well, i just needed some tips on prepping my rims. i bought a couple cans of graphite wheel paint and clear coat wheel paint. oh yeah and the rims are 7th gen gts wheels. i just want a good turn out and not having to redo them. i was just thinkin clean them sand them down a bit spray then clear cloat. does that sound good enough? any help is appreciated!!


sang








This post has been edited by LBCxGUY: Mar 20, 2005 - 10:12 PM

I would sand them with somewhere between 200-300 grit. That should be enough to wear down the surface but not leave any sanding scratches. If you have to, go over it with 400 grit sand paper if any scratches are left behind.

After you thouroughly sand the wheels, go over then with a degreaser of some sort. It will help take out any remaning oils that might lead to the paint flaking off in the future. Rubbing Alcohol or something with Amonia in it should suffice if you have no waxer/degreaser.

After that paint the wheels.

Do only one coat at a time, dont try to paint it all at once or you will have drips. Same with the clearcoat. I would suggest somewhere around 4-5 coats of clear because wheels tend to take a lot of weathering if you do a very thin coat of clear.

Make sure you paint in good temperature too - somewhere around 70 degrees.

Any other questions let me know.

If you have tires mounted, i would suggest using index cards so no paint will get on the tires.

Ok, First take off, then use de-greaser and clean them. Then DO Not waste your time using sand paper, use a brilo pad.. a lot easier and all you need. I spent 2-3 hours sanding one perfect, and 10 min on each of the others and they all turned out the same. They use alchol to whip down, then prepare to spray. Also do 4-5 light coats so you dont get runs. Then do 2-3 clear coats. and then let dry a solid day. then your done and remount.

you mean this??

or something else???

I used some sand paper. I followed this how to and it worked out pretty well for me.

go for it

-LBCxGUY+Mar 7, 2005 - 4:20 AM

Yes that worked for mine. All you need is enough to get the clear coat off and down into the paint a lil, just make sure to wipe with asitone or alchoal after

thanks alot!!!...project begins friday morning when my work week is over.! cant wait for the results.


sang

what kind of paint should be used

i painted my 18's on my probe last year.
i jsut cleaned them up real good and taped off the tires and had at it.
i used regular Duplicolor car paint and the wheel clear.
it turned 3 of my wheels yellow.

after i traded my probe for another one i decided to re-paint the rims white due to curb marks.
I spent 2 hours sandblasting one rim.
the rest i just cleaned real good, taped them off and had at it.
this time i used 1200 degree Duplicolor paint with no clear.
rims were whiter then ever, matched and look great even now.

-Akimbo+Mar 8, 2005 - 2:43 AM

I use engine paint. and wheel clear. worked great, but seemed like senc ei didnt wash off the salt enough from this winter it ate up my front clear paint, and i need to re-do them.

i would suggest powdercoating them... get them sandblasted and then sand them down so there are no scratches then get them powdercoated so much better.

use TONS of clear, a few thin layers and then heavy one to make sure they turn out smooth... otherwise they pick dirt up REAL bad

I used the dupli-color wheel paint and wheel clear. Worked great for me...

Quick suggestion... Pick up some index cards at walmart or something and place them between the tire and wheel all the way around. That way you dont have to worry about taping the tire off. Makes it so much quicker!

-Batman722+Mar 8, 2005 - 12:51 AM

Or i've heard of people putting vasoline on there tire all over it and spraying there wheels when finished they just rinse the vasoline off there tire and it gives it instant tire shine.

let me know what you think!!!....should be painting lip, side, and rears soon.

looks good man. nice drop too

looks awesome, nice body work you got going also. keep us updated

Looking good, sang... keep up the good work...can't wait to see it in person

thanks for the comments. hoping to get everthing together soon.


sang