DIY Wheel spray..What do I need?

[Mrk_Mickey]

Hey guys,

I'm sure a lot of you have heard me complain about the boring colour of my wheels... Anyways I've actually got two spare wheels and I'm keen to give the DIY respray a go on at least one of them to see how I go. I figure the method goes SOMETHING like: paint thinner; sanding; more sanding; filling; sanding; wet-sanding; spraying.

Can someone please be really nice and explain to me what I need and how I'm meant to do all the prep for a good finish? Ie what grades of sandpaper, what sort of filler, what sort of paint and how I go about doing each of the steps

I know this is gonna be hard work, especially seeing as just one wheel is gonna take a while. Cheers in advance

[Golf Houso]

2 cans of Generic primer 450g

2 cans of Acrylic clear 450g

2 cans of Paint 450g

Sand back the wheels with 240-400 sand paper, clean with methylated spirits or equivalent. Let it dry, then spray with the primer doing the back first. Do about three coats, then wait for it to dry completely give it an hour, then use the paint, approximately 3 coats. Then let that dry for at least 3 hours, then spray it with the clear for around 2 coats. Wait for it to dry overnight, hit it in the morning with a decent car polish, enjoy!

REMEMBER less is MORE and PATIENCE is a virtue when it comes to this, don't rush it or you'll either end up with a bad job or be unhappy with it and start over as I did once

As for filler just use generic spot putty, does a perfect job, and give that at least 12 hours before you start sanding it or working on it.

[Mrk_Mickey]

Branko, will the cans of paint last for all four wheels? And how much am I looking at for cans and a generic filler (also where?), provided I don't need too much at all?

[Golf Houso]

Branko, will the cans of paint last for all four wheels? And how much am I looking at for cans and a generic filler (also where?), provided I don't need too much at all?

2 cans will be enough, get a third if you want a really thick coat, also rememeber your brakes that barely clear, don't get to carried away with the back of the rim. Spot putty shouldn't more than $6 a tube, put it on with a bread knife lol...

[Mrk_Mickey]

Well this is tonight's effort...




The face of the spokes (and to a much lesser extent, the centre) are sanded down to the primer, and the back of the wheel is sanded lightly. I didn't do the insides of the spokes because i cbf tonight

Now, for the paint options...What do you guys think?
My stepdad suggested something REALLY cool, which would be a two-tone on the wheels....the face of the spokes and the centre would be a metallic silver, and then the inside of the spokes and the back can all be hidden under a metallic or plain charcoal or dark grey.

...Or I can just paint them all up one colour which would be MUCH easier, in either a shadowed metallic grey or a light silver metallic.

[Preen59]

If you've gone back to metal anywhere, get Etch Primer. Normal primer doesn't stick to bare metal.

[Jarred]

If you've gone back to metal anywhere, get Etch Primer. Normal primer doesn't stick to bare metal.

on the money Preeny.

I like you step dads idea, worth a shot, could come out cool. if not, just spray over it, not that difficult really!

[Mrk_Mickey]

on the money Preeny.

I like you step dads idea, worth a shot, could come out cool. if not, just spray over it, not that difficult really!

Yep cheers guys I will be buying a tiny amount of etch primer. The primer that's still there should do the job too, so I shouldn't need too much.

As for the idea..that's exactly what I thought Jarred, but it could be quite difficult to pull off. I spose I'll just have to see how it goes..... I'll let everyone post their opinions and I'll decide soon!

[schoona]

Keen to see how this pans out Mickey...Props

[Mrk_Mickey]

Cheers mate Been a bit lazy over the weekend due to gf going away and my computer being a complete crappy pants, but I've got one wheel almost ready for some spray so if I can afford it (job regularity permitting...) I'll grab some paint this week

I'll be doing the second spare wheel at some point too!

[Mrk_Mickey]

Ok, I think I've decided against the two-tone because it could quite easily turn out cheap-looking like a lot of the wheels at Tempe etc. So, going back to my initial thought of actually POLISHING my wheels, I thought I might just source some paint the same colour as the beemer wheels I like

These are my mate's wheels (on my phone at night...horrible quality, sorry guys) and they're pretty much a shadow metallic silver/gunmetal.


And just for reference, the colour is like this wheel...

[fuzion]

did you want to go full polish? like reflective finish like what Dom did to his 928s?

[Mrk_Mickey]

No, not THAT polished. Sort of like a brushed aluminium kind of shine..

But I think the paint would be a better option (unless you were about to suggest something?).

[Preen59]

No, not THAT polished. Sort of like a brushed aluminium kind of shine..

But I think the paint would be a better option (unless you were about to suggest something?).

Getting the brushed look is tough to get right. You have to polish all in one direction or the scratches will show big time. You'll have to use emery and get the finish finer than you want, then use scotch brite (scouring pad, yes like mummy uses on the pots and pans) to "Brush" it. It gives a nice effect done properly but it'll take some practice...


You'll have to clear coat them afterwards or it'll go dull and look like crap really quick. Plus its hard to keep them clean.

[Mrk_Mickey]

Getting the brushed look is tough to get right. You have to polish all in one direction or the scratches will show big time. You'll have to use emery and get the finish finer than you want, then use scotch brite (scouring pad, yes like mummy uses on the pots and pans) to "Brush" it. It gives a nice effect done properly but it'll take some practice...


You'll have to clear coat them afterwards or it'll go dull and look like crap really quick. Plus its hard to keep them clean.

This is the second time you've read me wrong. I'ma slap you if it happens again fool!!

I meant the SHINE of brushed alu...not brushed alu! That's only ever done right by a machine man!!

Anyways. I'm painting them, and I want that colour. Who knows where I can get it/something similar?? lol