Wheel refurb DIY

[James01 21]

Hi guys,

i have started to have a go at refubing alloy wheels as I get so many in that need doing and is a deal killer if not done.

I currently use aerosols but just can't seem to get a good finish on them.

would it be worthwhile in investing in some proper kit i.e. Compressor, spray gun etc and would this give a more professional finish? Also is there any must do and do nots when doing them.

thanks in advance

[Del Boy 76]

I refurb all my wheels myself. I used to use rattle cans but then invested in all the right equipment etc i.e compressor, guns, paint etc. The result is better but the main thing is the cost. You can buy a litre of colour which will do about 10 sets of wheels for the cost of 2 sets of wheels with cans. 

[Arfur Dealy 823]

Paint em black with Halfords workshop primer, simoniz gloss black, then lacquer..... 

 

£20

[Del Boy 76]

Just now, Arfur Dealy said:

Paint em black with Halfords workshop primer, simoniz gloss black, then lacquer..... 

 

This is a good/quick way of doing them if you wanna spray then all black. Using this method with silver won’t be as good. The real way to do it is rub them down this a dual action sander first. 

[Dave2302 387]

TBH I find that to do a really good job i.e strip 'em to bare before Self Etch primer then paint and laquer just takes soooooo much time.

If you have a good local Wheel Specialist, use them,  just factor it into the purchase price

+1 Del Boy

[twerp 69]

Never again

Takes bloody ages and still looks crap (silver)

[Arfur Dealy 823]

6 minutes ago, Del Boy said:

This is a good/quick way of doing them if you wanna spray then all black. Using this method with silver won’t be as good. The real way to do it is rub them down this a dual action sander first. 

Yes, but that takes time and the enthusiasm to do it.... both of which I don’t have  

[Del Boy 76]

Once you can master it, it’s a huge money saver. Tbf it took me ages, over a year at least. But now I can spray other things too like bumpers etc. 

[James01 21]

13 minutes ago, Arfur Dealy said:

Paint em black with Halfords workshop primer, simoniz gloss black, then lacquer..... 

 

£20

This is exactly what I have been doing but get a really bad finish once lacquered.

It could be user error though! 

[Mojo121 229]

Depends on the type of motor but most backstreet painters do your run of the mill wheel @ £25 ea... can't see the point in distracting yourself from buying & selling for that money.

[Del Boy 76]

2 minutes ago, James01 said:

This is exactly what I have been doing but get a really bad finish once lacquered.

It could be user error though! 

What kind of bad finish? 

[James01 21]

Just doesn't seem smooth like a wheel that has been done properly.

could well be something I am doing or not doing more like.

[Del Boy 76]

It’s because you’re not rubbing the wheel down first. You need to make it smooth THEN paint it. 

By spraying over the damage you’re just covering it with fresh paint rather than fixing it. If the wheel was later jet washed, the loose damage would come off and show the silver paint underneath 

[BHM 994]

36 minutes ago, James01 said:

 is a deal killer if not done.

Are you selling newish cars? It’s never been a deal killer for me (up to £5000) - I’ve done a grand total of 2 sales cars in my entire life.

 

3 minutes ago, James01 said:

Just doesn't seem smooth like a wheel that has been done properly.

could well be something I am doing or not doing more like.

You won’t get a perfect finish doing them yourself. The idea is just to ‘take away the eye’ of the punter and due to the relatively poor finish you should do them something like satin anthracite, satin black etc. Forget gloss silver on a £20 DIY job.

[D&M 66]

6 minutes ago, Del Boy said:

By spraying over the damage you’re just covering it with fresh paint rather than fixing it. If the wheel was later jet washed, the loose damage would come off and show the silver paint underneath 

But by that time, its not your problem anymore!

[Del Boy 76]

2 minutes ago, D&M said:

But by that time, its not your problem anymore!

Haha true! 

[EPV 631]

There’s no doubt you can get a good finish with a rattle can and there’s plenty of videos on you tube showing this. 

I’ve got a set of x5 alloys i’m going to have a go at next week using Arfurs suggestion, its a £5k car so I don’t give a shit about a smooth finish just as long as they are black the punters will love it 

[Tom 164]

I hate black wheel they looks crap with orange rusty break dust. Gun metal looks much nicer 

[BHM 994]

10 minutes ago, Tom said:

I hate black wheel they looks crap with orange rusty break dust. Gun metal looks much nicer 

Orange rusty brake dust!?!!! That’s when the pads/discs are metal to metal 

[EPV 631]

36 minutes ago, Tom said:

I hate black wheel they looks crap with orange rusty break dust. Gun metal looks much nicer 

People love em mate. Not rusty discs by the way. 

[Arfur Dealy 823]

3 hours ago, EPV said:

There’s no doubt you can get a good finish with a rattle can and there’s plenty of videos on you tube showing this. 

I’ve got a set of x5 alloys i’m going to have a go at next week using Arfurs suggestion, its a £5k car so I don’t give a shit about a smooth finish just as long as they are black the punters will love it 

Do it on grass or gravel, not on your drive (overspray, You can also do the calipers at the same time. 

[EPV 631]

46 minutes ago, Arfur Dealy said:

Do it on grass or gravel, not on your drive (overspray, You can also do the calipers at the same time. 

Fuck that i’m doing em in situ. Bubble wrap behind to protect the calipers and discs 

[Tom 164]

2 hours ago, BHM said:

Orange rusty brake dust!?!!! That’s when the pads/discs are metal to metal 

Rusty discs aftering being stood on the pitch. 

[Marc 6]

I've refurbished lots of alloys at home. It's all about the prep and definitely not a five min job, more like a 5day job! The clear coat takes weeks to harden unless you use 2pack(hospital job). Etch primer as first coat for alloy but use plastic primer if its been powder coated

[Rory RSC 596]

I think the thing to remember when refurbing sales cars is that the customer just needs to see the car as having nice unmarked well cared for wheels they don't need to know the wheels have been refurbed and look out for an absolutely perfect job.

Take the eye off it, wheels are a big selling point on a lot of stuff. One of those jobs I think is so time consuming better off paying someone else to do while you make money on other more important things.