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Steel wheels powder coat or paint?


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I'm just about to refurbish the steel wheels on my 63 TR4. Do I powder coat or spray?  Currently sprayed silver with lots of chips, rust and paint runs so not looking good.  Can tyre fitters fit without damaging paint / powdered coating?

On a seperate note I've just spent the past few days installing mass loaded vinyl (sound deadener) to the floor area, water proof foam carpet underlay, finished off with new loop pile carpet. It's made a massive difference as took the car out for a New Year spin on some of New Zealand's chip seal roads. My day job is an acoustic consultant,  so I've got a trained ear and would recommend it to anyone. Plus I've just fitted a high torque starter while the interior was out - another recommendation.

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Hi Darran,

whichever coating you use make sure you do not paint the area under the attachment nuts. Just a thin flash of Aluminium spray or similar

 

The paint can cause the torque on the nuts to slacken.

 

Roger

PS - that also includes the face of the wheel against the hub.

Edited by RogerH
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Hello Darran

I would also like to have views on this as I have a set of wheels ready for painting. First step is to remove old paint and neutralise any rust.

With powder coating then if you scratch the wheel then it has to be sent for powder coating again I believe. With paint you can touch it up if scratched. Haven't made my mind up yet which route to take.

As for tyre fitters not damaging the finished surface - it depends on how careful they are. Biggest problem seems to be attaching or removing balance weights around the rims.

Looking forward to views of others

Keith

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Thank for the feedback. I was keen on the powder coat for hardness but will now get them spray painted. Much easier for future touch ups and yes to the balancing weights - I've got a few ghost marks on the existing wheels where weights have been before.

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I have yet to see a powder coat that matches (or comes close) to the warm silver metallic paint of the orignals.  For a solid color there are probably decent options.

Paint for me, not powder coat, for all the reasons noted earlier in the thread, plus the appropriate color match to original.

Here's my spare wheel, a 48-spoke 4-inch wire to fit better in the wheel well on my TR3B, rattle-can sprayed and clear coated.  Shown next to the reproduction MWS wheels on the car.

i-trK5XHx-X5.jpg

i-frhssQB-X5.jpg

I don't have any images of the wheel prior to sandblasting, but the finish was rusted pretty good.  It looks near new now with paint + clearcoat.  The paint I used, Eastwood Detail Sliver, is a great match for the original wheel silver and sadly seems to be discontinued as a product.

i-MrMTKBd-X5.jpg

 

Edited by Don H.
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I think the most cost effective approach is for me to paint the wheels with rattle cans - as mentioned I can then touch up as necessary. For originality - would it still be appropriate to lacquer the wheels too as I wasn't looking for a high gloss appearance. Can anyone post a photo showing a steel (disc) wheel with a glossy finish.. Mine are very shabby and anything will be a big improvement. Thanks

Darran

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Had the Rims on My 5 Blasted, Etch Primed and then Stove enameled in black.

It didn't costs a fortune (Around £40 a Wheel) and the specialist will be able to get a much better and longer lasting finish

Regards 

Gary

Edited by Gary Flinn
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  • 3 years later...
On 1/8/2020 at 1:29 PM, Gary Flinn said:

Had the Rims on My 5 Blasted, Etch Primed and then Stove enameled in black.

It didn't costs a fortune (Around £40 a Wheel) and the specialist will be able to get a much better and longer lasting finish

Regards 

Gary

Hi where did you get your wheel done? Near Ripley? Regards Richard

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Richard

I hd my TR6 wheels blasted, primed and enameled silver several years ago and they still look good despite being used in the winter with winter tyres. I used The Gatemaker at Unit 9, Sitwell Business Centre, Heage Road Industrial Estate, Heage Road, Ripley DE5 3GH. Worth a try if you are looking local to Ripley.

Dave

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