If you need to paint stamped steel wheels, you need to do it urgently and preferably without removing the rubber, then this method will definitely suit you. True, the wheels still have to be removed.
And here is the result you should get in the end.
So, let's start with the tools and materials that will be needed to prepare the discs and paint them.
- Bulgarian;
- Korshchetka (nozzle to grinder);
- abrasive skin;
- rust converter;
- Acrylic primer*;
- Paint* (or base for metallics);
- Lacquer* (if we paint metallic);
- Anti-silicone or other degreaser;
- Clean wipes.
- Plastic
*Try to take paint materials from the same manufacturer in order to avoid their incompatibility and, as a result, bitter disappointment.
Those who own painting equipment and tools will certainly use them. And in this article I will show you how to paint stamped steel wheels using spray cans with acrylic primer and paint.
If you want to paint the rims in a metallic color, then instead of the usual acrylic paint, you will need a base (base) and varnish.
Let's go ... Jack up, remove the wheels, put the car on stops or fix it in another convenient way.
This is the disc we currently have.
The first longest and dirtiest part of the job is to clean the rims of dirt, rust and peeling paint. To do this, you need a grinder with a nozzle in the form of a brush (it is also possible to use a drill). And also an abrasive skin with a rather large abrasive P80-P180.
Other cleaning methods are not excluded, such as sandblasting, but then you will most likely need to remove the rubber from the rims.
Depending on corrosion, use brushes of varying degrees of hardness.
The discs should be cleaned until the rust is completely destroyed.
Don't forget to tape or masking tape around the nipple nipple to protect it from damage.
As a result, after stripping, you should get something like the following.
If, after cleaning the stamped disc mechanically (grinder, drill), there are places where the brush did not reach, then use an abrasive skin and achieve the desired result with handles.
Now you should blow out the disk with compressed air from debris, if you, of course, have a compressor in the garage. If it is not, then use a clean rag or napkin with a degreasing compound.
Follow the manufacturer's instructions on the converter bottle.
The next step is the application of acrylic primer. To do this, protect the rubber from spraying the primer.
This should be done by slipping thin plastic rectangles under the rim, which can be cut out of any stationery folders or other material. In the end, you can just carefully seal it with masking tape. As an option, to protect the rubber, you can apply a thin layer of grease, which can then be easily washed off.
Now you need to degrease the surface of the disc with a clean napkin and, after shaking the can with a primer, apply the first layer of soil with broad gestures, without stopping, trying to cover the previous one by one third.
Before applying the second layer, you should wait for the primer to dry out (interlayer drying 3-5 minutes at +20 o).
We apply the second layer of soil. It is better to do this perpendicular to the first layer, not forgetting the edge of the rim.
If two layers of soil completely covered the surface of the disc, then this is enough, if not, then another 1-3 layers should be applied.
Remember! The primer, like the paint in aerosol cans, is made more liquid than when using an airbrush in conjunction with a compressor. Therefore, try not to allow streaks! It is better to make more thin layers than one thick one that can run.
After the primer has been applied, there are two options for applying paint:
1. "WET"
If, after applying the primer, there are no streaks, inclusions of debris and other paint defects on the surface of the disc, then after 20 minutes you can start applying the first layer of paint.
2. "DRY"
This method is used if it is necessary to correct the resulting defects.
The applied primer should be dried for at least 2-3 hours, depending on the ambient temperature. Forced drying can be used to speed up the process.
But, we work fast, so we use the first method - we will paint the wheels wet.
The next step is to apply acrylic paint to the disk. In our case, it is black.
Paint as well as primer should be applied in several layers (usually 2-3). Overflow paint can also leak, so if you are not confident in your abilities, then it is better to apply more thin layers.
After applying the last layer, you should get a similar result.
If you want to paint stamped steel wheels in a metallic color, for example, silver, then instead of paint, you should apply the base of the desired color and a clear varnish on top.
And one last piece of advice.
If dust from paint or soil has nevertheless fallen on the rubber, then you can erase it with an ordinary scotch-brite.
About painting alloy wheels in the near future.
Happy painting! If you have any questions, feel free to ask below in the comments.
Unfortunately, not always a domestic motorist is able to purchase new alloy wheels. Most often you have to buy used ones, and not always their condition can add proper attractiveness to the car. But this does not bother car owners. They know that the main thing is that there is no mechanical damage, and painting alloy wheels does not require large investments and is quite possible at home. And indeed it is.
In the simplest case, do-it-yourself painting of car rims requires only a simple tool, the right material, and most importantly, desire and patience. And sometimes, you can do this without even removing the rubber.
Painting options
The most common currently are the following ways of painting car rims:
- Aerosol painting.
- Painting with acrylic paints using a compressor.
- Painting with liquid rubber.
- Powder coated rims.
The latter method is used quite rarely, since it is almost impossible to paint the discs with powder paint yourself. This is due to the need for special expensive equipment.
All other options are quite suitable for painting alloy wheels with your own hands, so each of them should be considered in more detail.
Painting car rims with acrylic paints
To date, this method of painting alloy wheels is the most popular. Working with acrylic paints does not require special skills, and almost any garage has the necessary tools.
Necessary materials and equipment
So, for painting rims you will need:
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Preparatory work
First of all, the wheels must be cleaned of dirt and washed well. After that, it is necessary to clean their surface of old paint, especially in those places where it began to lag behind the disk. At home, the easiest way to do this is with a drill, with a special nozzle.
But the technology of painting discs involves not only the restoration of the paintwork, but also the partial restoration of the surface. All existing large scratches and chips are polished with sandpaper in two steps, first with a large abrasive, then with a fine one. This will avoid rubbing marks. If large defects remain on the surface of the wheels after grinding, they must be puttied.
At the final stage of preparatory work, the disc is cleaned of abrasive residues and thoroughly washed with water. There is one more nuance. If it is planned to paint the car rims without removing the rubber, then you must first seal the surface of the tire with masking tape and newspapers. The result should be as shown in the photo.
Padding
Painting of wheel disks is impossible without their preliminary primer. The starting layer will allow the base coat to be applied more evenly, in addition, it will adhere better.
Before application, the surface must be pre-dried with a building hair dryer. This should be done very conscientiously. Just one drop of water can cause a defect in painting, which will ultimately affect the appearance of the wheels and the service life.
After that, the surface must be degreased with a solvent. For the convenience of priming and painting, the disc is suspended with a piece of strong and soft wire.
Before priming, it is desirable to heat it with a hair dryer. This will ensure the uniformity of the first layer. The application is carried out using a spray gun, from a distance of 25–30 cm. An important point is the consistency of the primer. If it is too liquid, smudges are inevitable.
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In no case should you immediately apply a thick layer of soil. To obtain the appropriate quality, it is better to do this in 3-4 doses. Apply each subsequent layer only after the previous one dries. Typically, this takes 30 minutes. You can speed up the process a little with a hair dryer.
Painting
After the primer dries, you can start painting alloy wheels. It is also carried out in several layers. Therefore, it is very important to take your time and let each of them dry completely. The paint should also not be too thin. You can check its quality by applying a test layer on a suitable metal product. Properly prepared paint should not leave smudges.
For maximum quality, the number of layers should be at least three. Particular attention should be paid to hard-to-reach places, as a rule, they are the worst stained. In the absence of a compressor, you can paint the wheels with a spray can filled with paint. However, high quality is difficult to achieve. Therefore, this method is used mainly for painting stamped discs. Visually, the process of painting car rims with acrylic paint can be seen in the following video.
Liquid rubber: advantages and self-painting
Now more and more popular is the treatment of wheels with liquid rubber. This material has a lot of advantages, and first of all it is:
- A large number of creative shades, however, it is impossible to paint the wheels in chrome.
- Wear resistance is not worse than with powder coating of discs.
- Hides all scratches and chips.
- There is no need to turn to specialists, you can easily paint it yourself.
It is worth noting that the big disadvantage is the price, but it pays off with high quality.
Necessary materials
The following tools and materials are required for painting discs:
- Raw rubber. Unlike ordinary paint, it is better to use spray cans, the quality will practically not suffer from this.
- Solvent.
- Gloves and respirator.
Every car owner sooner or later faces the problem of aging car rims - after endless kilometers on domestic roads, they scratch, and if the paint does not peel off, then it definitely loses its original appearance. And it also happens when, after buying a new car, you want something more original and, most importantly, unique, so that no one else has it. Therefore, the question often arises of how and with what to paint cast or stamped wheels on a car yourself, so as not to blunder with the result.
You can, of course, buy new wheels or take the car to the service so that the masters provide first-class service, but all this costs a lot of money. And if you doubt whether the discs are painted on their own, look at the attached photos and see for yourself. In this article, we will analyze the whole process step by step in order to understand how to properly paint alloy and stamped wheels on a car. Moreover, the process will not take you much time or money.
What paint to paint car wheels
First of all, you need to decide on what paint to paint the wheels of the car, and, of course, what color. For this purpose, there are two types of paints: powder and acrylic; Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages, which you should pay attention to before choosing.
- Powder paint - stable, wear-resistant, able to last a long time. The coating does not warp or scratch. This is a production paint, since it is on new, freshly made alloy wheels that are covered with it. The negative side is a complex application technology that requires special equipment; the inability to paint part of the disc, for example, a scratched area.
- Acrylic paint gives more room for imagination due to the variety of color palettes. It is easier to apply and distribute it over the disk; moreover, you can open a small piece of the surface. However, such a coating is less resistant to damage, and if you drive carelessly over bumps, pieces of paint can quickly chip off.
When choosing what paint to paint stamped, cast or forged wheel rims, it is better to give preference to powder, since it will last much longer, but if you still want brightness and variety, and you are ready for thorough care of the rims, then try acrylic - then for sure you can make your car the most original.
Preparing to paint wheels on a car
If when deciding how to paint the car wheels yourself, it doesn’t really matter what they are “from birth”, then for the process of preparing for painting this is an essential nuance.
For example, how to properly paint alloy wheels. To begin with, they must be carefully prepared - primed with a special primer designed for non-ferrous metals, otherwise the paint will peel off quickly. Steel and forged wheels do not necessarily require this, but the primer provides a base for the paint, then it lays down and holds better.
The first stage of preparation is the removal of old paint. To do this, use a stiff brush and a special detergent that will help you easily remove layers of old paint from discs. If it remains in small areas that cannot be reached with a brush, use an awl or a thin screwdriver. Remember, in order to properly paint cast or stamped discs yourself, when removing old paint, it is better not to damage the disc.
Next, go over the entire surface with coarse sandpaper - this process will take a little longer, as you need to carefully sand the rim if you want to paint it properly. Gradually move to finer and finer sandpaper until you sand the entire surface. Tip: periodically water the disc with water - then it will be better polished, and the sanded material will be removed without traces.
If the disc is not new, then you will need a finishing putty, which must be used to treat the surface and putty all the chips, scratches and other defects that appear on the disc. After that, sand again with fine sandpaper, not forgetting to pour water.
- Dry the surface after the last step and degrease it with a solvent.
- Start priming from the inside of the car rim, only then cover the outside.
- Shake the primer bottle periodically while spraying to ensure it applies evenly; keep it about 30 centimeters from the disk.
- Apply two or three layers, letting each dry thoroughly - to speed up the process, use a hair dryer, building or regular cosmetic, which is available in almost every apartment.
Allow all layers of primer to dry - for this, it is better to start painting the next day.
How to paint car rims? Step-by-step instruction
After all the preparatory measures carried out, you can also paint the car wheels. To do this, you will need the following inventory:
- paint and varnish (we advise you to choose from one manufacturer - they will interact better with each other);
- a piece of cloth or polyethylene on which you will lay the disc;
- protective film and masking tape to cover the wheel;
- sandpaper or abrasive paste;
- polish and silicone grease (optional).
Step 1. Spread a clean cloth or polyethylene on a free area - this will protect the surface from dust. Then cover the tire with a protective film and secure with the prepared masking tape. Try not to get it on the surface of the discs themselves.
Step 2. Carefully read the instructions for the selected paint and apply it following the manufacturer's recommendations. In this case, act as carefully as with a primer - car rims are painted in several layers, allowing each to dry. The exact holding time depends on the paint, as a rule, you need to wait about 10 minutes. Next, apply 2 coats of clear lacquer, following the instructions as well. Layers should be thin, drying time before applying the next - from 3 to 5 minutes.
Step 3. After the process is over, let the disc dry well, and on this, in general, you can finish. But to give a gloss, after about a week, go over the surface with a polish - after that, the car rims will shine like new. And rubber can be updated with silicone grease.
If necessary, you can paint the discs again if the first coloring did not bring the desired result or a certain defect remains. Now you already have the necessary experience, and things will go faster, and the result will be better.
You have to work hard to paint chrome rims - you can’t just clean off the old coating with either sandpaper or a grinder. We advise you to try sandblasting, it cleans the surface more thoroughly. From above, you can cover with chrome (if, for example, a separate section is damaged and needs restoration) or, according to the above description, paint the disc with paint.
So, you can paint car rims yourself. To do this, you only need special paint, varnish, time and a little skill. Knowing certain subtleties, you can get a result no worse than when contacting professionals in a car repair shop, but at the same time much cheaper. Look at the photos, videos that clearly demonstrate the process, and proceed.
Quite often, car owners show a desire to restore rims in order to restore their former attractiveness. And if with classic “stampings” usually no one bothers, being content with surface treatment with paint from a spray can, or just with a brush, then with cast models everything is a little more complicated. In the absence of painting experience, questions often arise, is it possible to restore or change the paintwork on alloy wheels, and how to do this? You can find detailed answers in this article, which we hope will be a good step-by-step guide.
What should be checked before painting?
The restoration of the exterior of the disk is usually resorted to in cases where its surface has been scratched or rubbed during operation. In addition, the paintwork sometimes deteriorates under the influence of reagents and an aggressive environment, and because of this, the wheels become unpresentable. Also, many "gourmets" repaint the wheels to match the tuning of the car body.
In any case, before painting, you should check the disk for the absence of deformations that can occur during prolonged use, heavy loads and shocks, which is not difficult at home. To do this, you need to look at:
- All surfaces for cracks and dents.
- Rim for chips.
- Places of adhesions, if any, remained after the repair.
In addition to a thorough visual inspection, it should be carried out. Small deviations in the readings of a broken or wrinkled disc are, in principle, acceptable, and then you can start painting. If the disc damage is significant, and the balancing showed significant deviations from the norm, then you should think about purchasing new wheels.
Required Tools
Companies specializing in this field, before painting the disc, remove the old paintwork from its surface using sandblasters, and then apply powder paint and a special varnish. The whole process in this case is automated, and is not suitable for home conditions.
If the decision is made, and the painting will be done on its own, then you need to stock up on the following tools and materials.
- Fine and medium sandpaper, grit 400-630 and 63-80 microns. She will be cleaning from the old paintwork.
- Thinner or white spirit to be used as a degreaser on the cleaned surface.
- An exterminator for old paint, as well as a shaving brush or brush for its application.
- Spray cans with paint (2-3 pieces) and a special varnish.
- Primer and spatula.
- Masking tape.
In addition, of course, you will need detergents, a respiratory mask and work clothes. This necessary minimum can be picked up in any specialized store or in the car market.
Selection of materials
As for the choice of paint, varnish and primer, then things are as follows. Automotive enamel will be the best option for painting rims. It is advisable to choose a heat-resistant one, which is also sprayed like an aerosol. It is sold in cans. You can also use heat-resistant enamel in jars, but for its uniform application you will need an airbrush, and these are extra costs. Many people think that only basic colors (silver, black and white) are produced for these purposes and they are wrong. There are no restrictions, and the widest palette of paints is on the market. Choose the tone and shade that your soul desires. Primer and varnish should be purchased with paint. Most manufacturers offer some kind of kit, where all three components are in one line. Thus, all of them are harmoniously combined, but you will save time searching for and selecting components. It is desirable that the soil is also heat-resistant. The varnish will perform a protective function for the new coating, as well as give the disc a shine. You can paint the disc completely (front and back surface, as well as the rim) or only from the outside. In the latter case, the restoration will take approximately:
- 2 cans of paint.
- 1 can of primer.
- 1 bottle of varnish.
If, however, the entire disk is painted, then the consumption of materials, and hence the costs, will increase by 3-4 times. It's up to you to decide if it's worth it or not.
Preparatory work
First of all, you will have to completely remove the peeling paint layer. To do this, at the beginning, you should wash off the old paint by applying a paint destroyer with a brush. Next, you need to wait about a quarter of an hour, after which the paint will begin to swell and move away, which will allow us to remove it with a spatula. This wash does not act as effectively on the soil layer, so you should get rid of it with sandpaper. 
On the cleaned surface, you can leave part of the old soil in hard-to-reach places. However, you must make sure that it is securely attached to the disk.
In case you are painting a rim of an unsorted wheel, the rubber rim contour should be sealed with masking tape. This will save you from the subsequent laundering of the tire, which, one way or another, will get paint and varnish components. The last stage of preparation is the degreasing of the disc surface with a solvent or white spirit.
Coloring process
We divide the entire painting procedure into three stages.
Primer
A layer of soil is applied to the disc by spraying from a can from a distance of 30-35 centimeters from the surface. When applying, it should be controlled so that the substance does not leak. You need to make several layers, between the application of which it is worth keeping 10-15 minute intervals. It is important to know that after finishing priming, it is best to wait 12 hours until the primer is completely fixed on the surface of the disc. This will ensure the best possible result, and save you from disappointment in the future. 
Dye
The application of paint occurs in the same way as it is done with soil. The same 30-35 centimeters from the spray point to the disc surface, the same 3 coats, the same 15 minute intervals between coats. The only difference is that you do not have to wait 12 hours after staining. One hour will be enough.
varnish
Lacquering the front side of the disc is the final stage of the entire process of cosmetic restoration. The varnish is applied in 1-2 layers, which can be found in more detail on the can of a particular manufacturer. No difficulties should arise, since you have already done similar manipulations with a primer and paint. Next, let the varnish dry, and you can put on your “steel stallion”. 
In conclusion, we can only say that self-painting of the entire set of disks will cost you 10 or even more times cheaper than the cost of similar work in a car service. Here is such a savings.
Alloy wheel refinishing is required for a variety of reasons. Here are the most common ones.
- Chips, small and large scratches appear on the discs from time to time. There can be a huge number of reasons for this. It is important to paint the disc in a timely manner to prolong its life. Otherwise, very soon you will have to change the disk completely, which will cost many times more than regular painting.
- Often, do-it-yourself painting of alloy wheels is required after the end of the winter season. The problem is that there is a lot of salt on the roads in winter. It quickly reacts with the paintwork of the body, corroding it. The saline solution can severely corrode even the base of the disc.
- Often, painting discs with your own hands may be necessary when buying a car from your hands. Sellers usually do not bother with this issue. Therefore, the new owner of the car usually has to paint the wheels.
What equipment is needed to paint wheels
For the highest quality painting of rims, you need to stock up on the following tools and materials:
- primer;
- rubber gloves;
- respirator;
- rags;
- any sandpaper;
- good solvent.
You need to decide in advance. Do-it-yourself stamped wheel painting is usually done with one of three types of paint.
- Powder paint is made on the basis of completely dry polymeric material. It is this type of color that is the most durable. Powder coating discs is more suitable for professional craftsmen. For home use, this coating is not suitable, as it is quite difficult to apply. In addition, expensive equipment is required for the highest quality application.
- Liquid rubber- This is a relatively new and at the same time sufficiently high-quality material for painting a car. And it is increasingly chosen by both home masters and professionals.
- Acrylic paints are very popular among both professionals and home craftsmen. Paint for discs in spray cans is characterized by an optimal combination of price and quality. Acrylic paints have excellent adhesive properties, thanks to which they stay on the discs for a long time and protect them from negative impacts. Such paints are produced in liquid form. They are easy to work with using any spray gun.
When buying varnish, paint and thinner, you should give preference to materials from one manufacturer.
When choosing tools for painting, you need to proceed from what end result you want to get. It is possible to paint rims using one spray can. If you want to get a result that is indistinguishable from the work of a master at a service station, you will need additional equipment:
- For the convenience of coloring discs, a special suspension is required. It is most convenient to make it with your own hands from ordinary wire.
- You can speed up the drying process of the disc coating using a regular household hair dryer. The best effect can be achieved using a heat gun.
- You can use an electric drill to remove the old coating and pockets of rust. Alternatively, sandblasting can be used for this purpose.
- For perfect coverage, you will need a compressor or spray gun. However, modern spray paints also provide good coverage. Therefore, without a sufficient amount of painting experience, you should not bother with expensive equipment.
How to properly paint rims
Below is a step by step guide to applying acrylic paint. The whole process will take several hours. It is important to follow the sequence of actions, starting with preparation.
- Painting rims begins with preparing the rims for coating. The tire needs to be removed from the rim. Alternatively, if you do not want to mess with the tire, you can cover it with polyethylene, which is fixed with masking tape.
- The discs must be cleaned of bitumen and dirt that settles tightly on them. For this purpose, you can use any car shampoo or other household detergent.
- Then you need to carefully inspect the discs and mark with a black marker the places of chips, swellings and scratches.
- Using an electric drill or sandblasting, remove the old coating and traces of corrosion.
- The next step is to degrease the surface of the discs. To do this, wipe them with a rag soaked in solvent.
- To remove all existing irregularities on the surface of the disc, it is necessary to putty, and after drying, wipe it with sandpaper.
After that, the surface of the disk is again degreased and hung on a wire for subsequent painting.
The process of applying paint also consists of several stages:
- Before painting, the surface of the disc must be carefully primed. The primer is applied in three layers. Each layer must dry completely before applying the next. For this purpose, you can use a heat gun or household hair dryer.
- Next, you can apply paint. This is done using a spray can or spray gun. You need to spray it at a distance of 40 to 50 m. In this case, you need to pay maximum attention to hard-to-reach places. Do-it-yourself painting of car disks is carried out in three layers, and each must dry completely.
- The final step is to apply varnish to the painted surface. Two coats are enough, each of which must dry.
- Before starting operation from the moment of painting, you need to wait 3 - 4 days. During this time, all layers will completely harden.