Painting alloy wheels: how to do it

Painting alloy wheels : how to get them in your favorite color (matte black, glossy) or simply to remove scratches with the new paint. A detailed guide that will explain how to paint car rims.

How to paint plastic car rims

Alloy wheels and plastic wheels , both can be painted and refurbished. For a detailed guide on painting plastic rims , we refer to the page on  how to paint car rims . 

In this article we will focus on the painting of alloy wheels aimed at removing scratches or to obtain customizations to the car’s wheels.

Remove scratches from alloy wheels with paint

All of us happened to “take the pavement” when parking and our wheels did not like this at all, even less so if the friction generated was so high as to scratch the  alloy wheels  and ruin the tires. The  painting of alloy wheels  is effective both to eliminate scratches and to eliminate more or less deep scratches. Don’t expect miracles, though, if the rim is broken or heavily chipped!

If you have  scratched alloy wheels and want to remove those horrible imperfections, you can do it by using paint. This guide works to eliminate scratches from alloy wheels , we are talking about extensive but not very deep, so if it is not a scratch but a gash on the rim it is better to contact a body builder to evaluate the stability of the entire wheel. The  alloy wheels  severely chipped, can be repaired with fillers.

If the  alloy wheel  is still strong but only aesthetically proven, it is possible to use two-component filler putty to fill the imperfection.

Paint the rims to remove scratches from the alloy rims

Here’s what you need to remove scratches from the alloy wheel:

  • sandpaper of different grit
  • primer for metals
  • metal paint
  • metal polish
  • two-component putty for metals and spatula (optional)

First of all, carefully clean the alloy wheels : the quality of the result obtained will depend, for 80%, on this phase! The cleaner the substrate, the greater the yield of the paint.

To clean the alloy wheels you can use a solution with a very low concentration of water and ammonia, use a degreasing product or even better if a high pressure steam dispenser. For some extra advice, I refer you to the guide on  how to clean car rims .

Once you have a brilliantly clean rim, sand the surface damaged by the scratch. If the scratches still feel to the touch (and therefore weren’t so superficial), you can fill that small groove with two-component metal filler.

Warning! 
The two-component putty for metals must be applied promptly because otherwise it hardens and is no longer usable. Mix the two components in small quantities so you don’t have to act too quickly or anxious to finish.

After applying the two-component putty for metals, it is recommended to pass the abrasive paper again to obtain a smooth and homogeneous surface.

Remove the dust from the rim and start  painting . First pass the primer and wait for it to dry completely (it usually takes 6 hours, always read the label).

Spray the metal paint, being careful to keep a certain distance between the can and the rim to avoid annoying dripping. Before applying the polish or a second coat, wait at least 24 hours for perfect drying.

This procedure, carried out by an expert coachbuilder, can  cost  around 120 – 150 euros.

Powder coated alloy rims

Powder painting can only be done by true experts: it is not an easy job to entrust to the body shop.

The cost  of the  powder coating of the alloy wheels  amounts to about 300 – 350 euros but returns results “as new”.

The  powder coating  requires cleaning of the circle by sandblasting and the “dust” applied is then baked in an oven and transformed into paint. Only then can a glossy or matte finish be applied according to the user’s choice.

Diy alloy wheel painting

Anyone who wants to  paint alloy wheels in black , matte black or glossy, yellow or even green, can try a much simpler DIY job than the classic metal paint. On the market there are particular spray films created to customize cars. It is a  removable spray film  suitable for both alloy wheels , both wheels steel or plastic rims .

Although the manufacturers of the spray films claim that a 400 ml can is enough to paint two rims, I recommend buying 2 to be able to do more passes.

Among the products available on the market, for those who want to paint matt black alloy wheels , we point out the removable paint with “spray film” d-Gear technology, proposed at a price of 21.85 euros with shipping included. This paint is available in different colors: from the aforementioned matte black to the classic glossy black, there is no shortage of more eccentric colors such as orange, white, gray, yellow, green, red and ocher.

For all the info, please refer to the Amazon page:  Spray d-Gear

This paint will protect the underlying circle in case of distraction: if you take the pavement the paint will be damaged and can be quickly re-applied.

As an alternative to the aforementioned product there is the more professional Foliatec varnish, also in this case we recommend doing more coats (the manufacturer recommends 3-4 coats). The Foliatec is often described as a car tuning paint: The purchase cost of a spray can is around 28 euros.

For all the info, please refer to the Amazon page:  Paint – Foliatec spray film

Regardless of the brand you will use, remember that to paint the car rims  you must always apply 3 or 4 coats of product in order to obtain an optimal and more lasting result over time.

All spray films are capable of adhering to various substrates, including chrome surfaces. The spray film must be applied in several stages and layers, in order to avoid dripping.

You need to shake the spray can very frequently, even between sprays. Otherwise the product could deposit on the bottom of the can and not guarantee a lasting seal over time.

The  coating alloy wheels DIY spray-film can not absolutely guarantee the same result as an authentic painting (a bathroom, powder or spray can) but if your mean you customize your car and protect your circles, it is of the right product.

Before painting the alloy wheels

It is clear that before  painting the rims the wheels  must be removed. You can act wheel by wheel. For no reason do we recommend removing the alloy rims from the wheel because DIY would be very cumbersome, the wheels should be deflated.

 

by Abdullah Sam
I’m a teacher, researcher and writer. I write about study subjects to improve the learning of college and university students. I write top Quality study notes Mostly, Tech, Games, Education, And Solutions/Tips and Tricks. I am a person who helps students to acquire knowledge, competence or virtue.

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