurker

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

Originally Posted by YoTa_BoX

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

Originally Posted by lama08

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

Originally Posted by CHRISNITTOLO

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

Originally Posted by Psw Jdm

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

Originally Posted by speedminded

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.

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