More wheel coating questions!

[Guest]

Alright so I have gotten hold of a new set of wheels. They are for a good friend and I would appreciate some advice on how to tackle this project.

They are 15" track wheels, only 2 of 'em (slicks). Should be a relatively simple project but it has a twist... Here's a picture of them and I will explain what he wants.



He is open to different options and ideas so please help me chose the most cost effective and easiest way to get these done. He wants them in candy green. He is OK with either coating the entire wheel, just coating the parts that are currently silver (spokes and lug holes), or coating everything green except the polished lip.

Whatever doesn't get coated must remain polished. Will I be OK just taping off (high temp of course) the sections that he wants to keep polished and coating the rest? Then baking and removing the tape?

If I coat the entire wheel... What kind of prep should I do? Can I coat on top of the existing finish?

As usual... thanks in advance for all the advice. These projects are your help are the best learning tools I have. Thank you!

[Guest]

Re: More wheel coating questions!

Yep, just mask what you don't want to coat. And since you don't really know what the finish is, I would strip and start fresh.

[wiseguyz]

Re: More wheel coating questions!

If you want to try coating over the existing finish, take 1 wheel and run it through a cure cycle. If the finish doesn't discolor or show any signs of deterioration, you should be able to just scuff and coat over it. Just remember to clean a spot to bare metal for your ground. I have done that and had good results. If the finish discolors or blisters, it is paint and will need to be stripped anyway, but on a new wheel like this, I'd try this option before stripping. Of course your finish will only be as good as what is underneath, so it's your call.

Best of luck.

[Guest]

Re: More wheel coating questions!

Yep, just mask what you don't want to coat. And since you don't really know what the finish is, I would strip and start fresh.

I'm pretty sure the finish is just paint and liquid clear. How do you suggest I go about stripping them? I do not want to damage the polished sections as I would not be able to refinish them with the same quality as OEM. Any suggestions?

[Guest]

Re: More wheel coating questions!

What is the substrate?

[Auto-Cycle PC]

Re: More wheel coating questions!

If the existing finish is paint the clear will yellow while you are curing the other color so if its paint I would strip it. I have Cybersolve so that would be my choice for stripping and it should not affect the existing polished surface. Then just mask and powder the green areas and re clear the whole wheel.

If they have powder now I would scuff and coat right over it in the areas he wants green. When doing detail stuff like this I like to use the 1/8" green tape as a guide then tape with regular hi temp tape and alum foil or vinyl decal material. Its easier also if the customer will agree on a clean line to transition the colors.

[Guest]

Re: More wheel coating questions!

What is the substrate?

I have tried researching it but I cannot find any info online. I'm pretty sure the boxes include this info so I will check on that later.

[Guest]

Re: More wheel coating questions!

If the existing finish is paint the clear will yellow while you are curing the other color so if its paint I would strip it. I have Cybersolve so that would be my choice for stripping and it should not affect the existing polished surface. Then just mask and powder the green areas and re clear the whole wheel.

If they have powder now I would scuff and coat right over it in the areas he wants green. When doing detail stuff like this I like to use the 1/8" green tape as a guide then tape with regular hi temp tape and alum foil or vinyl decal material. Its easier also if the customer will agree on a clean line to transition the colors.

I'm 99% sure it's paint with clear. I remember seeing something down the lines of "silver paint" on the box and it really doesn't look like powder, it's very thin...

Where can I get some Cybersolve? I'm afraid that something like Aircraft Stripper will damage the finish.

[Guest]

Re: More wheel coating questions!

If Aluminum beware of stripping with just any product. Make sure it is safe for that metal otherwise you could blacken the substrate....I hope it's not cast

[Guest]

Re: More wheel coating questions!

The Jasco epoxy and paint stripper will leave shinny shinny and Home Depot and Lowe's have it but you need good rubber gloves and it might even get to you then and you need to put it on and then lay paper towels on top of the stripper and put another coat on and keep it moist and it will get it with out a problem.

The other will get it also but you might need maybe 10 gal to do it and a proper container + a few more factors that I want get into about the Cybersolve but you need all the info on it if you decide to buy some from PBTP. Jason can advise you and I can also. I have 55 gal of it in use.

[Smashing]

Re: More wheel coating questions!

If Aluminum beware of stripping with just any product. Make sure it is safe for that metal otherwise you could blacken the substrate....I hope it's not cast

Please elaborate on the cast material.

[Guest]

Re: More wheel coating questions!

Alright... so I have what I think is good news!

I fired up the oven and threw the wheel in at a constant part temperature between 398-405 for just over 15 minutes!

Not a single change in the finish. A bit more research revealed that the wheels are actually powder coated from the manufacturer.

So what's the next step then? Should I scuff up the existing powder or just go straight to taping off the wheel and shooting a new coat on 'em?

[Guest]

Re: More wheel coating questions!

Just took another look at the wheel after I let it cool off to about 120 in the oven... looks good. Just like it did before going in the oven...

[Auto-Cycle PC]

Re: More wheel coating questions!

Scuff the area to be coated and tape away. Aluminum foil will speed up the process in masking. If you are going to spray the wheels warm dont stretch or form the tape into place because it will lift as soon as it starts to warm up. Remove the masking as soon as as the powder flows out so you can be sure there was no overspray under the tape and complete the cure from there.

[Guest]

Re: More wheel coating questions!

If Aluminum beware of stripping with just any product. Make sure it is safe for that metal otherwise you could blacken the substrate....I hope it's not cast

Please elaborate on the cast material.

Cast material outgasses like a Monster and can be difficult to master ...