Top 5 wheel paints and DIY at home
Car rims need periodic painting. The dye makes the appearance of the machine attractive. Coating with a paint specially designed for this purpose extends the life of the discs. The finish created protects against mechanical damage, and also prevents surface corrosion by the chemical elements that make up the mixtures, which are often used to treat highways.
Why do you need to paint autodiscs
Car wheel paint has several purposes:
- barrier to mechanical damage, chemical influences;
- restoration of faults;
- create an attractive car design.
Owners who buy used cars are eager to quickly customize the car for themselves. One way is to repaint the discs or replace the stamping on the casting.
Adapted coloring formulations
The surface of the rims of the car is subject to constant stress. The speed at which the machine moves most often is able to create tangible pressure on the material.
Reference! Disc damage is often caused by off-road driving, aggressive washing and the use of poor quality cleaning agents.
Acrylic
Polyacrylate-based acrylic compounds are suitable for all types of surfaces. Acrylics are sold in canisters that can be sprayed from a specific distance. All acrylic-based formulations are divided into gloss and matte types. The shine of the acrylic paint is enhanced by additional polishing.
Nitroenamels
Compositions often used for painting cars.
liquid rubber
Rubber paint, or liquid rubber, is versatile: it is suitable for coating steel, forged, titanium, plastic elements. The rubber is available in several versions: luminous, metallic, chrome. The rubber creates a glossy or matte finish.
Powder
Powder spraying is especially in demand in automotive repairs. Machine parts are powder coated and then baked. The powder is able to create a strong adhesion to the treated surface, provided the correct grounding is created.
Glowing
The luminescent paint on the wheels is an element of the modern tuning.
What you need to work
You can adjust the wheels of a car yourself if you follow the rules. For work you will need the selected paint and varnish materials and the necessary tools.
| Tool, materials | The description |
| Sandpaper | Needed for the record cleaning step, and also needed after priming and polishing |
| Respirator, gloves, tape | Protective suit for the face and hands, and tape or film to cover the tires |
| Construction site hair dryer | Necessary during the drying phase, can be replaced by a hot barrel |
| Sander | Indispensable for the cleaning stage, helps to remove traces of rust, corrosion |
| Spray gun | A spray gun will be required when using liquid nitro enamel |
If the powder paint spraying method is chosen, then a baking oven is needed for the work, as well as a special gun with which the powder is applied. Powdering devices can be made with your own hands from improvised means.
Step-by-step algorithm for painting at home
The disc staining process consists of several steps. Each of them has its own characteristics. Automotive painters say the prep stage is still the most important process. It includes the sequential steps of sanding, stripping old coatings, and creating a suitable surface for a top coat. Preparatory work takes 2-4 days. Painting takes 1 day.Drying takes up to 4 days.
Preparatory work
The purpose of the preparation is to clean the old coating and create a surface on which the selected paint and varnish material will lie in an even layer. To remove traces of corrosion or remove old coatings, use a sander. It can be replaced by an electric drill. The task of the equipment is to create a chip, for which you can pick up the coating and remove it.
An important step in disc preparation is surface degreasing. Processing with a degreaser allows you to get a clean, even surface on which any dirt fits well. The degreaser is applied with a sponge, then the traces of treatment are erased with a dry, clean cloth. Degreasers are available at auto parts stores. On the market there are products based on water-alcohol or compositions from organic solvents.
The next step is priming. Priming is carried out only when the discs are scratched, chips or cracks are visible in them. If painting is done on a new cast to match the color, priming can be avoided. The primer layer must dry completely before continuing work, then it must be processed from roughness with sandpaper.
The painting itself
The algorithm of the painting process depends on the type of paint chosen. Automotive discs are best processed from spray cans. All compositions intended for repair are available in cylinders of various sizes.
Before starting to spray paint, the tires are protected with film and tape, gluing the entire surface from different sides. Painting rules:
- each subsequent layer is applied after the layer is completely dry, it takes 20-60 minutes;
- to cover the rims on both sides, it is recommended to use the method of hanging tires on a support;
- the process is interrupted to dry each layer;
- after the last layer has dried, a polishing varnish is applied.
Drying
A step that is artificially reduced by acting on a machined part. After applying the next layer, a heat gun is installed in front of the disc or the surface is blasted with a construction hair dryer.
Information! The final drying after polishing takes two days.
Features of painting stamped discs with your own hands
Stamped discs differ from cast discs in their unpresentable appearance. The stamped parts are repainted on their own to make the car stand out and make the finish more attractive. Stamped discs are susceptible to rust formation, so coating them with high quality anti-corrosion compounds is recommended.
Experienced motorists recommend chrome plating of stamped wheels. It's a way to make records look presentable using different types of spray paints. For this, a "chrome effect" spray is applied to the layer of black earth. The creation of the finishing layer is completed by varnishing.
How to properly paint alloy wheels on a car from a spray can
Alloy wheels are painted from spray cans in any color chosen. The effect of the paint depends on the quality of the surface preparation. It is recommended to paint old castings covered with rust spots with a metallic finish.This is a modern tuning option suitable for any car.
Several coats are applied from the balloon to the primed surface of the disc, then allowed to dry completely. A feature of painting from cylinders is the exact observance of the distance. The ball is retracted from the room by 30-40 centimeters at an angle of 45 degrees.
A two-tone color is made on the casting. This method requires patience. Each layer of paint is dried, then glued to the treated area with construction tape, another selected color is applied from a balloon or brush.
Additional tips and tricks
Auto mechanics advise you to start working on all rims at the same time. While the layer on the first rim dries, the next layer is applied. This way, by the time the last disc is finished, the first coat is dry and ready for the next application.
The difficulty lies in the repair of chrome rims, most often these are aluminum parts coated with special compounds. The effect of chrome plating is dangerous in that the scratches obtained during operation are particularly visible on the surface. Before painting, the chrome layer is removed with a special acid, which corrodes the coating and allows it to be recovered using a grinder.
Before applying powder or acrylic paint to the disc, it is recommended to prime the surface. This technique increases adhesion and helps ensure a uniform finish. When choosing liquid rubber, a primer is not considered a mandatory procedure. The rubber forms a rubbery coating, which, due to small pores, masks the absence of soil.