Painting Rims .... uh .... ?

[FlametopFred]

I am shopping for new tires.
Before putting the new tires on, thought I might paint the rims.

Tips?

How to clean?

I don't really care if I spray paint on the old tires .... any other painting tips? Brand of spray paint?

Cheers

[rsorak]

If you want silver I used Testors model spray silver, great coverage, great color, very close to the original silver. I got it at a hobby shop.
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Rick '71 Westfalia & '73 Thing

[Adventurewagen]

I'm just about set to do the same thing on my bus. After painting my bumper a couple years ago with standard cheap white spray paint I've determined I need something a little better.

I bought some Rust-Oleum "professional" white paint for pretty cheap still and will probably use that, its supposed to be a much harder coat. We'll see how that lasts.

I also saw just this weekend a guys engine tins done with Hammerite that looked to provide a very nice coat and very durable too. Maybe some investigation into that would be good.
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63 Gulf Blue Notch
71 Sierra Yellow Adventurewagen

[jmstu76]

I used a wire wheel on the front and back of my wheels (with the old tires still on) Primed with a rust inhibiting primer and then I used Krylon Hammered Silver. I think it looks pretty good and I haven't had a problem since. I also bought an extra can for futre touch ups so I wouldn't have to worry about matching the paint color. Cheap and easy (except for the wire wheeling, that was kind of labor intensive)

See for yourself

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James

'76 Deluxe Sage Green Westy
2258 cc GD case 78mm CW crank, 2.0 H-beam rods 5,325” 22mm pin, JE forged pistons with 15cc dish, JE rings, type 11 clearanced oil pump, CB Eagle 2205 Type-2 “Torque Special” hydraulic cam with matched lifters fed by CB Dual Weber 40 IDF MX with 6” foam air filters, currently 55 idle, 130 main, 200 air correction, 32 mm venturis. 27in General Grabber AT2 All Terrains, Berg Shifter, stock '76 exhaust HPC Ceramic Coated. 11/18/2020

[Randy in Maine]

Powdercoat them if you can afford it.

[keifernet]

You can wire wheel the heavier rust spots and then wet sand them with 220 grit, then 320 grit and use some "purple power/Castrol super clean" on them while wet sanding. That stuff cuts off any grease or oil and helps get the metal clean so the paint will stick.

Then if you have rust issues I use a green liquid rust inhibitor called "OSPHO" also sold under other brand names such as "RUST CURE" or "RUST MORT"... apply that and let sit overnight... then you must wire wheel and wet sand again ( but it takes less time...just prepped the surface again) Then after drying wipe with a "wax and grease remover" and primer, then after the primer has had it's chance to cure up go ahead with your top coats.

For rattle can I prefer "DUPLICOLOR" truck/van paint that comes in several shades of silver/grey or white if that is your preference and it's available at most Auto parts stores.

I have spray equipment though so I use real auto grade paint but still do a rattle can job once in awhile.

Buy 3 cans and expect to use 2 and a half applying several coats... a light tack coat first then 2 heavier coats.

[Pigpen]

Without a doubt, powdercoat them....I got a set of og wheels sandblasted and powdercoated for $25 a wheel......$100 and they looked perfect.....

[JMazier]

[keifernet]

[CarlSpackler]

If you get them reasonably clean with the wire wheel you can always paint them with regular spray paint and touch them up easily when needed. Especially if you cut a piece of thin metal with an arch that easily mates with the rim to mask off the tire so you don't have to tape them. But $25 / wheel powder coated - that's tough to beat.
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'67 Micro Bus
'73 Thing
'91 Westy

[Adventurewagen]

man, I'd love to powder coat them but the cost is too much right now. I'm gonna wash mine off and paint them biatches with two cans o rattle paint and I'll post the pics.
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63 Gulf Blue Notch
71 Sierra Yellow Adventurewagen

[stevo]

earlier this month metalworks in eugene hot tanked four skanky but true rims with clips for $60. seven day turn around. rustoleum primer and professional white enamel until i am sure i like white rims.. two cans at 5.49 each. next year powdercoat. recent photo in the tire sticky, check it out.
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When you cross an Irishman, they never forget. I mean, never.

[Wildthings]

I have had pretty good luck spray painting rims in the past. Get them clean so the paint will stick well and use quality paint. I let the paint dry for a day or so and then I stuff each rim in the oven at about 200F for an hour or so to help harden the paint.

[Tcash]

[OB Bus]

Math flash cards? Former elementary teacher?
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Larry in OB
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!
69 Westfalia and 2002 Eurovan Camper.

[caseyr02]

I second the flash card method! Did all my rims the same way. Came out great.

2 coats of white primer and 2 coats of original VW Cloud White (via English Auto Paint). They can put the auto paint put into spray paint cans if you dont have sprayer.

[timvw7476]

That 3M blue tape works great if you're spraying with rubber still on......
Be sure to clean out that gap, the seventies bus wheels have that annoying
crease that catches tiny stuff, scrape that GAP! Before you paint/coat,
whatever.

[Tcash]

[Oil Phil-M]

Recommend taking the rims into a tire shop and have them spin them in their machine before you do any work on them. I put a lot of work into sandblasting and painting mine then when I went to pick up them up from the shop mounting the tires they said a couple of them were knocked out of shape a bit and took a fair amount of weights to balance them. Even with the weights they said I could still have an issue with them feeling out of balance but haven't noticed. $25 a rim to blast and powder coat?!! I think I spent that just to blast and rattle can.

[Ricache]