What you need to know before painting car rims
A scratch or corrosion of a car disk is actually a small fraction of faults; it can even be expressed as minor defects that may arise after some use of the car.
Moreover, both an experienced owner and a beginner can encounter this problem. But both need to know all the nuances of painting to give your favorite vehicle an attractive look.
And, if you paint the wheels yourself, you can not only save your family budget. But also acquire some skills for painting discs in the future.
Before this work, it is worth deciding what kind of discs the car is equipped with. And only after that start taking action.
Types of disks and their features
Vehicle products are manufactured in the following types:
- Stamped steel wheels;
- Cast forged wheels.
All cars are manufactured with the first type of wheels, regardless of the brand. In the future, they can be replaced with a higher quality product. Stamped steel wheels are made from cheap and low-quality alloys.
- Initially, their appearance does not raise suspicions. But literally after a short period of time the disks take on an unpresentable appearance.
- Highlighting any scratch on the product, even the smallest one. As for the wheel covers, they also lose their attractive appearance and break quickly.
- Alloy wheels are made from quality materials. Made with cast craftsmanship. Usually having a silver or silver-black tint.
They are less susceptible to corrosion, which gives them the right to greater use. And without causing unnecessary trouble to the car owner. Accordingly, only stamped steel products need to be painted.
Options for painting stamped discs with your own hands
Most motorists who personally restore the appearance of stamped wheels use three types of paints:
- acrylic;
- automotive nitro enamels;
- liquid rubber.
Acrylic paints in aerosol cans
Acrylic coatings are quite strong and durable, and when applied they emit virtually no odor and dry quickly. The choice of such paints is very wide, so choosing a color is not a problem. If desired, you can paint the wheels with acrylic in 2 colors using masking tape or a special contour tape 6 mm wide. Two-tone wheels look impressive, which is why this option is becoming increasingly popular.
Stamped rims, painted in two colors
Nitroenamel is suitable for budget painting of wheels. It is quite durable and dries even faster than acrylic. One problem is that when painted, it emits a very unpleasant odor and emits harmful fumes, so you need to provide good ventilation of the room and use respiratory protection (a respirator).
Advice. If you want to paint the rim in 2 colors, you should not use nitro paint. There have been cases when, when applying the second layer of enamel, the first one began to dissolve and “float”, causing the colors to mix, so it’s better not to take risks.
The main advantage of liquid rubber over other types of coatings is to level out small potholes on the surface, which is facilitated by the filler of the composition - crushed rubber. In addition, the layer of liquid rubber is thick and elastic, which helps it withstand impacts from pebbles and other mechanical impacts. The composition dries quickly, and after hardening it does not require additional protection with varnish.
Liquid rubber is also sold in cylinders
Painting products
The market offers many solutions for painting wheels. The most popular of them:
- Powder composition;
- Acrylic paint;
- Aerosol;
- Liquid rubber.
Peculiarity
Each of the above compositions differs in its individual characteristics. If we consider acrylic, aerosol cans and liquid rubber. These products are the most popular among analogues.
For example, acrylic paint comes in a huge range of colors. Covers scratches on car rims well. At the same time, you need very little of it. The only drawback of this composition is that after the slightest rough impact on the disc, the defect will again be visible. And you will have to do the same work again.
- Powder paint has a longer service life compared to the previous version. When the disc is painted, it acquires a more well-groomed appearance and shine.
- This composition protects the surface of the disc well from external influences. The only thing that needs to be noted is that the powder is used mainly in professional repair shops.
- But it can also be used for home use if you carefully study the instructions for use. And purchase the appropriate unit for the work.
With due effort, the result will not take long to arrive; the owner will receive a disc similar to the new product. But you will have to paint the entire surface of the product. Therefore, for minor defects, it is better to give preference to an acrylic composition.
Liquid rubber is a fairly new product for painting car rims. But, it managed to earn sufficient popularity not only among professionals, but also among amateur motorists.
After applying this composition, the product acquires a matte surface. Which ideally resists small chips from stones, as well as abrasions and scratches.
The need for painting wheels
Car wheels (rims) often suffer when driving - they are the ones that are subject to the greatest wear, scratching, and other types of mechanical and chemical damage. Various defects do not affect functionality, but greatly spoil the aesthetics of the car. The need to paint the surface of the discs may arise in the following cases:
- too long service life, multiple chips;
- purchasing used disks;
- restoration carried out after a serious defect;
- corrosion of the disk coating by chemical reagents;
- repeated washing with high pressure washers;
- upcoming off-road trips;
- getting into an accident;
- the desire to highlight and decorate the car, to give the wheels a more expensive look.
Also, applying a coloring agent to the rims is a good way to extend their service life, since the film will serve as protection and protect against chips and scratches. Under a layer of paint, alloy wheels do not corrode, and plastic parts become much more attractive and repel dirt. In parallel with painting the casting, tuning of the brake calipers is carried out - usually in the main selected color.
The choice of shade is made by the owner individually. Now it is possible to choose a dye from a huge range of colors. There are even glowing, luminescent paints. Tinted chrome, graphite, as well as silver and black paints are considered “classics” among drivers. Colors can be matte and glossy, modest and bright - the range is large.
How to paint car rims
From the examples above, you can understand that there are many products for painting wheels. Which can be used without going to a car repair shop. Replacing these establishments with your own garage or space in your summer cottage.
Which paint do you prefer?
Currently, manufacturers offer such a wide selection of paint that it is quite easy for an inexperienced car owner to get confused at the sight of such abundance. The wheels can be painted in golden or silver tones, and even coated with chrome.
Typically, two types of paint are used to paint wheel rims: acrylic and powder. Each of them has its own characteristics that must be taken into account.
Acrylic coating is inferior in quality to powder coating, but has a number of undeniable advantages, in particular:
- This type of paint in cans (chrome, metallic and other colors) is easy to use and allows you to quickly get the desired result;
- The color palette of acrylic paints is much wider than that of powder paints, which allows you to choose the most optimal option.
Powder paints have the following features:
- they have high performance characteristics and are resistant to moisture and mechanical damage to the coating;
- Powder coating protects the discs from the negative effects of external factors and provides excellent anti-corrosion treatment.
The only drawback of powder paint is that it requires very expensive equipment to use.
How to spray paint
To paint with this composition you need to stock up on the following items:
- Rag for removing defects;
- Car soap;
- Masking tape;
- Sandpaper number 120 or 800;
- Solvent;
- Primer a couple of cans;
- Aerosol paint of the desired shade.
How does painting work?
The first step is to remove the wheels. This is necessary so as not to stain the car body. The discs are kept clean using car shampoo, sponges or rags.
Everything is optional. Sand irregularities on the surface of the disc. Remove the remains of this work. Degrease the surface of the product. Don't forget to seal the rubber base with tape. Before using the can, shake it well. And apply the composition from a distance of at least 25 cm.
After this, the work is evaluated, if there are any irregularities, they are sanded. And they carry out the painting operation again.
Alkyd or acrylic paint for cars?
Which car enamel should I buy – alkyd or acrylic? This is a question asked by many motorists who have decided to update the appearance of their car. Here it should be said that there is no definite answer - it is worth taking into account the purpose of painting and the allocated budget for car repairs. Let us next consider the strengths and weaknesses of the two types of car paint to make it easier to make the right choice.
Alkyd paint for cars: pros and cons of coatings
Alkyd paint for cars has been used for painting for decades and has managed to prove its positive qualities. It is used to give an updated look to the body due to the ease of application to the surface and the wide variety of color shades in the palette. It quickly polymerizes and does not require the application of several layers, however, it requires careful surface treatment before painting and mandatory varnishing - this can significantly improve the performance characteristics of auto enamel.
Do not forget that rapid setting leads to the formation of a thin film, which, under all environmental conditions, does not allow the entire applied layer to dry quickly and evenly in depth, so special hardeners are now added to the car paint composition. Alkyd paint for metal protects the surface from aggressive external influences and, as a result, from corrosive processes, but it is short-lived. After a short time, most likely, the surface will have to be renewed due to peeling, faded color and loss of attractive shine. The big advantage of this type of coating is its low cost.
Advantages and disadvantages of acrylic paint for cars
Acrylic paints are increasingly used in car painting and occupy significant space on shelves in auto supply stores. These are new generation paintwork materials that do not have the main disadvantages of their predecessors, including alkyd enamels. The advantages of acrylic paint for cars include:
- fast drying time;
- resistance to various mechanical and weather influences;
- non-toxic;
- low shrinkage;
- good reflective properties.
Please note that acrylic paints are available in two types - hard (HS) and soft (MS). Hard ones create an even and durable coating, but cannot be polished. Soft paints are chosen when performing local repairs or secondary painting.
Among the disadvantages of acrylic auto enamel is the low degree of hiding power. This means that at least 3 layers of paint must be applied to the surface, and it is important to immediately correct any mistakes, since they will become painting defects even if made on the first layer.
Whatever car paint you prefer, it is necessary to adhere to the technology of its application, as well as carefully carry out preparatory work in processing the surface to be painted. The MarketEm online store offers you to buy car paint and any other auto products at an affordable price and in a huge assortment.
How to paint with acrylic
This work is not particularly difficult. Therefore, acrylic is considered the most popular among all the means used for painting disk products.
What you need for work:
- Spray gun;
- Primer;
- Grinding product;
- Device "Ruff";
- Hairdryer;
- Solvent;
- Gloves to protect hands.
Completing of the work
Before painting, perform the same steps as when using an aerosol. The only thing is that the deep openings of the disks can be closed with putty.
Then the surface is primed. But before this, the disc is thoroughly dried to avoid defects during future painting. Apply a degreasing solution. And they start working with the spray gun.
Applying the composition from a distance of 25 cm. Craftsmen advise doing the work in three passes, applying a thin layer of paint each time. And keeping the time between actions for 30 minutes.
Popular paint brands
Body
Alkyd. It is characterized by high strength and good adhesion. The cost is not very high, so the composition is used by most motorists. When painting alloy wheels, Body is always used at a minimum. A couple of layers is enough. For application it is necessary to use a spray gun. The amount of composition for painting one disc is indicated on the packaging.
Motip
Motip paint is made on the basis of an acrylic compound. Its main purpose is to create a beautiful appearance. Acrylic reliably protects the wheel from any impact, the paint has high adhesion.
Which paint is best for alloy wheels depends on the purpose of its use. If you need to create a shiny surface while reliably protecting the wheel from corrosion, rubber or acrylic may be considered the best option. But in any case, the individual preferences of the car owner always come first.
How to paint with liquid rubber
This is the highest quality product for painting car products. Even the high price of liquid rubber is compensated over time by the long service life of the discs.
What is needed to complete the actions:
- Acetone;
- Work clothes and footwear;
- Cylinder of raw rubber.
Performing Actions
To paint with rubber, you do not need to remove the old layer from the disc. It will be enough to make it clean by using plain water. And degrease with a special solution. If you carry out work without removing the wheels, then protect all places from rubber.
The composition is applied at intervals of 10 minutes. In this case, there can be up to 7 layers. To add shine to the disc, the spray can is kept at the maximum distance from the product. And if there is a need for a matte coating, then the can is kept away from the disc.
Important! Before starting work, it is recommended to conduct a test on an inconspicuous surface of the disk to understand what the result will look like.
Why do you need to paint alloy wheels?
Painting the casting has not only a decorative function; the paint also helps to protect the wheels from negative factors. Therefore, when painting car or motorcycle rims, it is necessary to choose a suitable composition that will withstand constant loads so that the layer does not crack or fall off. If the layer falls off, then rust will appear in this place over time, and the external design will no longer be beautiful.
The following are important reasons to paint wheels:
- Salty material that road services sprinkle on the road during the cold season. When sand, salt and snow are mixed, the conditions for the wheels become negative. Discs are in a special risk zone; sometimes noticeable changes on their surface appear after two winter seasons. At the moment there is no effective remedy for protection against this factor;
- Country roads are expensive, such coatings also have a bad effect on the integrity of the disc surface. The presence of small particles and stones in the soil base leads to damage to the material, which contributes to the formation of rust and oxidation of the metal base. As a result, scratches appear and the appearance of the painted layer becomes unsightly;
- Significant temperature changes. Coloring allows you to avoid distortion of the disc size under the influence of temperature changes; this phenomenon is not uncommon in our country. As a result, the paint will fall off.
Alloy wheels also require painting.
These reasons explain the need to paint the disk elements. Specialists will cope with the task without any problems, but their services are not cheap. For this reason, you can learn how to paint alloy wheels yourself. If you adhere to technology, you can carry out the process correctly at home.
Painting the casting has not only a decorative function; the paint also helps to protect the wheels from negative factors.
Photos of wheels before and after painting
Painting with acrylic materials
The sequence of work when using acrylic paints is the same as in the case discussed above. That is, the first stage consists of cleaning and leveling the car's disks by abrasive processing.
In this case, instead of sandblasting and shot blasting tools, you can use sandpaper or a drill with an attachment in the form of a metal brush.
Next, apply the primer; first hang the discs with thick wire. It is also advisable to warm them up, as this increases the adhesion of the soil. It is applied in 2-3 layers. Drying is carried out with a construction or regular hairdryer.
Then apply the paint, pre-mixed for 3 minutes, in 2-3 layers. For spraying, spray guns or cans are used. The tool is held 30-50 cm from the surface to be treated. The final stage of painting is varnishing, the process of which is similar to priming paint.
The main stages of painting alloy car wheels with your own hands: technologies and their implementation
The painting technology requires disassembling the tire. This is the most effective way to paint a cast plate in any color. Some hobbyists don't want to waste time disassembling and painting parts right away.
When installed, the surface of the material is poorly painted. If the smallest area of the disk is not painted, destruction will begin from there.
If you decide to shorten the time, remove the steel or aluminum rim from the tire using paper and tape.
Preparing alloy wheels for painting
Preparatory stage
The home painting method requires basic preparatory steps:
- Remove as much dirt as possible from the rim: paint, dirt, bitumen, any fasteners, etc. There are a lot of liquid cleaning products on the shelves of auto chemical goods; any will do;
- If the structure is chipped or deeply damaged, protect it with putty. You need to go over the fitting two or three times with sandpaper. To begin with, use a thicker fraction (200-300), then a finer one - 400 and finally 600;
- The disc should be thoroughly rinsed again with clean water to remove all sanding debris;
- Degrease the base with solvent.
During the process of rubbing the putty, it is necessary to periodically moisten the surface when the hand feels significant heat. The manual procedure will take a lot of time, the work will be monotonous and uninteresting. To speed up the work, it is better to use a grinder.
Painting stage
Based on the method and technology of staining, a working algorithm has been developed:
Coating alloy wheels with primer
- Primer. When applying an aerosol primer, you must shake the composition. To spray, hold the container 20-25 cm away. Good lighting is important here to prevent leaks and over-coating. Let the layer dry, this will take 10-15 minutes.
- Strip. Now you need to create a plane with 200-300 grit sandpaper. Transverse movements are used to improve the condition of the surface, then there are no scratches or scratches.
- Blowing. To remove dust after wiping, blow the aircraft with compressed air. The surface is primed and sanded again.
- Wiping. Before painting, it is recommended to wipe the discs with a cleaning cloth. It is important not to use standard rags, otherwise lint will appear, which will worsen the final result.
- Preliminary layer. Use a spray gun and can to spray the element from a distance of 20-25 cm. Allow the board to dry for 20-30 minutes.
- Second layer. The procedure is the same as the previous stage, only now you need to pay special attention to the uniformity of paint coverage. All lanes must overlap. The disc is dried for 20-30 minutes.
- Finishing layer. When the paint has acquired its final strength, you need to treat it with a varnish composition. It is recommended to varnish twice, but one coat is sufficient. The varnish takes longer to dry than the paint, approximately 18-24 hours.
If you want to improve the appearance, you can complement it with varnish. Attractive color with a matte effect. The unusual design makes the dials glow at night. Light composition is relatively expensive.
Preparing wheels for varnishing
In addition to all of the above, the quality of work is greatly influenced by the correct preparation of alloy wheels before paint and varnish are applied. Preparation includes dismantling the wheels, removing tires, stripping off the old coating and eliminating defects. Before cleaning, the discs should be thoroughly washed with any available detergent. After this, the surface must be degreased. Small scratches and chips are repaired with putty and carefully sanded with fine sandpaper.
The wheels, ready for painting and varnishing, are hung on hooks. Many people work with wheels by placing them on the floor. If this method is chosen, then you need to make a backing of film or paper to avoid raising dust. It should be noted that it is easier to make mistakes and leaks on suspended disks, but it is more convenient to work this way.
