DIY 18" wheel refinishing?
#1
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Location: Montgomery County, MD
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DIY 18" wheel refinishing?
Guys,
I have two sets of rims for my lovely G, the OEM 18" and the OEM 19" Ray's. I much prefer the 19's but I like to keep a set of all-season radials on my 18's for winter driving. The 19" Ray's are in pretty good shape actually and always run a high-performance summer tire, but my 18's are older, and definitely banged up. They could use some scratch/rash repair and refinishing. I can handle the scratch/rash repair, but what I'm 100% sure on is the refinishing.
Do you guys know a good paint compound to use to refinish the OEM 18" sport rims? I have the clearcoat, just need the actual paint compound I can use to make 'em look like new once I fill in all the blemishes.
Since I can do most of the work myself, I'd rather not pay someone $100+ per wheel to do something I can do myself! After all, these are only my "winter/backup" wheels!
Thanks, looking forward to more great advice, guys!
-B
I have two sets of rims for my lovely G, the OEM 18" and the OEM 19" Ray's. I much prefer the 19's but I like to keep a set of all-season radials on my 18's for winter driving. The 19" Ray's are in pretty good shape actually and always run a high-performance summer tire, but my 18's are older, and definitely banged up. They could use some scratch/rash repair and refinishing. I can handle the scratch/rash repair, but what I'm 100% sure on is the refinishing.
Do you guys know a good paint compound to use to refinish the OEM 18" sport rims? I have the clearcoat, just need the actual paint compound I can use to make 'em look like new once I fill in all the blemishes.
Since I can do most of the work myself, I'd rather not pay someone $100+ per wheel to do something I can do myself! After all, these are only my "winter/backup" wheels!
Thanks, looking forward to more great advice, guys!
-B
#2
my cheap suggestion, by a qaulity brand flat back spray paint, and then by a silver spray paint with some flake in it (not a chrome like silver, you want a flakey silver). You will also want to find some spray can gloss clear. Then follow these steps:
Wash/soak wheels in a tub of hand dish washing soap (eats/serperates grease).
Do the sand prep on the OE finish. If your surface is good, a 320 or a 400 grit will do.
Wash again and then wipe down with denatured alcohol to degrease and prep the surface.
Spray a few coats of the flat back to establish your base coat (2-3 coats).
Give the top coat a light wet sand with 400
Lay on 2-3 coats of the silver, finish with a wet sand of 600 or 800 in between coats (light pressure).
Finish off with the clear coat the same way you did the silver (2-3 coats), but don't wet sand the final two coats and I would use a 800 only on the first coat.
I did this with some old 300ZX wheels when I had my 240 and the finish came out great. Good enough for me to sell the wheels for top dollar with worn out tires at least.
Wash/soak wheels in a tub of hand dish washing soap (eats/serperates grease).
Do the sand prep on the OE finish. If your surface is good, a 320 or a 400 grit will do.
Wash again and then wipe down with denatured alcohol to degrease and prep the surface.
Spray a few coats of the flat back to establish your base coat (2-3 coats).
Give the top coat a light wet sand with 400
Lay on 2-3 coats of the silver, finish with a wet sand of 600 or 800 in between coats (light pressure).
Finish off with the clear coat the same way you did the silver (2-3 coats), but don't wet sand the final two coats and I would use a 800 only on the first coat.
I did this with some old 300ZX wheels when I had my 240 and the finish came out great. Good enough for me to sell the wheels for top dollar with worn out tires at least.
#3
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