Refinishing Wheels

[tardis454]

I got some free Firebird snowflake wheels for my S-10.
I had them blasted & I want to paint the inserts & clear the rest.

I want the wheels to look similar to this...



I'd like to use Rustoleum hammered finish, just not sure how clear reacts with it.
What's a good paint & clear to use on wheels?

[milner351]

Re: Refinishing Wheels

Eastwood makes a clear they call "diamond clear" specifically for wheels... I've used it on some intakes after bead blasting with good results. The one on the boat still looks great - but, it runs cool so that maybe not the best example.

I would think you'd want to spray the dark color from the backside of the wheel to minimize over spray and required taping / sanding / etc on the clean aluminum finish of the outside of the wheel.

Check out eastwood - they may have wheel paint to go with that clear, not sure.

[BOWTIE6872]

Re: Refinishing Wheels

oh, tape'n fun..

I cheated with mine..
I painted the color...
let it dry..
mounted the wheel.
started car with rear in the air.
dropped it in d with the e brake on, a little( it keep wheel speed down.)
and with sandpaper..forget the grit..
sanded the alum unpainted parts..
cleaned and cleared(off car ofcourse)

[milner351]

Re: Refinishing Wheels

MMM
I've thought of doing that for years to clean up a set of aluminum slots.....

how'd you keep from breaking fingers around the lug nuts?

I wonder if my friends lathe is big enough to chuck up a 14" rim from the inside.... then just sand by hand at a reasonable speed as to not loose any digits....

[JOES66FURY]

Re: Refinishing Wheels

Why tape...Prep it, sanding and what not then I would clean it really well, then apply a thin coat of vaseline to the areas you don't want painted....shoot it from the back...wait for it to set up...then wipe it down....I have used this process with some success...just have to be careful where you put your hands....

[BOWTIE6872]

Re: Refinishing Wheels

MMM
I've thought of doing that for years to clean up a set of aluminum slots.....

how'd you keep from breaking fingers around the lug nuts?

I wonder if my friends lathe is big enough to chuck up a 14" rim from the inside.... then just sand by hand at a reasonable speed as to not loose any digits....

well.. I hot glued some samepaper to wifes oven mit ;D ;D ;D

[milner351]

Re: Refinishing Wheels

well.. I hot glued some samepaper to wifes oven mit


GENIUS! ;D

[1988montecarloss]

Re: Refinishing Wheels

you're gonna have to find a way to make them look like that w/o masking them because it will take you forever to mask them the way i did on my car. ;)

i used the rustoleum hammered finish paint on my wheels w/o clear coat and they looked fine and i've put almost 600 miles on the car since then and no paint has chipped/peeled etc.

the paint is glossy too so thats why i didnt use clear

this is how it came out

I painted the wheels on the monte black today.
its a real PITA masking them off but i think its worth it.

I know i still have to paint the front wheelwells :

[BOWTIE6872]

Re: Refinishing Wheels

well.. I hot glued some samepaper to wifes oven mit


GENIUS! ;D

HA, GENIUS...
NOT..
LEFT THE MIT ON TRUNK OF CAR AND SHE CAME HOME BEFORE i got it out of sight.. :-\

but it worked..
me, hadto buy her a new matching set..
so genius, nope ;)

[tardis454]

Re: Refinishing Wheels

you're gonna have to find a way to make them look like that w/o masking them because it will take you forever to mask them the way i did on my car. ;)
i used the rustoleum hammered finish paint on my wheels w/o clear coat and they looked fine and i've put almost 600 miles on the car since then and no paint has chipped/peeled etc.
the paint is glossy too so thats why i didnt use clear
this is how it came out...

I painted the wheels on the monte black today.
its a real PITA masking them off but i think its worth it.
I know i still have to paint the front wheelwells

That hammered finish paint looks great on those wheels, nice job man! 8)

I'd like to clear-coat the unfinished aluminum portion of my wheels to protect them from the Ohio rust-belt weather.
I've considered using the black Rustoleum Industrial enamel I have left over from redoing my Jeep's floor pans...
But this morning I saw an ad for Rustoleum's new line of automotive paints in the lastest issue of Hot Rod.
It says they make high temp wheel paint, I think I'm gonna have to look into that... ;D