Which paint for car wheels to choose
You can update the appearance of your car wheels in 2 ways. One of them is associated with considerable physical effort and an impressive investment of time, but it is cheap.
The second painting route requires a much larger amount of money.
But coloring is quick and hassle-free. At its core, the technology for applying paint coating both in your garage and in a car service is the same. Consists of the following stages. Firstly, cleaning the car disk from dirt and old layers of paint, varnish, primer (inside and out).
Secondly, thorough surface preparation: removing dents, nicks, carrying out repeated grinding and other operations. Thirdly, coating of car wheels with paint and varnish (2-3 layers with periodic drying).
For powder insulation, after the 3rd stage comes the 4th, which consists of polymerization - sintering - of a new layer with a base.
The process is carried out in special chambers, the temperature of which is not less than +200 degrees Celsius.
The final stage of painting technology is drying in a room with good ventilation (where there is no dust).
The most time-consuming are the first two stages. Both the effectiveness of the updated look and the long-term integrity of the coating depend on the thoroughness of their execution. Most of the operations in the service are automated.
To paint car wheels, professional reagents, devices and equipment are used: sandblasting machine, drying cabinets, etc. For a cosmetic update, acrylic paint is suitable.
You can carry out this process yourself.
If there are significant defects, you should think about powder technology. The main disadvantage of acrylic spray paint is the lower degree of durability compared to high-quality powder coating. Based on physical and chemical properties, the dye is divided into 2 groups: thermoplastic paints, fused to the disk area and fixed to microcracks; thermosetting coatings, which when heated become liquid and, spreading over the prepared surface, enter into a chemical reaction with it.
The process of applying protective paint to car wheels can be timed to coincide with the new season or a specific event, for example:
- for an upcoming off-road trip into the wilderness;
- after hitting a pothole, walking along an icy road or mountain serpentine road;
- when involved in an accident.
The time when painting the car's rims is required is determined visually. The main criterion is the current condition, visible by the presence of defects:
- cracks, chips, potholes;
- corrosion of the coating by chemical reagents, for example those that utility workers use to “fight” icing;
- damage to the integrity of the paint layer under the influence of repeated high-pressure washing.
You should not postpone the event “for later”.
Every day of hard work for the benefit of the car owner reduces the service life of the disk. Make your four-wheeled friend look attractive.
Which paint do you prefer?
Every car owner, thinking about painting wheels, wondered what paint to choose. Acrylic paint is quite a troublesome task. Before painting, you will have to remove the tires from the rims and take them to a specialist workshop. However, this type of paint is more often used by car enthusiasts. It is produced in liquid form, so it is applied using a spray gun or spray can. Powder paints, although superior in quality to acrylic paints, also have many disadvantages. This is a rather expensive process, and not always effective, especially on aluminum alloys.
The most inexpensive and accessible method, which you can also use yourself, is simply painting the wheels from a spray can. If the process is carried out correctly, you get an excellent result, not inferior to the result when painting with acrylic-based enamel.
Wheel paint
Each of the dyes listed above has differences and advantages that are important when used. Despite the worse durability compared to powder, acrylic paint has the following advantages:
- Available in aerosol form;
- ease and speed of use;
- rich color palette (including gilding, metallic and more provocative shades).
Advantages of powder paints:
- durability and resistance, especially in relation to mechanical damage;
- anti-corrosion protection of disks on the outside;
- moisture resistance.
The only significant “minus” of powder paint is that it cannot be used independently, since its application requires special equipment, which is expensive.
Do-it-yourself spray painting of wheels
How to paint stamped wheels without removing the rubber
It is better to do this perpendicular to the first layer, not forgetting the edge of the rim.
If two layers of soil completely cover the surface of the disk, then this is enough; if not, then another 1-3 layers should be applied. After the primer has been applied, two options for applying paint are possible: If after applying the primer there are no streaks, debris or other paint defects left on the surface of the disc, then after 20 minutes you can begin applying the first layer of paint. This method is used if it is necessary to correct existing defects.
The applied primer should be dried for at least 2-3 hours, depending on the ambient temperature. To speed up the process, you can use forced drying. Next, using abrasive sandpaper with a grain size of P220-P240, all defects are eliminated, and if necessary (scuffs to iron appear), then another layer of primer is applied.
What paint to paint car stamping wheels in two colors
It is better to use spray paint or a spray gun for such purposes. Coloring usually occurs in two shades, and this process does not require any special skills. The rim of a stamped disc is painted in one tone, and the middle in another. All manipulations are carried out using masking tape and oilcloth.
Painting in several colors
The area required for painting is left uncovered, and everything else must be covered with film and secured with masking tape. After the paint has dried, you should cover the painted area and paint where there is no paint yet. Even in the case of double paint, you can use special stencils with a pattern. The main thing is to carefully cover the places where the paint should not get.
How to paint the steel wheels of a car yourself and how is fully described in the article. An important point in this matter is its quality preparation. You should also pay special attention to your own safety. Gloves, a mask and a respirator must be present when working with paints and varnishes.
Do-it-yourself colorist painting wheels
Wheel rims, as in the photo, will help tremendously change the look of the car. Traditionally, several types of coatings are used to paint rims: Video tutorial on how to paint rims in 5 minutes Let's look at each of these methods and try to figure out which one is the most rational, which one is suitable for painting in garage conditions, which one is the most effective and for which type of wheels.
Paint in aerosol cans is a simple and affordable way to paint rims. Any detergent will do for this, but it is better to wash with a brush.
After this, you need to remove the old paintwork.
You can use chemicals if you know the composition of the old paint. But, as a rule, the old coating is removed mechanically. Before painting, the wheels need to be washed to remove dirt. The paint is applied in several layers until the primer is completely covered. Liquid rubber is very convenient because it is easy to remove. Painting the wheels to look like chrome is also a kind of imitation of a chrome surface. Not everyone can truly chrome or nickel plate a disk, since the process is expensive and is performed only in specialized workshops.
Therefore, they taught acrylic paint “to imitate chrome” to imitate a chrome surface. This is the same paint in a can, only with special additives that give the surface some resemblance to chrome applied by galvanic method. Any method of painting rims will be appropriate if the owner of the car has excellent taste, a healthy imagination and a sense of proportion.
Experiment, and your car will definitely become unique, bright and worthy of attention.
Why do you need to paint rims?
The main reason for the idea of painting wheel rims arises after identifying mechanical damage (scratches, abrasions), which create an imbalance between the appearance of the car body and the wheels. Wheel paint not only hides these imperfections, but also provides protection against corrosion. Special additives prevent discoloration in the sun, so the appearance will remain the same for several years.
Often you want to highlight your car and make it unique. For this purpose, only bright colors are specifically used, but it all depends on the driver’s preferences. Some paint them with a special luminous paint, which becomes especially expressive in the evening.
Painting wheel rims increases wear resistance, thereby extending service life. The paint allows you to eliminate errors yourself, spending a minimal amount of money, instead of completely replacing the entire disk.
Necessary equipment and materials
Painting wheels yourself with powder paint in a regular garage requires expensive equipment. This is a sandblasting machine necessary for thoroughly removing the remnants of the old coating and perfectly leveling the surface. You will also need a heat chamber - after degreasing the surface, applying an anti-corrosion coating and powder coating, you will need to carry out heat treatment (“bake” it). If you do not do this constantly, then in a private garage it is very difficult to provide, properly equip and carry out this technological cycle. Therefore, let's look at a simpler option available in a regular garage - painting wheels using acrylic paints.
At home, sandblasting can be replaced with a drill with various additional attachments. Don't skimp when purchasing them, because... These attachments can also be used for other work, for example, for polishing a car body or glass with your own hands.
Also during the work we will need the following materials:
- Brush;
- Detergent (powder);
- Sandpaper of various abrasiveness (from 200 to 600);
- Automotive finishing putty;
- 2-3 cans of primer;
- 3-4 cans of special paint;
- 1 can of clear varnish;
- Bottle of solvent 646;
- Protective sealed glasses and gloves.
Dyeing process
How to spray paint car wheels? Painting wheel rims with your own hands using a spray can involves testing it. It is carried out on an unnecessary part of the car or any flat surface (garage door, plywood sheet). There are different cans of aerosol paint: some spray the paint in a round spot, while others spray the paint in a fan, like real paint sprayers. It would be preferable to take the second type of paint cans. It will ensure more uniform painting of the borders, although paints in spray cans with a round spot shape have their own advantages - they effectively paint multiple ribs, spokes and other components of the wheel rim. To safely paint a car with your own hands, you need to use:
- respirator;
- glasses;
- overalls;
- special shoes.
Do-it-yourself spray painting of rims
It is especially important to use protective agents when painting with acrylic composition, since it is highly toxic.
Do-it-yourself painting of alloy wheels using a can of aerosol paint is carried out in several layers, each of which is applied at intervals of 15 minutes. After applying the final layer, wait for the composition to dry completely - usually the aerosol dries within 3-4 hours.
Next, you can coat the cast disc with varnish, and then remove the masking tape. To give an even greater mirror effect, you can polish the disc with a special device or product.
Materials and equipment
· Sandpaper. You will need 4 sheets of fine and coarse sandpaper. It is better if it is immediately prepared for mounting on a grinding wheel installed in a drill.
· Two rolls of medium-width masking tape.
· Paint (preferably acrylic) – four cans, different colors possible if you intend to make an original tuning.
· Acrylic primer – 2 cans.
· One can of automotive varnish intended for exterior use.
· Respirator.
· Solvent and rags for degreasing disks and removing stains from them.
The color palette of acrylic paints is much richer than that of powder paints. Depending on the quality of paint and primer purchased, as well as the conditions under which painting will be done, the entire process takes from two to five days.
How to paint car rims yourself
As you know, car wheels are most susceptible to mechanical damage. The wheels rotate at high speed. All this leads to the destruction of the paintwork, as small stones hit the wheel and destroy the paint. Of course, any company specializing in painting will help restore the original appearance of the wheels. However, it should be noted that this pleasure is not cheap. However, painting car rims yourself is not so difficult - the main thing is that you have the desire.
Before painting the wheels yourself, you need to acquire:
- iron hand brush;
- sandpaper of several sizes;
- primer for cars;
- putty for cars;
- several cans of automotive paint for wheels;
- abrasive paste for grinding;
- several cans of clear car varnish.
Wheel cleaning
Now you need to clean the wheels. The old paint must be removed, but knowing that it will not be so easy. Wheel paint is one of the most durable. Try using a chisel or an old knife and pick out any chips. Afterwards, you need to use an electric drill with a metal brush attachment and perform a final cleaning of the surface of the car rim. It must be remembered that the better the surface is cleaned, the better the new paint will adhere, and the better the wheel itself will look.
The next procedure is the final cleaning of the surface by hand. At this stage we will need sandpaper. Power tools are, of course, good at cleaning surfaces, but it is best to complete this procedure with your hands. Use coarser-grit sandpaper initially and gradually work your way down to a smaller grit. After thorough cleaning, the surface must be washed with gasoline or acetone to degrease the surface. The surface of the material to be painted must be very clean and always free of grease, otherwise the paint will simply not adhere well to it. Respect your work.
Painting
The very last moment has come - this, of course, is painting. This moment is perhaps the most solemn, since we had to work hard to remove the old coating, but this is also the most important procedure. There is no need to rush here and the main thing is to do everything right. If you do something wrong, then all the previous work will completely go down the drain. But you shouldn’t be afraid, if you don’t rush and do everything according to the instructions, then everything will definitely work out. As they say, the eyes are afraid, but the hands do. By the way, about the eyes and hands, they need to be protected from paint. Before you paint car rims yourself, you must first put on special glasses and a respirator. You must wear gloves on your hands. It is prohibited to paint without a respirator and glasses, as you can be poisoned by paint fumes or damage your eyesight.
Helpful advice
Before painting, it is necessary to degrease the surface again. The can of paint must be constantly shaken and kept within 40 centimeters from the surface to be painted. It is necessary to carry the can evenly without delay, applying the paint evenly. The painting procedure is carried out several times with a break of 15 minutes. If defects are noticeable, there is no need to worry, because everything can be corrected and the painting procedure can be repeated. Afterwards, the paint is allowed to dry and the disc is then varnished. As is obvious, painting car rims yourself is not very difficult, the main thing is to approach this issue responsibly and take your time, then everything will definitely work out.
Car wheel rim painting technology
The entire dyeing process is divided into the following stages:
- Removing the wheels, disassembling them and removing dirt.
- Preparing for painting.
- Application of primer.
- Coloring and drying.
The rims must be thoroughly washed to remove dirt and dried.
At the first stage, it is important to thoroughly wash the discs using degreasing detergents (kitchen detergents are suitable). If you decide to paint them without removing the tires, you will have to thoroughly wash the rubber as well. After washing, dry the wheels in the fresh air or in a ventilated area.
The process of preparing to paint stampings in color
At this stage it is necessary to perform the following operations:
- Removing rust and old paintwork.
- Degreasing.
- Pasting with a painting plaster (if necessary).
Initial cleaning of the disk with a brush
When performing the first operation, you need to achieve two goals: completely remove the rust and clean the applied varnish and paint as much as possible. Ideally, the old coating should be completely removed, which is quite difficult to achieve with manual processing. But the varnish should be completely cleaned, and the paint should be cleaned whenever possible. Where it holds firmly, sanding down to metal is not necessary. First you need to use coarse sandpaper, and then finer sandpaper to rub out scratches.
Advice. Do not allow the old coating to remain on the metal in the form of islands with clear protruding edges. After painting, the remaining islands will definitely appear, no matter how many layers you apply. The protrusions must be sanded down so that the surface feels smooth to the touch.
Pouring rust converter into disc slots
There is one weak point in the design of stamped steel wheels, where dirt is constantly packed and where rust occurs first. This is a gap located in a circle between two elements - the rim and the middle part with holes for mounting bolts. To clean and sand it, the following methods are used:
- treatment with a rust converter or phosphoric acid, followed by cleaning and sanding;
- use of sandblasting machines.
Advice. The last method is the most effective, use it whenever possible. If you have a compressor at home, you can purchase a sandblasting attachment for it and thoroughly clean the entire disk from traces of corrosion and old paint.
This is what a sandblasting nozzle with a sand tank looks like
After cleaning, degrease the wheel rim on both sides with a rag moistened with white spirit and let it dry. After degreasing, do not touch the metal with your hands or wet it with water. If you left the tires on the rims, then they need to be deflated to the maximum and covered with masking tape, trying to get it as far as possible under the edge of the rim. Another option is to frame the part to be painted from cardboard, cutting it into a semicircle and sliding it under the edge of the rim.
Wheel with rubber, ready for painting
Priming and painting
The first step is to create convenient conditions for performing these operations. In order to paint the wheels efficiently, it is worth coming up with podiums for them, for example, from upside-down old buckets. The ideal option is to hang the rim to provide access from all sides. When everything is ready to paint, proceed in this order:
- Shake the can of acrylic primer for 3-5 minutes, then carefully apply the first coat, holding the sprayer at least 20 cm from the surface.
- Dry the first layer for the time indicated on the package (up to 20 minutes).
- Apply a second layer of primer evenly and let it dry.
- After shaking the can of acrylic paint thoroughly, apply it in 3-4 layers with 10-minute breaks to dry. While staining, shake the contents of the container periodically and do not stop in one place, otherwise drips will form.
Painting is much more convenient when the disk is suspended on a wire
Advice. Do not prime or paint rims outdoors, in the open air. The problem is not the rain, as you might think, but the dust particles that settle on the painted surface from the slightest breeze. Dust will ruin all your work.
If the surface of the rim is dotted with defects from impacts, then the indentations should first be puttied and cleaned with fine sandpaper. But due to the direct interaction of the rims with the road surface, which in our conditions is rarely smooth, the putty can break off over time, exposing bare metal, where corrosion will quickly occur. Therefore, for such wheels, it is appropriate to paint them with liquid rubber, whose layer will cover all defects. The technology for applying such a coating is no different from painting with acrylic, only the number of layers can be from 3 to 7.
Using pasting you can create your own design
To paint in 2 colors, after the first paint has completely dried, cover the disc in the right places with masking tape. Then take enamel of a different color and apply it in 3-5 layers with breaks for drying. The drying process is accelerated when using a hair dryer. After the coating has completely hardened, the tape can be removed.
The result of painting in 2 colors
To ensure that the paintwork lasts as long as possible, it is recommended to protect it with a layer of clear automotive varnish. Then, when exposed to abrasive particles and impacts with pebbles, the main coloring layer of the disc will not be damaged. The varnish can be applied 1 hour after painting using the same technology: at least 3 layers with breaks for hardening.
Advice. So that your efforts on the beauty of the wheels are not in vain, before installing the wheels on the car, wait at least a day for the new coating to dry completely.
When you begin to remove the wheels from your car, pay attention to the appearance of the front brake calipers and rear drums. They are probably peeling off and will show through unsightly through the technological openings in the steel disk. To bring it to full beauty, it’s worth painting the calipers and drums in some color that harmonizes with the new coating of the rims.
How to paint wheel rims with your own hands
Today we will try to figure out how to paint car rims. First you need to figure out what they are and how to paint one type or another.
There are two main types of car wheels: Painting of one type or another is practically the same; of course, you need to choose different paint, one that best suits the material from which the product is made. To do this, arm yourself with the following items and devices:
- sandpaper;
- protective film;
- masking tape;
- soft-coated napkin;
- special degreaser for metal surfaces;
- paint and varnish for processing wheel rims.
We paint car rims step by step and very carefully so as not to miss anything.
Alloy wheels require special attention, as they are made of non-ferrous metals. They need processing before use. Typically, such wheels are treated with a primer, then sanded and painted.
First, clean the disks to perfect condition:
- remove rust;
- level the surface;
- remove dirt and dust;
- getting rid of unevenness.
Sandpaper will help you with this.
If necessary, you can use other available materials that will not damage the base of the disk. Before painting, we polish the disc and bring it to a state of perfect cleanliness. After this, cover the tire with a protective film and attach it with a special adhesive tape. Press the film tightly against the tire so that it does not interfere with painting. Next, we move on to the degreasing stage; to do this, thoroughly wipe the surface with a special liquid.
How to paint car rims correctly
However, the painting of discs can also be caused by a more prosaic reason - the nondescript appearance of the discs acquired during operation. The result of this is the formation of various types of chips, dents and scratches on the surface of the discs.
There are two ways to paint car rims: 1.
Contact a specialist to paint wheels in an industrial environment by applying powder paint.
2. Paint it yourself using acrylic paints. To perform high-quality painting of car rims, you need to prepare the following: · Sandpaper. You will need 4 sheets of fine and coarse sandpaper. It is better if it is immediately prepared for mounting on a grinding wheel installed in a drill. · Two rolls of medium-width masking tape. · Paint (preferably acrylic) – four cans, different colors possible if you intend to make an original tuning.
· One can of automotive varnish intended for exterior use. · Solvent and rags for degreasing disks and removing stains from them. The color palette of acrylic paints is much richer than that of powder paints.
Depending on the quality of paint and primer purchased, as well as the conditions under which painting will be done, the entire process takes from two to five days.
The whole process is carried out in several stages: 1.
First you need to make sure that the surface of the disk is even.
This stage is best left to specialists who have special equipment for detecting irregularities on disks and straightening them. 5. The cleaned disc must be degreased using a solvent.
After this procedure, the surface of the disk should dry well.
6. Apply primer to a dry and clean disc.
The best result is achieved if the primer is applied in three layers.
After applying each layer, allow the treated surface to dry. When performing each stage, it is imperative to use personal protective equipment, since both the dust of the old paint being removed and the fumes of the primer and acrylic paint are harmful to the human lungs.
Material calculation
There are 2 ways of painting: the entire disk as a whole and only the outer side. To paint the entire disc you will need 4-5 cans of paint, the same amount of primer and about 3 cans of varnish. Often this is not necessary, so if the treatment is carried out to improve the appearance, we paint only the outer side. In this case, you will need: 2 cans of paint, 1 primer, 1 varnish.
Economy wheel painting
Painting alloy wheels yourself with acrylic paints is also a good option for restoring their appearance. As with powder coating, the wheels must be prepared first. When painting tires at home, you don’t have to remove them, but simply cover them with something. For this purpose, as a rule, construction film and masking tape are used.
To prepare for painting you will need:
- sandpaper;
- rags;
- degreaser;
- primer.
The discs must first be cleaned of dirt using water and washing powder. Depending on how to clean the old coating (wet or dry), either regular or waterproof sandpaper is used. It doesn’t matter how the disk is cleaned; the main thing is to get a good result. For chips and scratches that cannot be removed with sandpaper, putty is used.
Primer and acrylic paint can be used in spray cans. The primer must be applied in 2-3 layers. Each layer must dry well. The last layer must be dried forcibly, for which a household hair dryer is suitable.
Next, paint is applied in 2-3 layers at intervals of 10-15 minutes. Immediately before painting, it would not hurt to apply an antistatic agent to avoid the adhesion of dust and small lint. Painting alloy wheels with your own hands is a painstaking procedure that requires patience and time. But as a result, the discs will look almost like new.
How to choose auto enamel
There are the following types of enamel:
- alkyd;
- melamine alkyd;
- acrylic.
Alkyd enamel has found its widespread use due to its rapid polymerization, as well as good wear resistance. It is excellent for processing wheel rims, as it has anti-corrosion properties and high resistance to weather irritants (snow, rain, dust). In case of repair or varnishing, it is possible to apply a matte finish. Apply a thin layer through a spray can.
Melamine-alkyd enamels are not suitable for independent use, as they require a heating temperature of 110-130C to harden. The main advantage is the strength of the coating, wear resistance and a wide variety of color palettes, including shine and effects such as mother-of-pearl, metallic or simply a matte surface. The disadvantage is the long application time - 3 layers are required, applied after the first has dried, and long drying, which is impossible at home.
Acrylic enamel is the most common paint. It consists of a coloring pigment and a hardener. When applied, these components mix and harden. Used for both glossy and matte finishes. The advantages of this enamel include the absence of the need for varnish, high resistance to external irritants, and quick drying.
Painting stamped discs with your own hands is easy
For work we will need:
- an electric drill and a set of grinding attachments installed in it;
- aerosol can or paint;
- in the latter case, you will also have to acquire a spray gun, as well as a compressor unit;
Almost no one remembers the times when the need to paint stamped wheels was an almost insurmountable problem. Today, in addition to traditional ones, there are a variety of options for painting wheels.
You can do this with the help of: Do not forget that up to 70% of the quality of the final result depends on how well the preparatory work was done. It is for this reason that the preparatory stage must be treated very responsibly.
It is advisable to dwell on the last point in more detail.
In order for the fight against rust to be successful, it is necessary to prepare the following materials:
- A set of sandpaper from P60 to P120. The number of sandpaper used depends on the depth of damage to the metal surface.
- A rust converting chemical, plus some solvent.
- A lot of rags.
Processing should begin with grinding work.
You can sand with sandpaper either by hand or using an attachment for an electric drill.
It looks like a metal brush.
The goal of this stage is to make the entire surface of the discs absolutely flat. The surface of the last layer must be processed. For this, fine-grained sandpaper is used. This is necessary to improve the adhesion of the paintwork. At the final stage, the painted surface is coated with varnish. It should also be applied in several layers - their number should not be less than two.
The time required for the varnish to dry completely is usually indicated on its packaging.
- The person doing the painting should not have exposed areas of the body at all stages. This will prevent chemicals from coming into contact with your skin.
- When cleaning the disc with a wire brush installed in a drill, be sure to wear safety glasses.
- At all stages, it is recommended to work in a respirator or any other protective mask. This will prevent mechanical and chemical elements from entering the lungs and nasal mucosa.
What equipment is needed to paint wheels?
To ensure the highest quality painting of rims, you need to stock up on the following tools and materials:
- varnish;
- primer;
- latex gloves;
- respirator;
- rags;
- any sandpaper;
- good solvent.
You need to decide in advance on the selection of paint for the car. Do-it-yourself painting of stamped discs is usually done with one of three types of paint.
- Powder paint is produced on the basis of a completely dry polymer material. This type of coloring is the most durable. Painting wheels with powder paint is more suitable for professional craftsmen. This coating is not suitable for home use, as it is quite difficult to apply. In addition, expensive equipment is required for the highest quality application.
- Liquid rubber is a relatively new and at the same time fairly high-quality material for painting cars. And it is increasingly chosen by both home craftsmen and professionals.
- Acrylic paints are very popular among both professionals and home craftsmen. Spray paint for wheels has an optimal combination of price and quality. Acrylic paints have excellent adhesive properties, thanks to which they stay on discs for a long time and protect them from negative influences. These paints are produced in liquid form. They are easy to work with using any spray gun.
When purchasing varnish, paint and solvent, you should give preference to materials from one manufacturer.
When choosing tools for painting, you need to proceed from the end result you want to achieve. You can paint the rims using one aerosol can. If you want to get a result indistinguishable from the work of a master at a service station, you will need additional equipment:
- To make painting the discs easier, you will need a special hanger. It is most convenient to make it yourself from ordinary wire.
- You can speed up the drying process of the disc coating using a regular household hair dryer. A better effect can be achieved using a heat gun.
- You can use an electric drill to remove old coating and pockets of rust. Alternatively, you can use sandblasting for this purpose.
- For perfect coverage you will need a compressor or spray gun. However, modern paints sprayed from aerosol cans also make it possible to create a good coating. Therefore, without enough painting experience, you should not bother with expensive equipment.
How to paint alloy wheels
- If you paint in the summer, it is better to do it early in the morning or late evening to avoid the heat. For optimal painting, the temperature should be below +30 degrees Celsius. At high temperatures, the solvent from the lower layers of paint may not have time to evaporate, as a film will form on the surface of the coating. This causes paint coating defects such as boiling (see paintwork defects). Air humidity should be low.
- When spray painting, paint at a distance of 15-20 cm. Start with a thin, non-glossy coat.
- It is enough to paint only the outer part. There is no great need to paint the inside.
- Painting in thin layers will help avoid smudges. Apply thin layers with intermediate drying between layers for 5-10 minutes until you get an evenly painted surface.
- Paint with quick movements left and right. It is better to paint hard-to-reach places first. Subsequent layers may be thicker, but not too thick. The last layer can be made thicker by slightly slowing down the movements of the hand with the spray can.
- If you additionally coat the paint with varnish, then you need to wait 20 minutes before applying it, and then apply a thin layer. The principle of application is the same as with paint. You need to apply three layers. Two thin and one glossy, medium thickness.
- You need to wait 3-4 hours, after which you can put the wheels in place. After a day, the wheels can be used. Complete drying occurs in about a week.
The sequence of operations necessary for high-quality painting of wheels
Before you begin the actual work associated with painting wheels, it is important to clearly understand what needs to be done and in what order. The whole process is carried out in several stages:. 1. First you need to make sure the disk surface is even.
This stage is best left to specialists who have special equipment for detecting irregularities on disks and straightening them.
1. First, you should make sure that the surface of the disk is even. This stage is best left to specialists who have special equipment for detecting irregularities on disks and straightening them.
2. Purchase all of the above materials and necessary tools, if they are not available. When purchasing primer, paint and varnish, you should make sure that they are from the same manufacturer. Only compliance with this condition can give confidence that they will be compatible, which means they will fit securely and hold well. Experts recommend buying acrylic paint in cans. This will avoid the need to purchase special equipment such as a compressor or spray gun.
3. You should start working by thoroughly washing the disc. For this purpose, it is advisable to use washing powder, a brush and water supplied under pressure. This will allow you to get rid of any remaining sand and dirt, even if they are located in places where access is difficult. The washed discs are wiped dry with a rag, if possible, blown with compressed air and dried for several hours.
4. At this stage, the old paint and primer are completely removed from the discs. This can be done without the use of technology, that is, manually, using sandpaper, but it is best to use a special attachment that is fixed in the drill. Cleaning must be carried out so efficiently that no old paint remains even in the most hidden places.
5. The cleaned disc must be degreased using a solvent. After this procedure, the surface of the disk should dry well.
Painting in a car repair shop
Special car services perform painting quickly and efficiently, but they charge quite a lot of money for it. In such a workshop, the wheels are cleaned of old coating and rust using sandblasting, which is carried out using special equipment. Such a car is expensive, so not every car enthusiast has one in their garage.
Car wheels are also painted using a spray gun and high-quality paint. That is why this procedure costs a lot. But those car enthusiasts who want to get their wheels in order without extra costs can repaint them themselves. And for this you won’t need to buy expensive equipment, and all because almost all the materials that are needed can probably be found in every driver’s garage.
Painting stampings in a car workshop
How and what to paint car rims Which paint is best for car rims
In most cases, acrylic or powder paints are used for these purposes. If you think that it will be enough just to refresh the old coating, then acrylic paint is suitable for you. One of its main advantages is its wide range of colors, which allows you to choose the desired color scheme for your car. The trading network presents samples from more than ten manufacturers, whose paints are ideal for application to car parts. However, when choosing, it is necessary to take into account that acrylic paints are highly susceptible to external factors. As a result, they quickly lose all their attractiveness. Powder paints are more durable in this regard. But their use requires the use of expensive and advanced technology.
According to this technology, the powder is applied to a disk and then fixed in a thermal chamber at high temperature. Powder paint is most suitable for alloy wheels. Because they were originally painted in this way. But in a garage it is hardly possible to use this painting method. This requires special equipment. You will also need a sandblasting unit to remove the old paintwork and level the surface of the disc. After cleaning, an anti-corrosion coating is applied. Next is powder paint, and finally heat treatment is carried out in a special chamber.
It is quite difficult to repeat this process in everyday conditions. How to paint your own wheels? It's quite simple. Instead of an industrial sandblasting machine, you can use an ordinary drill. We insert the required nozzle into the cartridge and carefully go through the entire surface of the disk. Next, using sandpaper we bring the cleaning to the final stage. After that, wash the entire disk with water. This is necessary in order to remove all dust. We prime the prepared disc and paint it. For painting you will need four cans of acrylic paint. It's quite simple. Now decide which paint for car wheels suits you best.
Consumables
To paint car rims you will need:
- specialized aerosol paint (unlike conventional automotive composition, it is better resistant to damage and high temperatures);
- primer (1-2 cans);
- varnish;
- degreaser;
- solvent;
- sheets of sandpaper with different degrees of grit (from No. 120 to No. 800);
- masking tape;
- car shampoo and microfiber cloth.
Tools and consumables for painting wheels
When purchasing varnish, spray paint or primer, make sure that they are of the same brand and compatible with each other. Please note that you need to select paint that is as wear-resistant as possible.
Based on this, an acrylic or polyurethane based mixture may be suitable for you. It is believed that powder-based paint compositions (contain polyester pigments) have the best qualities. However, to ensure durability, they are applied mainly using professional equipment, which is unlikely to be found in garage conditions.
Painting wheels with spray paint
How to properly paint steel wheels yourself
- Inspect the part for damage. Deep scratches need to be sanded down with a file, and dents should be straightened out.
- Foci of corrosion are eliminated by grinding or chemical methods.
The last point needs more detailed consideration.
To combat rust you will need the following materials:
- Sandpaper P60 - P120, the required grit should correspond to the depth of damage to the metal.
- Rust converter and solvent.
- Rags.
- Electric drill and special attachments for grinding.
- Spray gun and compressor unit.
- Paint or spray can.
- Overalls and protective mask.
- Primer and solvent.
- Painting tape and rags.
- Sandpaper.
A sandblasting machine to remove corrosion would be quite useful, but it is quite possible to do without it.