TheSamba.com :: View topic - '70 camper white powder-coated wheels: flat or gloss

Wed Jan 21, 2015 9:44 pm

Hello,

I took my wheels in to be sandblasted and powder-coated today. They're about a week out or less. He asked what color (I didn't have the name on me at the time - the paint code which I do now, which is L581 Cloud White) and also he asked whether I want matte or gloss finish. I said I'd call him tomorrow with the info. He probably won't be able to match the white (anyone know what to tell him - what's the closest powder-coating match to this color?!) but I hopefully will be able to at least tell him whether flat or gloss.

So... do you know if the stock white paint on the wheels was flat or glossy?

Also, generally speaking, is the white paint color a white-white or an off-white (in case no one knows anything more specific)? If you don't know that, do you know if MOST older VW buses with white wheels were white-white or off-white, regardless of my specific year? The body color is Lotus White.

I never thought to ask if he can create a semi-gloss but I don't know how good of an option that would be, regardless.

Thank you!

Wed Jan 21, 2015 10:09 pm

url=http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=7525182#7525182]Paint Codes and Formulas[/url]

http://coloronline.glasurit.com/

Paint mixing FAQ

Type 2 Color Combinations

Glasurit Vintage Color Recipe Book

Karmann Chronicles Volkswagen Paint Chips and Mixing Formulas

Spray paint, T2, Aerosol, Rattle Can, Close to factory color

Good Luck
Tcash

Wed Jan 21, 2015 10:19 pm

Custom colors were quite a bit more at my powder coating place so I took the swatches out and tried to match my bumpers. I was torn between two swatches as one appeared too beige and the other a bit too white. I went for the latter, but in hindsight think the slightly beige one would have been better since the wheels came out brighter than the swatch. See below:

Wed Jan 21, 2015 10:20 pm

Thanks TCash! I saw the first one already which is how I discovered the paint name, but thank you anyway...and the third link doesn't even have Cloud White (strange!) but that second link was great! I wonder if those paint colors that a paint store would mix together/match could be done at a powder-coating shop though. Hmmm.

Do you know whether most wheels of that era were painted flat or glossy?

Wed Jan 21, 2015 10:23 pm

Lintbrush,

Wow - those look great though, even if you think they look too white! From my end they just look snappy and great with that red paint. But I'll remember what you said. Why didn't I take a paint swatch with me when I was there today? Erg. Well the guy seems pretty down to Earth and smart so I think if I call and say one shade darker than your whitest white, he'll get that. Thanks so much for your advice and the pic!

EDIT: forgot to ask - are those gloss? And what made you decide to do glossy? That's the way I'm leaning but I'm still wondering if that's the way VW did it back in the day...

lintbrush wrote: Custom colors were quite a bit more at my powder coating place so I took the swatches out and tried to match my bumpers. I was torn between two swatches as one appeared too beige and the other a bit too white. I went for the latter, but in hindsight think the slightly beige one would have been better since the wheels came out brighter than the swatch. See below:

Wed Jan 21, 2015 10:43 pm

I'm not sure if the swatches were off so I'd ask your coating place how close the swatches match the end result. I paid $65/ea and having it custom matched was ~$150 more. I have to say, I get a lot of people saying they love the wheels. I think only the vw purists notice the white not being the "correct" white that matches my bumpers and roof rack. I was planning to have my bumpers eventually chromed (which will make those same purists heads explode) so wasn't too concerned about the white matching perfectly. I wasn't given an option of gloss, flat or semigloss. They are glossy, which makes cleaning the brake dust off easy. Not sure what came stock, but my bumpers and rack are semigloss/gloss and maybe they just assumed I wanted them glossy as they knew I was trying to match the wheels to the bumpers.

[quote="Marya"]Lintbrush,

Wow - those look great though, even if you think they look too white! From my end they just look snappy and great with that red paint. But I'll remember what you said. Why didn't I take a paint swatch with me when I was there today? Erg. Well the guy seems pretty down to Earth and smart so I think if I call and say one shade darker than your whitest white, he'll get that. Thanks so much for your advice and the pic!

EDIT: forgot to ask - are those gloss? And what made you decide to do glossy? That's the way I'm leaning but I'm still wondering if that's the way VW did it back in the day...

Wed Jan 21, 2015 10:44 pm

They were gloss painted when the rims were new. I've painted all my rims with good automotive paint. Gloss paint was sprayed on all of them and they look factory new.

Wed Jan 21, 2015 11:00 pm

Thank you. Mine are going to be $50 each (good for me). :wink: We'll see how they turn out though cause they were the cheapest in town - I called about 5 places! The reviews seem decent enough. You've been really helpful, thank you! Your bus looks really great.

[quote="lintbrush"]I'm not sure if the swatches were off so I'd ask your coating place how close the swatches match the end result. I paid $65/ea and having it custom matched was ~$150 more. I have to say, I get a lot of people saying they love the wheels. I think only the vw purists notice the white not being the "correct" white that matches my bumpers and roof rack. I was planning to have my bumpers eventually chromed (which will make those same purists heads explode) so wasn't too concerned about the white matching perfectly. I wasn't given an option of gloss, flat or semigloss. They are glossy, which makes cleaning the brake dust off easy. Not sure what came stock, but my bumpers and rack are semigloss/gloss and maybe they just assumed I wanted them glossy as they knew I was trying to match the wheels to the bumpers.

Marya wrote: Lintbrush,

Wow - those look great though, even if you think they look too white! From my end they just look snappy and great with that red paint. But I'll remember what you said. Why didn't I take a paint swatch with me when I was there today? Erg. Well the guy seems pretty down to Earth and smart so I think if I call and say one shade darker than your whitest white, he'll get that. Thanks so much for your advice and the pic!

EDIT: forgot to ask - are those gloss? And what made you decide to do glossy? That's the way I'm leaning but I'm still wondering if that's the way VW did it back in the day...

Wed Jan 21, 2015 11:01 pm

Perfect! Thank you Bill! :D

wcfvw69 wrote: They were gloss painted when the rims were new. I've painted all my rims with good automotive paint. Gloss paint was sprayed on all of them and they look factory new.

Thu Jan 22, 2015 12:34 am

I got a pretty good result with rattle cans.

I used primer, GM bright white and then gloss clear coat. They're nice and white.

Thu Jan 22, 2015 1:40 am

Those look great!

I forgot to say they're sandblasting mine first. Or maybe that's a given, I don' know. But I figured if they're going to sandblast them they might as well powder-coat them and save me the trouble!

Brian wrote: I got a pretty good result with rattle cans.

I used primer, GM bright white and then gloss clear coat. They're nice and white.