How to paint stamped car wheels with your own hands

Hello everyone who reads my blog. Today I’m explaining how stamped wheels are painted. The fact is that stamped wheels lose their attractive appearance after just a couple of years. They are especially affected by winter use on roads sprinkled with special salt. The coating is damaged and rust appears in the damaged areas. Here you can either purchase new ones or restore old ones.

All stages of preparation

It is clear that it is best to clean the disc “to the metal” before painting. In this case, only sandpaper (ISO P400-P1500) and, perhaps, a drill with a metal brush are used.

This is how you remove a layer of old paint

The problem is that such cleaning will take more than one day. But the result will please you with its appearance:

Fully cleaned steel disc

In order not to waste time, the surface is only cleaned of rust, then sanded and degreased. The “old paint” remains. This option is also considered acceptable. Let us list the stages of preparation “step by step”:

1. Thoroughly rinse the disc with water. To simplify the task, use a brush;
2. Mechanical rust removal;
3. If necessary, you can use a rust converter: apply the product, leave it for 2 hours, then grind the surface and clean it. You cannot use water!
4. Degreasing (white spirit or solvent 646 is suitable);
5. Applying putty if the wheel has obvious defects.
6. Apply two layers of primer with an interval of 20 minutes.

The last step is to use a universal acrylic primer. These products are sold in aerosol packaging.

Application of primer

Note that phosphoric acid can act as a rust converter. And if the finishing layer is applied, it takes a day to dry the soil.

It is important to know: once a mark has been made on the metal with sandpaper, water should not touch the surface in principle. Use organic solvents for cleaning.

The priming itself is a dress rehearsal for the painting process. To simplify these “processes”, the disk can be installed on an inverted bucket. The rim is then painted by turning the disc with the desired side facing you. As you can see, everything is simple.

You may have to work with sandpaper after applying the primer. Sanding with P1500 sandpaper is carried out before painting, which is mandatory.

How to paint car rims?

There is a wide range of paints on the market that differ in composition, durability, and aesthetic characteristics.

• Nitro enamels dry quickly, are inexpensive, but require 15-20 layers and intermediate processing.
• Alkyd enamels are easy to apply and dry quickly in air. The advantage is the low cost, the formation of a film that prevents the formation of smudges. Disadvantages: low quality and fragility.
• Acrylic paints are popular for body repairs. They apply well, have high decorative characteristics, and protect the surface. The material is suitable for natural drying and polymerization during heat treatment. When varnishing you can achieve a metallic effect.
• Powder compositions are rarely used for self-painting and require the use of special equipment. The result is a durable, aesthetically attractive coating.
• Liquid rubber has a complex application technology, is not a paint, and is a durable coating with an original appearance.

Automotive enthusiasts prefer acrylic paints. They are easy to use, durable and provide an attractive appearance.

Many people think about spray painting wheels. The canister is convenient because you don’t need a gun, which is problematic to use. The paint is supplied under the same pressure. Shake before use to bring the mixture to the desired consistency.

To paint car rims with a spray can, it is worth considering that not all of them are of decent quality, you need to choose products from well-known manufacturers. They spray evenly, without drips.

However, an aerosol cannot provide a high-quality torch; this is only possible with a professional pistol. To paint four discs you will need a lot of spray cans, and the result is not guaranteed; skill is required.

Required tools and equipment:

• For work, a grinder is used, which has low adjustable speed. An electric drill with attachments will also work. The tool kit includes a gun, compressor, spatulas.
• Consumables - sandpaper with different grains, putty, solvent, primer, paint and varnish.

Briefly the process is as follows. When painting, you should remove the rubber, but you can avoid the expensive service if you cover it. The wheel is pasted over, the old paint is removed, and degreased. Dents and irregularities are filled with putty and sanded until a smooth surface is achieved. Paint cannot hide flaws; it only highlights them. Apply the first layer of primer (filler). Use it to remove sandpaper marks on putty discs. The surface is covered with finishing primer. After the primer has dried, apply the first coat of paint (it is better to do two layers). Depending on the instructions for the paint, varnish is used. When smudges appear, they are cut off, ground and polished.

Painting process

So we got to the most important thing. Let's look at how to properly paint stamped wheels so that you don't have to redo everything from scratch later. In principle, there is nothing complicated in this process:

Applying paint to the rim

Of course, not everyone has a spray gun, nor does everyone have special equipment. Therefore, an upside down bucket, unnecessary tires, etc. will help again. The main thing is to be smart, as the author of this photo did:

Homemade equipment for disks

Also, it is advisable to follow these tips:

• When using an aerosol, the can must be shaken periodically;
• The temperature of the aerosol package should not be too low: 30-35 degrees is the norm;
• Keep the aerosol at a distance of 20 cm from the surface (no less);
• When painting, you should not stay in one place for a long time, otherwise streaks will form.

The paint is applied in two or three layers, maintaining an interval of 10 minutes. An hour after painting, the surface is treated with varnish. You can use the finished product within a day. But it’s better to wait 60-80 hours – during this time the varnish gains maximum strength.

Pros and cons of painting castings and spray stamping

The use of paint in aerosol cans is attractive due to its simplicity. You don’t need a paint gun, which few people know how to use correctly, prepared and dehydrated air under strictly required pressure, and bringing the paint to the desired consistency. It is enough to shake an inexpensively purchased can.

This is precisely the first drawback. Not all cans are the same. You won't be able to paint a disc well on the cheap.

The correct aerosol should be from a reputable manufacturer, and not only contain good acrylic paint inside, but also provide an effective spray with a limited spot, within which the paint should lie evenly. This is the only way to get rid of unevenness and smudges.

Selection of materials, tips

Typically, acrylic paint, glossy or matte, is used to paint metal. The primer for this paint is also acrylic (universal). There are also nitro paints. All of the above materials are packaged in an aerosol. But, as is easy to understand, not every primer is suitable for nitro enamels. Be aware that nitrogen based primers and paints are prohibited for use in most countries.

Here are some tips that are known even to beginners:

1. The higher the air temperature, the faster drying occurs;
2. The color of the primer should approximately match the color of the paint;
3. The aerosol must be shaken before use. The packaging temperature, moreover, should not be lower than 25 degrees. This advice applies to any aerosol: with paint, primer or varnish.

It was said how to paint stamped wheels if you know that the work will be done with your own hands. And therefore, such an option as using powder paints was not considered. Good luck.

According to reviews, 4 discs require: 2 cans of dye (450 ml), one can of primer (450 ml), one can of varnish.

Car rim tuning

Tuning is one of the ways that makes a car stand out from all other vehicles. And there are many types of such tuning, for example:

• installation of new plugs;
• unusual painting of car wheels;
• chrome plating;
• inlay;
• backlight;
• unwelding

You may be interested in this About disc color decoding

Installing plugs is replacing old ones with new, more original ones. You can simply buy a new kit and paint it the color you want, or make it yourself. The main thing in this matter is skillful hands and imagination.

The most common way of improvement can be considered unusual painting. This means that you don’t just have to repaint the disc metallic, but choose bright, catchy colors, or maybe even several.

Chrome plating is also quite popular among car enthusiasts, as it gives the wheels an incredibly stylish look. In this case, a metal coating with a mirror effect is created. Inlay is a decoration of the rim with Swarovski crystals. This procedure is painstaking and quite expensive. But the wheels end up looking amazing.

The backlight looks very effective at night.

For this method, neon tubes or neon tape are used. Installing them on disk will not be difficult even for a beginner.

And the last improvement method is welding. It involves expanding the disk by sawing parts and adding more metal to the structure. But this method has more disadvantages than advantages.

Hub like a lathe

There is a method that allows you to quickly paint the rim:

1. Let's say there is rust on the surface of the rim. To find out about this, you will have to disassemble the disk (Fig. 1);
2. Next, the disk is mounted on the hub, the engine is started and the gear is engaged (Fig. 2);
3. If you are using a left-hand hub, turn the steering wheel to the left, and vice versa;
4. Using cloth-based sandpaper, sanding is carried out (Fig. 3). It is better to fix the sandpaper on a block;
5. Just as “preparation” was done in step 4, painting can be done (Fig. 4).

All steps are illustrated in the photo:

Looking at the edge of the rim

Using the hub like a lathe

Rust removal

Painting procedure

Use this method at your own risk.

As an epilogue: how to get a quality wheel painting service in a paint shop

Contacting the first office you come across is fraught with danger. Painting may not proceed correctly, and the disc may even be damaged due to overheating in the drying chamber. Therefore, dialogue comes first. Let's look at the little things that you should focus on when looking for a powder painting service, which is now especially popular:

• Painting time is at least two days.
• The number of sets to be painted at the same time is no more than two.
• Geometry correction - cold method.

Of course, during the meeting, topics about colors and technology should be raised. If it is convenient to look at a palette from a catalog, then it is better to get acquainted with the painting process directly in action - during a tour of the paint shop.

Keep the conversation constructive. The wording “do it as it was” or “I want this color” is completely inappropriate. During productive cooperation, it is customary to stipulate the following things:

• Job guarantees.
• Number of inclusions on the paintwork: on average, there are up to four “grains of sand” per disc, barely noticeable at close range. Demanding customers do not allow the presence of “grains of sand” on the front part of the wheel.
• No damage to bolt wells.
• Proper balancing.
• Cost of car storage service without disks per day, if provided.

How to make a border

You can buy contour tape to paint it in two colors. The standard two-tone color option is the border near the rim. The result of all work will look like this:

Stamped discs with border

The border color is the first layer of paint. Or rather, two or three layers. When doing two-tone painting, keep the following in mind:

• Allow the paint to dry before applying the tape. Which takes 15-20 minutes;
• Do not use regular tape with contour tape. It will come off along with the paint;
• In the example shown above, painting could be done like this: 2-3 layers of red enamel, drying, one “outer” layer.

The last layer must be dried finally. Then varnish treatment is performed. Know that the width of the contour tape is always 6 mm. But this is not a problem, since polyethylene can be glued under the tape.

Preparatory work

At the very beginning, you should check the general condition of the stamped product. Because it will be a shame if a beautiful painted disc does not correspond to the geometric parameters. Accordingly, you should first go to a service station and undergo balancing. Identified defects or small holes are immediately eliminated and welded. However, it is better not to bring stamping to this state, since a deformed product is quite difficult to restore and give it a beautiful appearance.

After this, you need to choose whether to remove the wheel and tire for painting work. Some enthusiasts perform this process, but it wastes extra time. Experienced experts recommend using regular masking tape and paper to cover the wheel from paint. Basically, the tire needs to be removed when there are pockets of rust on the metal. Directly for painting, the rubber is covered with polyethylene, which is glued with masking tape.

Pasting

If you want to paint the “stamps” quickly, without removing the rubber, you need to properly glue its sides. You can do this in several ways:

• Masking tape. It’s trivial to paste it over all the places where the presence of paint is undesirable.
• With cards. We install them vertically in the groove between the sidewall of the tire and the disk shelf.

• Large A3 paper (the thicker the better). We arrange the sheets in a circle. We secure them with pieces of tape. You will get a kind of “drum” that will prevent paint from getting onto the sidewall of the tires.
• Old tires. We cut out the sidewall from an unnecessary tire of the same diameter and simply apply it to our wheel. This way we will prevent pollen from getting onto the surface.