A while back I painted my wheels black as a temporary fix for my white wheel problem. Of course the paint chips everytime you tighten the lugs, so I've decided to do something about it. My question is should I send my wheels off to be powdercoated black, sand all the paint off and polish it up real nice, or should I just paint it black again and bake it on(not real sure about how to do this one). I have limited money being 16 and all, but if I'm gonna do it, I want to do it right. I need new tires anyways, so the wheels will be coming off and the ol' 14's will go back on. I really need good advice, thanks.

Edit: How durable is powdercoating? what about baking?

id say powdercoat only because i know ppl that have done it and im not sure about the baking thing

Try the cheap method...powdercoating for a kid like you will cost a fortune...or you can sand then re-spray again?

Thanks, does baking the paint on make it any more durable, or is that just for the finish?

i'm not sure about the baking thing, but i'm with him above...powdercoating. they will last forever and you most spend time, effort, and energy to do it again. most the time you can find places to get it powdercoated from like 50-100 a wheel. but what kind of budget are ya workin with here?

Originally posted by sd240
Thanks, does baking the paint on make it any more durable, or is that just for the finish?

not 100% sure about durability (sp.) but i know that baking is a way that the manufacturer uses to achieve a really smooth finish without buffing. Correct me if im wrong anyone.

Sand them down and repaint them again. Make sure you use paint designed for rims, like the new duplicor wheel paint. I did that to a bunch of rims and really never had any problems with them chipping or the paint coming off.

Here's a pic of my stock rims that I painted for my IS3.


And here's a pic of black ones I did for my eclipse. I had these on the car for well over a year w/out any problems.

Baking the paint is something done by autobody shops and the factory. They paint the car in a booth then heat the booth to 350 degrees, this cures the paint faster and creates a smoother finish so buffing is not needed to match a factory paint. the main reason is to speed up cure time. It does not really make it more durable.

Powdercoating rims cost about 200.00 for a full set. there is also a teflon chrome coating that can be done for 200.00 a set. the teflon is brighter than chrome, does not pit and rust like chrome, however it is not a indestructable like chrome. the teflon will chip if hit by a rock just right/ this coating is done more with classic cars and the mouldings door handles ect.

i would powercoat it...200.00 is not too expensive for a 16yr old. painting is ghetto!

Terry
96 Eagle talon ESI
rear disk conversion Star Stage II - Optima locate in the hatch - momo Steering wheel - Boost/oil/EGT gauges, HKS TT

97 Eclipse
Greddy header/evo exhaust - Stage 2 6 puck Sprung hub MIBA clutch - Shortened shifter - Koni Yellows w/eibach prokit - Stillen Fr/Rr swaybars - DEI Keyless entry alarm - Niche 17" Shoks

Waiting to be installed: Apexi AFC, HKS EVC IV, ceramic intake, 450 Turbo injectors, SFMU/return line, GSX Front brakes (need rotors)

i just got mine powder coated not sure on the price yet b/c i send them in with a big job we had at work. but to get them sandblasted it was 20 dollars a rim and i had 18s so it had to be done in a large booth. my advice would be call around b/c everyone price varies when it comes to these types of jobs. if a guy happens to be runnin black that day you could luck out and it'll be really cheap b/c it doesn't take much time to do a set of wheels they only had my mind for a day and i got them back. i did a semi gloss to hide some the imperfections. if ya need some pict get in touch all my infos on here