Painting my own wheels

[sdavis2702]

Well... here it goes.

I'm not 100% happy with the way they turned out but I knew I wouldn't be. I mean... I did just spray paint a wheel haha. Not too bad though!

First thing I did was take the wheel off of the car ofcourse. I had a bucket of hot water and soap waiting for me. Time to clean...

http://armedforcescarclub.com/pics/P1050261.jpg
http://armedforcescarclub.com/pics/P1050262.jpg

After I got the wheels nice and clean, it was time to do a little sanding. I used the recommended 320 grit sand paper. I was VERY impatient when I first started because I was in a rush to get started... I really wish I had slowed down. Anyway, here is a shot during the sanding...

http://armedforcescarclub.com/pics/P1050264.jpg

I kept sanding it down until everything was smooth. In between each time I sanded, I would wash it down to get all the dust off that why I could get a good look at the wheel. Once again, I was impatient as hell... so eventually I just stopped lol.

I began to tape the wheel off. I laid tape around the lip of the wheel. I did a very small part because all I was willing to have was a small lip... I really didn't even want that to be perfectly honest. I have to get down very close to the wheel and lay tape all around first...

http://armedforcescarclub.com/pics/P1050265.jpg
http://armedforcescarclub.com/pics/P1050267.jpg

Once that was complete, I went ahead and started using some trash bags and more tape to cover up the wheel. About halfway through that, and about 20 slaps in the face from the wind blowing the trash bag, I just began to use all tape on the tire. I wish I had just done the entire thing that way... I'm an idiot.

http://armedforcescarclub.com/pics/P1050270.jpg

Once everything was cleaned, sanded, and taped off, it was time to primer the wheel. Keep in mind, I've never painted anything before using all of the normal painting steps. The most I've ever done is paint my intake manifold... which I just took off, spray painted, and put back on lol. I laid down like 2 or 3 coats of primer, sanding and rinsing off between each coat. Always wear protection by the way.

http://armedforcescarclub.com/pics/P1050271.jpg
http://armedforcescarclub.com/pics/P1050269.jpg
http://armedforcescarclub.com/pics/P1050272.jpg

Once I felt I had enough primer and the wheel was smooth and clean, it was time to actually paint.... scariest moment of my life lol. Honestly though, by this time I had already accepted that there was no turning back so... what the hell. First coat of black paint goes on. Boy did I screw it up lol.

http://armedforcescarclub.com/pics/P1050276.jpg
http://armedforcescarclub.com/pics/P1050277.jpg
http://armedforcescarclub.com/pics/P1050279.jpg

Man I was letting my finger hang over the spray thing it would collect paint and drip on the wheel. All kinds of crap was going on. I felt so out of place lol... painting is NOT my thing. After the first coat of black, I had to stop and sand some stuff down again lol. It was runny in a couple spots, bubbled here and there. It was bad... forreal. I let it dry, sat down close to the wheel, and that's where I slowed down and started doing things in a more meticulous manner.

Next came coats 2 and 3. It started to look a lot better at that point, though there were still MANY imperfections.

http://armedforcescarclub.com/pics/P1050282.jpg
http://armedforcescarclub.com/pics/P1050283.jpg

Next up was the clear coat. The bottle said apply 3 coats. The first 2 were to be light coats and the 3rd medium. That's what I attempted to do, but just like with the primer and black, I seem to get trigger happy. Didn't turn out bad though after a few coats.

http://armedforcescarclub.com/pics/P1050285.jpg

Once that dried, I was so ready to get this damn wheel back on the car... because this entire process really sucked in my opinion. I first took off the bags and tape from over the tire... which was separate from the tape on the lip.

http://armedforcescarclub.com/pics/P1050286.jpg

After that, I went for the tape on the lip. You have to be careful with that tape because pulling it off can pull up some of the paint. I got around about 90% of the wheel and got complacent. I ended up peeling a piece of the paint maybe about 1 centimeter wide and 2 centimeters long. It pissed me off but it's not that noticeable. Always be careful when peeling the tape off!

http://armedforcescarclub.com/pics/P1050287.jpg
http://armedforcescarclub.com/pics/P1050288.jpg

Time to put that biotch back on my car. I was so ready to be done at this point it ain't even funny. I had to be very careful putting it on because in the past, I've dinged up my own wheels with the lug wrench.

All done. I need to clean the tire up a bit because it was still exposed while I was sanding... so it has dust all over it. I think I'm really going to like how it looks once the tires shine and the caliper is painted. Damnit I should have gotten drilled and slotted rotors :mad:

http://armedforcescarclub.com/pics/P1050289.jpg
http://armedforcescarclub.com/pics/P1050291.jpg
http://armedforcescarclub.com/pics/P1050292.jpg
http://armedforcescarclub.com/pics/P1050295.jpg

Because this was my first time, I only did one wheel. I'm glad though because it started to sprinkle shortly after I finished. Somebody warned me that they spent 7 hours on 1 wheel. I was like yea right...

I spent 5 1/2 :omg:

:wave:

[ricanstang]

i think it looks real good man, makes the car look mean even thought it obviously isnt.... j/k

[timpryor]

i know this doesn't help much now, but you should have removed the hammer wheel weight and had tape weights installed before you waiting, and you would prolly have had better results using something acidic to clean the wheels then wetsanded with multiple grits.

looks good though

[Kenny]

I like the black wheels on your car alot better,:awsome: great job


now you need a new sig

[ghost666]

Looks pretty dam good to me bro.

[sdavis2702]

i think it looks real good man, makes the car look mean even thought it obviously isnt.... j/k
Haha... I knew that was coming :)
i know this doesn't help much now, but you should have removed the hammer wheel weight and had tape weights installed before you waiting, and you would prolly have had better results using something acidic to clean the wheels then wetsanded with multiple grits.

looks good though
Yea I learned my lesson after the first one. I already went to Goodyear and had the other 3 balance and the weights moved to the inside so I don't run into the same issue. No biggie on the quality though. This was honestly just an experiment. New black ZR1s done professionally are only gonna run me 500 anyway. And it's only 50 bucks a wheel to get them powder coated. So I just figured I'd give it a shot and if I wasn't happy, I could always just fork out a little cash. I'll keep your advice in mind though :marc:
I like the black wheels on your car alot better,:awsome: great job


now you need a new sig

Looks pretty dam good to me bro.
Thanks!!!

New sig coming soon!

[ghost666]

Anytime!

[Darren]

looks good. There wasnt any need for the primer though. and skinnier tape would be easier to manipulate around the lip. But good job :mick:

[annamaria828]

looks good i like how it came out. i might try and paint mineeventually because theyr really scratched and have that calcium buildup on them and stuff. theyr chrome and some of it is peeling so i need to get them sandblasted but i might do the painting myself if i cant find a good deal. i want them black like urs. ur rims look much better black

[SammyDeez]

Wow That turned out pretty Nice! i like thelittle piture Story You got going there :marc:

Good Job though!

[Scooter]

Looks great.

[Darren]

the primer looks like it is a non sanding primer, judging by the sheen. Non sanding primers are usually a bit glossier than "sandable" or filler primers. You should be good to go not sanding it

[sdavis2702]

Thanks for the info man!

[slo-GT]

Looks great! I've played with the idea of doing that to my stock satin pony's.....just kind've scared i may mess it up more than I help it. But yours came out near perfect!

[Marc]

Looks good! I am sure up close there are imperfections, but I am sure they are hard to find. You just know where they are because it's your car. :marc:

[Shane361]

When the pictures were loading I was like..OMG...but after I saw them I was very impressed! Great job!!!:toast: -Shane

[SVT Rob]

I plan on redoing my C5 Z06 wheels to a silver, the only thing I'm going to do differently, is place the tape on the back side of the lip where the tire beads, so that I can do the whole wheel in silver without leaving a lip. Other than that, great work.

[sdavis2702]

When the pictures were loading I was like..OMG...but after I saw them I was very impressed! Great job!!!:toast: -Shane
Hahaha that's good stuff... thanks!
I plan on redoing my C5 Z06 wheels to a silver, the only thing I'm going to do differently, is place the tape on the back side of the lip where the tire beads, so that I can do the whole wheel in silver without leaving a lip. Other than that, great work.
Yea I thought about all black but I didn't have the guts to do it haha.

Well my buddy and I finished them off yesterday :)

http://armedforcescarclub.com/pics/P1050364.jpg

[timpryor]

They look better with the lip then they would all black.

[sdavis2702]

Yup... I fully agree. I'm glad I didn't go that route :marc:

http://armedforcescarclub.com/pics/P1050366.jpg

[SVT Rob]

I agree. I'm just not a fan of black wheels. Mine were already done when I got the car, I just haven't had time to redo them yet.