DIY RSR finish: dipping method

[rennch]

I am in the process of finishing my Accumoto Fuchs, and thought you guys would dig.

This is how they arrived:

I bolted them on the car and...eew, chrome wheels. What am I, Don Johnson? Gross.



I just got them back from having them type III anodized, in a really cool matte grey:



Keeping with the traditional RSR theme, with my own personal spin on it, I wanted to give them the inner petal RSR finish. That said, taping and painting ain't my bag. I wanted to see if I could do what the original factory did, which was dip them. First, I had to find a basin that I could put the paint in, in the center of the rims. Obviously, if you have forged wheels, you have to get a lot more paint. But, since I had access to the centers, I knew I could just get them in a shallow basin. Finally, after about seven stops, I found a hardware store that had the perfect basin. So, here we go!

Step one: level the table



Step two: fill the basin with satin black paint, and paint thinner. Level the basin.



Step three: gently submerge the center into the basin, intentionally leaving the paint level below where you need it.



Step four: use an old-school ketchup bottle filled with paint to slowly raise the level in the basin. If you gently rattle the basin the paint will find its way into all of the nooks and crannies. By the third wheel, I discovered I could take my paint stick and gently move the paint where I needed it. Go until it's the depth you like.



Step five: very carefully remove the wheel, gently tilt so that the excess paint drains off. Then, put on your drying rack.



Step six: repeat steps three through five. All four wheels took me about 25 minutes. Hopefully they will dry nice and evenly, and I will bolt them together tomorrow.



Stay tuned!



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[rwest]

Nice, and great technique!

[J-Mac]

Nice job.

Where did you get the anodizing done if I may ask? Also for the forged wheels it's easier to tape all the holes up from the rear and then pour the paint in to the 'dish'.

[rennch]

I probably could have done that J Mac, and saved on a lot of paint. Duh. I had them done at a place called A to Z Anodizing here in San Diego.

[Arne2]

You should remove the paint from the lug nut seats, and also from the back side of the flange where it seats against the rim halves. Paint can affect torque readings, and if it gets hot could cause lug nuts or wheel bolts to come loose.

But that said, good job!

[rennch]

Good ideas Arne, thanks !

[patz]

Originally Posted by Arne2

You should remove the paint from the lug nut seats, and also from the back side of the flange where it seats against the rim halves. Paint can affect torque readings, and if it gets hot could cause lug nuts or wheel bolts to come loose.

But that said, good job!

^^^^^^
This! otherwise good ingenuity.

[rennch]

Good news...because they were dried flat and draining, there isn't any residual paint on the backside or lug holes.

Here's how it's drying. Will probably need a wet sand and a touch up here and there, but they look great from a couple feet away,




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[rennch]

Update: They are drying nicely. This might have actually worked...

[Shaun @ Tru6]

these look really nice Michael, good job!

[rennch]

UPDATE:







Pretty. D@mn. Happy.




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[Sebscst]

Holy crap they look good.

[irl]

Awesome color combo

[rennch]

I carefully put a second coat with a foam brush on the main areas of the wheel so I'll be able to wet sand them smooth tomorrow or Saturday. Saturday I'll bolt them back together, silicone the halves, and get the avons re-mounted. Can't wait to see them on the car.






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[OldSpool87]

Those look really nice. Definitely the product of a well thought out method and artistic touch. Please show pics when mounted!!!

[OldSpool87]

I just looked at the pic of your car above and photo shopped the wheels in my brain…it looks sick!

[KeoRS]

I'm digging the results! Can't wait to see pics of them on the car.

[Bird911]

Michael, which paint / finish did you used ?

[rennch]

Rustoleum satin black, thinned almost, but not quite, 1:1.


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[Elombard]

Can you just reassemble with the tires in place and then have them balanced? They are going to look unreal...