Just painted my rim. I need some input. (pics)

[jmejiaa]

It's my first time doing this and i'm going to do all 4. This is more work then I thought. I am finally done with the first one since I have to do them 1 by one. It's not as nice as I thought but anyway I knew I wasn't going to be able to make them perfect. The thing is they feel kind of rough to the touch. I removed the paint with aircraft paint stripper, I then sanded, then primed, then sanded, primed again, sanded a little more, then painted a coat and then wetsanded that a little, I did a couple more coats and then some clear coats. Take a look. The outside area of the lip also I didn't like how it turned out? Anyway of fixing this without redoing the whole wheel?

BTW, If this is in the wrong forum please move.

[kosta]

i don't know if you are doing them yourself because of financial issues or just for the satisfaction that you did it yourself (which is why i do a lot myself)

but you could have them powdercoated for about $50 or so per rim,
and they will be mint. spray paint might chip easily and also when mounting them

[jmejiaa]

I'm doing it because both reasons, I could afford 50 per rim though, Do I just take my car and they'll take care of it or do I have to take all four rims? I can't take them all off because I don't have another set.

[Calypsocoupe96]

They look pretty good! Let us know how the mounting goes.

[jmejiaa]

the paint is also supposed to be pretty good. It's some dupli color wheel paint.

[kosta]

easiest way would be to send all 4 otherwise you would have to find someone local and do one at a time

[Calypsocoupe96]

the paint is also supposed to be pretty good. It's some dupli color wheel paint.

I was thinking about that. If it's wheel specific it must stand up to some rough handling. :)

[jmejiaa]

Well it's keeping me busy while my girl is away, and we both hated them in black. Any more input guys? I just unmasked it and I like it... :) :buttrock

[sausrigging]

It looks asthough a mop was used!

[jmejiaa]

Does anybody have any advice for the other three? Why did this one come out not smooth like, it looks a lot better in person, And I put a couple more clear coats on it.

[TJP]

I believe I have the same rim, but cannot find the name of it. Although I did some searching, and I wasn't sure if it was it or not, but do these retail at $30 a rim? (Not trying to sound bad, as I have the same ones.) If so, these are some hot looking rims at a very very decent price.

[CaliAgents]

Looks like you didn't do a few dust coats prior to laying down the wet coat. Your prepping needs work too as it looks like there are a bunch of lines and random dimples.

[jmejiaa]

I believe I have the same rim, but cannot find the name of it. Although I did some searching, and I wasn't sure if it was it or not, but do these retail at $30 a rim? (Not trying to sound bad, as I have the same ones.) If so, these are some hot looking rims at a very very decent price.

These are oem m3 rims, they aren't 30 buck a piece, I've seen reps for 600 a set.

My prep deffinetly has to be better, I will try to do the next 3 better, Would it help If I sanded it down a little bit and did another wet coat and then another clear?

[TJP]

These are oem m3 rims, they aren't 30 buck a piece, I've seen reps for 600 a set.

Well hey! That's good for me to know. *insert smilie face here*

[GotCone?]

stip them back down is probably best really.

Then just scuff them and clean them well. Then do a thin coat or two of primer if you want and then just do very, very thin coats of paint. It looks like sanding was causing some of your issues for sure. At most I would sand after the thin paint layers are done if you're going to clear. I never bother with sanding, but have great results.

Are you using Duplicolor HiPo Wheel Coating?

I've had amazing luck with it... prep is key and then comes doing insanely thin coats with the can far enough away.

Here's some pics from the last set of wheels I re-did. LINK (http://www.nebraska-subaru.com/interactive/gallery/view_album.php?set_albumName=albup56) They are smooth, could be smoother, but I don't like to sand between coats as I never have as good of results.

[CdnBimmer]

^^ IMO.. you did more harm than good.. but atleast you tried it!

[rgol]

I agree....I would have had them powdercoated. I just had four rims powdercoated for $100 each. I know that sounds like a lot, but they look awesome and I did not have the time.

You needed to strip them better before painting.

http://rgol.zoints.com/image/50426-IMG_2506

http://rgol.zoints.com/image/50429-IMG_2504

http://rgol.zoints.com/image/50430-IMG_2502

http://rgol.zoints.com/image/50432-IMG_2507

[bmick530i]

I was going to powder coat my beat up 17" style 42's, but couldnt wait 2 weeks to have them done. they quoted me $60 per wheel and that included stripping any of the old stuff off, and then powder coating metalic silver. I ended up selling the 42's and buying TSW's 18x8's

[mose121]

I agree....I would have had them powdercoated. I just had four rims powdercoated for $100 each. I know that sounds like a lot, but they look awesome and I did not have the time.

You needed to strip them better before painting.




$100/wheel was double what it should have cost you, just FYI.

[xjeeper]

I just went through the same process as you did. My wheels are done but I hate them. The clear coat completely changes the way they look, got rid of all the nice metal flake look and made them look dull almost gunmetal grey. I think I am going to just strip and send them out for powdercoating when I get the money, for now they look ok though.

The problem you are having was the same thing I had on my first try. Basically it boils down to too much paint. Either you are holding the can too close to the rim while painting or you are putting too much on at once and not dusting it on in light layers. Probably a combination of both.

Once I figured out that was what I was doing they started to come out much niver looking. Also, it helps if you do it in direct sunlight.

good luck and keep up updated. There are too many threads out there making it look rediculously easy to paint rims, but your and my experiences show otherwise.

[jszy25]

OP: No offense man, but I dont think your paint job came out good by any means. Its hard to say but its looks like your paint might have had a chemical reaction to make it look like that. The paint did not lay down correctly. You need to start from scratch and strip/sand them all the way down.

[jszy25]

Remember to let them dry for a few days before attempting to clear coat.

[The Boston GRUN]

I'm doing it because both reasons, I could afford 50 per rim though, Do I just take my car and they'll take care of it or do I have to take all four rims? I can't take them all off because I don't have another set.
you should paint them black then you wouldent see all the inperfections:buttrock

[GotCone?]

Remember to let them dry for a few days before attempting to clear coat.

not if you follow duplicolors directions.

[jszy25]

not if you follow duplicolors directions.

I was assuming he did follow the directions and got these results.