Everyone is afraid of scratches on the bodywork but the reality is different: the number one enemy of the integrity of a car is the pavements! How many times have you crawled against the sidewalk? Especially if you have a low car, the parking sensors don’t protect you from this, so you find yourself with scratched , scratched and run down rims .
The wheel rims have a big impact on the overall look of the car, they are just as relevant as the bodywork. Nobody wants a scratched body so why should they tolerate scratched car rims ? Thanks to the painting of the alloy wheels it is possible to eliminate scratches from the rims.
How to paint alloy wheels
If you want to rely on DIY , the most popular method for painting alloy wheels is with the spray can. You can choose between:
- Spray paint
- Spray film
The “spray film” is a very particular type of paint, it creates a thin film that wraps the underlying circle. It is easier to remove and protects the alloy wheel from damage. In short, in the future, if you take a sidewalk, the paint will blow up and the underlying circle will remain intact.
The spray paint is that of the classic: if you do not have a good hand, it can run and must always be applied over a veil of transparent primer which improves its yield.
Please note: if you intend to paint your car rims yourself , you must be aware that you will have to remove all the wheels of the car. You will need a means to support the car without wheels. You can use a jack and paint one wheel at a time or you can use a car lift like the one you find on ” this Amazon page “. The car lift is more stable than the jack, however you will still need to paint and remove one wheel at a time.
DIY painting car rims
What do you need to paint DIY car rims?
- Metal primer (optional)
- Spray paint for metals
- Brilliant / clear spray paint
- A degreaser and sponges
- Fine grit sandpaper
- Paper scotch
- Jack or lifter
- Keys for disassembly and assembly of wheels
First remove the wheel and keep the machine in a stable position. Know that rim painting must be done in an open and well-ventilated environment.
Start by degreasing the rims and cleaning them thoroughly. Once dry, sand the surface with fine grit sandpaper. This will eliminate superficial scratches.
- If there is a scratch on the rim of the car, use a two-component putty for metals.
Once you have a homogeneous and clean surface, you can start painting the rims .
How to degrease car rims? Many recommend the use of a solvent … I can tell you that you will get a good result even by generously using the simple universal degreaser for household cleaning!
With paper tape, cover the parts that must not be affected by the spray paint (therefore the rubber / tire). Use newspaper to protect what doesn’t need to be painted. At this point, if you are unsure whether the paint will hold or are using a very light color on a dark circle, use the primer.
Use the colored spray paint keeping a distance of 20 cm or as prescribed by the manufacturer.
Painting rims with spray cans requires good dexterity. Before painting the alloy wheels, you can try a few plexiglass sheets or other shiny materials that you can smear without problems. In this way you will get a good dexterity before the final test.
Apply three or four coats of paint by shaking the product well.
Let it dry and if the result doesn’t satisfy you, repeat the operation until you get the color you prefer.
Once the circle is dry, apply a coat of clear varnish to make the result more brilliant.
Please note: if you use the spray film you will NOT have to pass the primer or the glossy finish (transparent spray).
Painting car rims: products
As is clear, painting the alloy wheels of the car is not a very difficult operation, however patience and a good dose of dexterity are required. Only with these two ingredients and using good products, will you be able to achieve a good result.
Among the various products for coloring car rims , spray paints / films are very effective. I advise you to use this type of paint if you do not have a good dexterity with the classic spray cans. The reason? The “film” paint creates a thin microfilm that covers the alloy rim, offers excellent grip, covers with a few passes and above all… it is removable! If you want to remove the paint from rims that you have painted with the classic spray can, it will be hard to intervene. On the contrary, stripping colored car rims with a film spray will be a much more serene undertaking to face.
To get an idea of a good product, I would like to point out the “wrapper” paint. It offers an excellent seal and is also useful for making other minor adjustments to the machine. The paint in question can be bought on Amazon at a price of 19.02 euros with free shipping. It is available in the most sought after colors and allows you to paint the alloy wheels in matt black , white, red, blue… it can also be used to paint the brake calipers or just the car logo.
