Wheel Refinish Question

kodioneill · kodioneill's Garage

Way Way to many posts to read in the search query.

Question, how do refinish this:

To look like this:

Wil Ferch · 10-07-2010, 04:55 PM

Hmmm.... too many sources of info?.....this is a problem? I though only if too few?

Oh well, it *is* the instant gratification generation...

As a minimum, look up my "Economy RSR finish" thread.. been running pretty long with many different approaches and opinions. Even Harvey Weidman participated. there are other threads, too, but ....

Zeke · 10-07-2010, 05:03 PM

Well, the painting part is easy. Just be sure to scuff the polished areas and clean thoroughly. The primer you use will determine how well your job holds up. I use XIM 400.

The not so shiny anodize look in pic 2 is how a factory wheel should look. Today, wheel refinshers are using a clear powder coat that does not have a high gloss. You can do this at home with some spray can products, but I'd experiment. Again, I use XIM 400 clear for this.

HARVEYWEIDMAN · 10-07-2010, 07:01 PM

The original finish was polished outer then anodized. Then semi gloss black paint sprayed on the center. We offer this service.
To replicate it at home, you can spray the center black and dull the outer with wheel cleaning acid then semi gloss clear the outer. Not exact, but much closer than your polish spokes and outers...
Hope this helps,
H

Wil Ferch · 10-08-2010, 04:36 PM

Harvey is THE man on the topic....

For my economy finish for the black inside area....scuff well and clean....and use Rustoleum Satin 7777 in a rattle can. Remarkably tough and mimics OEM well, but not perfectly. Others say a Satin Wurth product matches even better. I used electrical tape to allow "curve fit" and it masked very well, and is easy to remove.

msk1986911 · 10-08-2010, 04:51 PM

To make the taping easier, use a lazy susan type set-up to place the wheel on. I found it much easier to stand in one place and turn the wheel on the lazy susan to tape it instead of moving around the stationary wheel.

Mike

Zeke · 10-08-2010, 04:53 PM

What's weird is that Rustoleum is not selling semi-gloss or satin in CA anymore! I'm trying to source as many cans as I can, rattle can and quarts.

efhughes3 · efhughes3's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by milt

What's weird is that Rustoleum is not selling semi-gloss or satin in CA anymore! I'm trying to source as many cans as I can, rattle can and quarts.

Yikes, I didn't know that. I'll need to drive over to Nevada on my next business trip.

Zeke · 10-10-2010, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by efhughes3

Yikes, I didn't know that. I'll need to drive over to Nevada on my next business trip.

I found some today at OSH. Maybe I was wrong.

efhughes3 · efhughes3's Garage

Thanks Milt. Got your PM, thanks for that. It wouldn't surprise me in this state that they found the time to ban a spray paint. Not like the hacks have anything better to do....

techweenie · techweenie's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by milt

What's weird is that Rustoleum is not selling semi-gloss or satin in CA anymore! I'm trying to source as many cans as I can, rattle can and quarts.

Yes, you have to buy it at the DMV now.

j/k

techweenie · techweenie's Garage

On to the question at hand. Porsche used a finish called clear anodizing. Anodizing puts a tougher finish on the aluminum. Clear anodizing can be smooth or rough. There are a few specialty shops that do the anodizing: Weidman, Reed and Wheel Enhancement are the biggies on the left coast. Do not experiment with anodizing companies that don't do this a lot. You can end up with a mottled finish (ask me how I know).

I did my own low buck RSR finish with a light media blast and satin clear.

uksailmaker · uksailmaker's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by milt

Well, the painting part is easy. Just be sure to scuff the polished areas and clean thoroughly. The primer you use will determine how well your job holds up. I use XIM 400.

The not so shiny anodize look in pic 2 is how a factory wheel should look. Today, wheel refinshers are using a clear powder coat that does not have a high gloss. You can do this at home with some spray can products, but I'd experiment. Again, I use XIM 400 clear for this.

A porsche owner here in Florida who is an engineer with NASA showed me a system he developed that worked well.

Proper prep .....sanding, primer etc

He placed the wheels over a container with cardboard taped to the back side of the wheel covering the open spaces.

He then poured the desired paint inside the wheels

After some time he would make holes in the cardboard letting the paint drain into the container below the wheel.

His wheels looked factory.

porschenut · 10-16-2010, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uksailmaker

A porsche owner here in Florida who is an engineer with NASA showed me a system he developed that worked well.

Proper prep .....sanding, primer etc

He placed the wheels over a container with cardboard taped to the back side of the wheel covering the open spaces.

He then poured the desired paint inside the wheels

After some time he would make holes in the cardboard letting the paint drain into the container below the wheel.

His wheels looked factory.

I've seen it done that way too. The downsides are that it takes a great deal more paint ($), and the wheels have to be absolutely perfectly level and can't move at all during the process.