How to paint titanium wheels yourself

Do-it-yourself painting of alloy wheels

One of the easiest ways to make a car more attractive is to install high-quality alloy wheels, since their range allows you to satisfy the needs of even the most demanding car owners. However, during operation, they may lose their former luster, as scratches, chips, peeling and abrasions appear on them, which negatively affects the external perception of the machine, and also reduces the service life of the discs. Painting, which is easy to do with your own hands, can correct the situation.

Painting options for alloy wheels

In order to paint car rims, you need special paint. The most popular types of paint for them:

• powder,
• acrylic,
• so-called liquid rubber.

Powder paint is considered the most wear-resistant and durable

Powder paint is considered the most wear-resistant and durable. It is created on the basis of special polymer materials. Often, such paint is used by the manufacturer himself during industrial production. At home, powder paint is used extremely rarely, since its use requires specialized and very expensive equipment, as well as the complexity of the application process.

Acrylic paint can be applied from a spray can or spray gun

Acrylic paint is the most common among car owners. It is available in liquid form, so it can be applied from a spray can or spray gun. This paint has excellent adhesive properties, due to which it adheres well to the surface and reliably protects the disc from negative environmental factors.

Liquid rubber can be used both for the body and for individual elements of the car

Liquid rubber is a new type of painting material that is rapidly gaining popularity. It is a rubber-based paint that can be used both on the body of a vehicle and on individual elements of the car, including rims.

Each of the presented types has its own advantages, however, in everyday conditions, car owners opt for painting with acrylic paints.

Equipment and materials needed for painting

For quality work, the following materials are required:

• specialized paint for rims;
• primer;
• special varnish;
• sandpaper with different grain sizes;
• acetone or solvent;
• putty;
• gloves and respirator.

If you have all the necessary materials and equipment, the work will not take much time

Important: when choosing paint, primer and varnish, it is preferable to use products from the same manufacturer.

In addition to the right materials, you also need to acquire the necessary tools:

1. A compressor and a spray gun, which allow you to make painting better (in fairness, it is worth noting that paint in cans also allows you to achieve good painting results).
2. A grinder or electric drill with a grinding attachment, with which you can quickly and easily get rid of old coating and remove traces of corrosion.
3. A heat gun, a hair dryer or a regular hair dryer are necessary to speed up the drying process of the paint.

If you have all the necessary equipment and materials, the work will not take much time and effort.

Dyeing process

Before you start preparing for painting, you need to remove the tires, as well as the plastic plugs, otherwise it will be impossible to paint the wheels properly.

Preparing for work

1. The first step is to wash the surface from contaminants, for which you can use both specialized automotive and ordinary household chemicals.

We process the disc with sandpaper to remove chips and cracks

How to paint: description step by step

1. We proceed to the primer, which is carried out in 2-3 layers. It is important to remember that before starting a new layer you must wait until the previous one has completely dried. Depending on the situation, it may also be necessary to sand with sandpaper before applying the final primer coat.
2. We apply paint, holding the spray gun at a distance of at least 35–45 cm from the surface of the disc. Like the primer mixture, the paint is applied in 2-3 layers, and each new layer is sprayed only after the previously applied layer has completely dried.
3. Applying varnish. The specifics of applying varnish are similar to the same process for primer and paint.

How to paint car wheels with your own hands

It is important to note: the varnish acquires peak protective properties only 6–7 days after application.

Security measures

In the process of painting work, you must adhere to certain safety rules:

1. It is necessary to use special safety glasses to prevent harmful substances from entering the eyes.
2. It is recommended to carry out all work wearing special protective gloves.
3. Alloy wheels should be painted in a well-ventilated area, otherwise there is a high risk of chemical poisoning.

It’s easy to paint alloy wheels yourself, without going to specialized auto repair shops, which will save you quite a lot of money. The only thing the car owner needs is time and strict adherence to the steps described above.

How to paint alloy wheels yourself? Let's figure out how to paint rims

Alloy wheels are quite fragile elements that are constantly exposed to many harmful factors - scratches and dents appear on them from the impacts of stones that fly from under the wheels. Despite their fragility, they are very expensive, and frequent replacement will cost a pretty penny. Now we will look at a more economical option and find out how to paint alloy wheels yourself.

Tools and Supplies

To carry out this operation, you will need very few tools and raw materials, half of which will probably be found on the farm. We will need:

• several types of sandpaper with different grit levels;
• grinding machine and attachments for it of varying hardness;
• a special primer in cans intended for non-ferrous metals;
• putty for cars;
• dye;
• varnish

You also need to be very careful when choosing the room where painting will take place. The room must be clean - free of debris and dust. The temperature should correspond to that indicated on the packages of varnish and paint. Good lighting will help ensure the task is completed accurately.

Removing paint and traces of corrosion

If you are wondering how to paint alloy wheels, then you first need to do the preparatory work. To do this, we find detergent and degreaser, rags and a stiff brush.

Initially, you can simply rinse these elements under water to remove dust, stones and sand. Next, using a stiff brush and a small amount of detergent, completely remove the dirt. If there are special products designed for car washing, then use them.

Degreasing is carried out using a rag. Apply degreaser to the surface and rub it. You can also use a spray bottle. At the next stage, we will need gloves, because interaction with aggressive substances begins. We take a product that can dissolve the paint, but which will not corrode the discs themselves. We apply it, wait a little, remove the remaining paint. Then rinse the part again under water.

Choosing what to paint the rims with?

After going through the preparation stage, it’s time to think about what paint to paint the rims with. Acrylic or powder paint is often used to paint alloy wheels. Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Powder paint will protect the discs from the effects of negative factors, because it is not affected by corrosion, acids, alkalis and salts. It is also resistant to moisture and mechanical damage. The main disadvantage of this type of paint is the need to use special equipment for its application. The paint needs to be fixed at the end, which can only be done in a special chamber at high temperatures.

A more homely option is acrylic paint. Its main advantage is the presence of a wide color range, which will make the car bright and unforgettable. However, such paint will soon require updating and the procedure will have to be carried out again. You can find it in any auto store. You can also use it to imitate a chrome surface.

A rather interesting method is the application of liquid rubber, which also has a wide color palette, and is very easy to remove, because liquid rubber forms a hard layer, which in its properties resembles rubber. This method is not very popular due to its high cost.

The cheapest way is to use aerosol cans. The painting technology will be the same, but you will certainly be pleased with the possibility of applying several colors at once.

Surface priming and defect removal

Before painting alloy wheels, you need to eliminate defects and then start priming. First, we clean out all the bumps and scratches - take sandpaper with an approximate grain size of 320. Next, you will need an abrasive of 1000 - it will help achieve the effect of a smooth surface. Sandpaper does not always cope with all defects. In this case, use putty. You shouldn’t clean it too often or too hard either, because layers of primer, paint and varnish will also do their job and level the surface.

Before priming, place the discs evenly so that the applied substances do not drip down in drops if you suddenly overdo it with the dosage. In order to properly paint alloy wheels, first apply a primer to the inner surface. The second layer is applied after 30-45 minutes. If you don’t have time to wait, you can dry it with a hairdryer.

Painting and protective varnish

And now we come directly to how to paint alloy wheels yourself. In fact, this process is not much different from the previous one. You just have to wear safety glasses and gloves, because the paint can be absorbed into the skin. Applying several layers will help achieve a good result. If you want to achieve a multi-colored effect, then cover the areas with masking tape to prevent paint from getting on them. To top it off, varnish will help secure the result.

Let's sum it up

Painting alloy wheels at home will not take much time, and will also save money on a trip to a specialized service center. However, it is worth remembering that this procedure must be taken quite seriously, because failure to follow basic rules can damage the rims so much that you will have to carry out a premature replacement.

How and how to paint car rims yourself

Fundamentally, the process of imparting decorative properties to wheels is no different from any other painting work on a car. There are some peculiarities, but in general the technology is the same: surface preparation, priming, painting, preferably polishing. Home technology differs significantly from industrial production, where the discs typically adopt a hot-cured powder coating.

What paint to choose for wheels

In terms of chemical composition, cost, durability and decorative properties, all paints are somewhat different.

Each has advantages and disadvantages, otherwise they would have stopped being produced a long time ago.

1. Nitro enamels. They dry very quickly and are cheap, but that’s where their advantages end. Nowadays, few people use them for car repairs, although not so long ago they even painted Rolls-Royces. True, using an extremely complex technology of two dozen layers with intermediate processing of each.
2. Alkyd enamels. They are also easy to use and dry easily in the open air at normal temperatures. And they are inexpensive. A good property for an inexperienced craftsman is that they quickly form a film, which helps fight drips. But the quality of the coating and durability leave much to be desired.
3. Acrylic paints. The most popular products in body repair. Provide high-quality coating with high decorative and protective properties. Can be used with natural drying and polymerization from heating. In combination with varnish they give deep, rich metallic effects.
4. Powder enamels. They are rarely used in amateur work because they require complex equipment for application. But the coating is very durable and provides a beautiful appearance.
5. Liquid rubber. Strictly speaking, it does not apply to paints, has a controversial reputation and difficult technology. The material, as they say, is not for everyone.

Most often, acrylic coating is chosen for self-application. It is convenient, durable and usually pleases with the results.

Pros and cons of painting castings and spray stamping

The use of paint in aerosol cans is attractive due to its simplicity. You don’t need a paint gun, which few people know how to use correctly, prepared and dehydrated air under strictly required pressure, and bringing the paint to the desired consistency. It is enough to shake an inexpensively purchased can.

This is precisely the first drawback. Not all cans are the same. You won't be able to paint a disc well on the cheap.

The correct aerosol should be from a reputable manufacturer, and not only contain good acrylic paint inside, but also provide an effective spray with a limited spot, within which the paint should lie evenly. This is the only way to get rid of unevenness and smudges.

You will have to apply several layers with intermediate drying. This will reveal the second drawback - low spray pressure. A high-quality torch, which a professional pistol gives, cannot be produced by a spray can. In addition, the pressure changes as it is spent, so you will also have to adapt to this.

To paint four discs you will need many cans, which can negate all the savings. And the result is unpredictable. At least not without proper training.

How to paint wheels yourself without removing the tires

It's better to take it off, of course. But you can do without this costly operation, which, moreover, can easily damage the results of your work. Repair paint does not have sufficient resistance to scratches and impacts.

Equipment and technology

To protect the rubber, you can use regular masking tape. Or use special cardboard shields that are inserted between the disk and tire with some overlap.

Among the tools, it is advisable to have a grinder with low adjustable operating speeds, or at least a good electric drill with attachments, a compressor, a paint gun, spatulas, and protective equipment for hands and respiratory organs. Consumables – sandpaper of different grain sizes, solvent, putty, primer, paint, varnish.

The wheel is glued to save the tire, after which it is processed to remove poorly adhering old paint and degreased. All irregularities are carefully filled with putty and sanded until an ideal surface is obtained. Paint and primer will not hide anything; on the contrary, a layer of paint is applied to reveal invisible flaws.

After preparation, the first layer of primary primer, the so-called filler, is applied. It will allow you to remove traces of sandpaper on the putty surface after fine sanding. The finishing primer is applied over the sanded filler.

As the primer dries, you can apply the first coat of paint. It is advisable to perform two of them in total. In accordance with the description of the technology of a specific set of materials, varnish is sprayed over the paint. Possible stains are cut off, ground and polished.

It should be remembered that few people succeed in obtaining a mirror surface, but this can be easily corrected by polishing with special pastes and a grinder attachment.

How to paint casting

With the tire removed, you can paint the rim much better. With this technology, the border between the treated areas and those covered by the tire will be eliminated. It is from there that the processes of destruction of the coating begin.

Otherwise, the technology does not differ from that described. But the removed disc can also be powder coated. It will be necessary to build a furnace for hot polymerization of the applied coating. This is not such a complex structure if you have sufficient area and a powerful electrical supply. But the coating will be no worse than the factory one.

You can even make a special electrostatic gun if you have experience working with high-voltage equipment.

How to paint stamping

Stamped steel wheels are less resistant to local damage. Therefore, it is better to pre-roll them, which will restore their original shape, and also roughly straighten out possible irregularities.

The rest will be done by putty, first strong, with fiberglass, and then finishing, which, when sanded with fine abrasives, will provide the desired smoothness.

What to do to prevent discs from rusting

When processing stamped steel wheels, special attention must be paid to removing rust. It has the property of a catalytic effect on the destruction of metal, even when under a layer of paint and varnish, the so-called under-film corrosion. Especially in hard-to-reach places where the disc connects to the rim.

Only sandblasting saves. Chemicals should not be used to remove rust from steel wheels.

They do not perform their role well, and they themselves can become sources of corrosion, since they are difficult to remove from the resulting porous surface. Only mechanical rust removal followed by priming should be used.

Do-it-yourself painting of alloy wheels (photo).

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Do-it-yourself painting of alloy wheels (photo).

I painted it myself.
Enamel for cars is of course flimsy, but unfortunately I couldn’t find paint for non-traditional light rims; we sell them only for aluminum: (((I painted it with regular enamel, but in the color I wanted. Everything was bought in regular stores, the budget for painting all 4 disks in the region of 2-2.5 thousand + a lot of tedious work on cleaning, sanding, etc.

a long
time. We'll see if there are enough of them :))) Since there is no second set of wheels, I used the following scheme:
We put a spare tire in place of one wheel, take off the disk and throw away the bald summer tires, paint the disk, put new winter tires on it and put it on the car, so all 4 wheels : )))

What you need for work.

This is what the disk once looked like.

This is what my disk looked like after several Perm winters; the coating was eaten away by the salt.

The disc has been washed, weights have been removed, etc.

After washing off the paint, clean it with a spatula. I didn’t find sandblasting, I used a wash.

We hang it up and degrease it with solvent.

Primer, then wait for it to dry and sand all the jambs again, then lightly prime again and dry.

Three layers of paint, the first barely covers the ground, wait 10-15 minutes and the second, main layer, wait 10-15 minutes and the final layer, at a great distance.

Leave to dry for a day, preferably two if the temperature is about 25 degrees.

Just painting it seemed banal to me and I decided to restore the inscription. I made a mock-up of the inscription in Corel and ordered an adhesive stencil from an advertising agency.

Glue the stencil onto the completely dry disk. Soapy water helps a lot.

How to paint car rims with your own hands

The question of how to paint your car's rims yourself is often asked by both newbies in automotive matters and experienced car owners.

Time passes and even on a new car the rims become covered with corrosion and scratches, which do not evoke the same admiration for their well-groomed appearance.

The wheels need to be re-prepared and painted. We’ll look at how to do this in this article.

How to paint car rims yourself

Car wheels are manufactured in two versions:

• stamped steel;
• from light alloys, which, in turn, are divided into cast and forged.

The first option is most susceptible to scratches, chips, and slipping of the paint layer. All manufacturers initially install stamped steel wheels on cars.

They are cheap and, complete with hubcaps, create the appearance of beautiful wheels. Time passes, the caps are either lost or broken, and the discs lose their original appearance.

Alloy wheels are usually produced in a beautiful silver or silver-black finish.

They do not scratch, last a long time, and therefore rarely require additional painting during operation. Therefore, only stamped steel wheels need to be painted.

The most common ways of painting wheels among Russian car enthusiasts are:

Three types of processing are best suited: acrylic, aerosol, liquid rubber. Acrylic is available in a wide variety of colors, it is convenient to apply to the surface, and you can paint even a very small area.

However, for all its advantages, acrylic paint is less resistant to scratches, abrasions, and other damage to the applied layer.

Careless driving, especially by inexperienced drivers, through bushes, potholes, and hummocks peels off a layer of paint. The metal of the discs again becomes covered with corrosion, dust, and dirt.

Powder paint, unlike acrylic paint, can last on wheel rims for a long period without losing its original shine.

It is stable, wear-resistant, the coating on the stamped and cast surface is not scratched or deformed. The substance is intended for production purposes, that is, it is used to coat newly cast and stamped discs.

However, there are certain difficulties with applying it yourself. Powder paint is applied using complex technology that requires special equipment.

With this paint it is impossible to paint a scratched or deformed fragment of a disk - only the entire surface.

When deciding how to paint your car's wheels yourself, it is better to give preference to powder paint. It will last on the car much longer without causing problems during operation.

But if the car owner wants variety, shine, brightness and is ready for daily careful care of the wheels, you can use acrylic paint. In this case, the car will become the original vehicle in the area.

Liquid rubber has proven itself very well when updating wheel rims. In recent years, Russian motorists are increasingly using it for painting.

The matte, glossy black coating penetrates well into the metal, protecting the surface from stone chips, corrosion processes, abrasions, and scratches.

How to paint car rims with your own hands

Due to the high cost of carrying out paintwork at service stations, Russian motorists prefer to carry out such work in their own garages or in the courtyards of private estates.

Any painting method is preceded by thorough washing and preparation of objects for processing. The simplest, least expensive method is painting from an aerosol can.

Painting wheels with canned aerosol

Advantages of this method:

• the paint is applied to any unprepared, unsanded, unprimed surface;
• the aerosol layer reliably protects against all road impacts, dust, and dirt;
• the development of corrosion foci is prevented;
• the substance from the can can be sprayed onto fragments of any configuration.

Consumables

To carry out the work you will need:

• rags or microfiber cloths, car shampoo;
• masking tape;
• sandpaper of various grain sizes – No. 120 – No. 800;
• varnish, degreaser, solvent;
• 1 – 2 cans of primer;
• special aerosol paint, which, unlike regular automotive paint, better protects metal in conditions of high temperatures and impact damage.

When purchasing aerosol paint, varnish, or primer, you must carefully select materials that belong to the same brand or are compatible with each other. The paint should be as wear-resistant as possible.

Acrylic mixtures and polyurethane-based compositions have proven themselves to be excellent. The best quality paint mixtures have a powder base and contain polyester pigments.

To ensure durability, when applying them it is necessary to use sophisticated professional equipment, which is not available in a garage or private yard.

Preparation

1. The wheels of the car are removed from their original places.
   This is necessary to reduce the area covered with masking tape, and also avoids paints from getting on the car body parts.
2. The discs are washed from dirt with water, shampoo, rags, and rags.
   You can use toothbrushes and smaller objects to clean elements with complex configurations.
3. Sand areas with old paint and uneven areas using coarse sandpaper.
4. Clean the surface to be painted with fine-grained sandpaper.
5. Use a jet of compressed air and a cloth to remove dust.
6. Apply a layer of degreaser to the surface to be treated, which will prevent the applied paint from peeling off.
7. Cover the rubber surface of the tire with adhesive tape.

The primer is applied to the prepared surface of the steel disc. The temperature in the work area must not be lower than +10ºС.

Before starting to spray the soil, the can must be shaken. It must be applied from approximately 25 centimeters away.

When applying primer, in order to distribute it evenly, it is necessary to cover the metal with a thin layer. After completing the operation, carefully inspect the surface of the coating. Clean off roughness and unevenness with fine sandpaper.

To ensure the safety of people, it is necessary to use protective equipment when painting:

• Rubber shoes;
• Impregnated overalls;
• Tight glasses;
• Respiratory mask.

When painting products with highly toxic acrylic substances, personal protective equipment should be used.

Self-painting of car wheels with aerosols is carried out in several layers, which are applied after 15 minutes. When the final layer is applied, the composition must dry completely. Aerosol paint dries in a maximum of 4 hours.

Finally, the surface is varnished, after which the protective coating is removed. A mirror-like shine on products is achieved by processing with special polishes using professional equipment.

Acrylic painting

This procedure is most popular among Russian motorists. When working with the material, specific knowledge is not needed. Equipment can be found in every garage cooperative or borrowed from neighbors.

• compressor, spray gun;
• primer mixtures, paint;
• sanding paper No. 200 and No. 400;
• electric drill with “Ruff” device;
• a construction hair dryer; if you don’t have one, you can use a home hair dryer;
• solvent;
• protective equipment for hands and respiratory tract.

Preparation

The technology of applying acrylic involves partial restoration of the surface. After carrying out the work: washing, cleaning from dirt, old paint, the metal is first cleaned with coarse sandpaper, then all significant irregularities, nicks, scratches, chips are sanded with fine sandpaper. Metal surface defects that cannot be cleaned are filled with putty.

The final preparation is cleaning from abrasive particles and washing under high pressure. When painting wheels without removing them from the car, it is necessary to protect the rubber fragments of the wheels with masking tape and newspapers, leaving only the metal surface exposed.

Padding

Important! Before applying the primer, it is necessary to dry the metal very thoroughly using a hair dryer. A serious defect can appear from one drop of water, reducing the service life of the wheels and ruining their appearance.

The disk suspended on a wire is degreased. Uniform deposition of layers is achieved by heating from a hair dryer.

Using a spray gun, liquid soil is applied from a distance of 25 cm. It is important to maintain the correct consistency of the composition. Liquid soil causes defects.

It is strictly forbidden to form a large layer at once. Professionals do this in three passes.

The next layer is applied only after the previous one has completely dried. This happens after 30 minutes. To speed up the drying of the primer, use a hairdryer.

Painting

Having decided how to paint the rims on a car with your own hands, after the primer has completely dried, proceed directly to painting.

Acrylic paint is applied in several layers. You should take your time, act slowly, allowing each layer to dry. Paint that is too thin may leave streaks. To avoid this, it is necessary to apply a test layer to the prepared sheet of metal.

The maximum quality of painting is achieved with at least three layers. Hard-to-reach areas are difficult to treat using conventional methods.

Such fragments require a creative approach and non-standard solutions. Painted discs must dry well.

Liquid rubber - we paint the wheels ourselves

This new material has many advantages:

• an abundance of creative colors and shades, except chrome;
• high wear resistance, equivalent to powder painting;
• complete blocking of all scratches, chips, abrasions;
• ease of application, availability of materials, tools, equipment.

There is only one drawback - the high cost, but this is more than compensated by the good quality, reliability, and durability of the coating.

• shoes, gloves, respirator;
• acetone;
• raw rubber in a can, it is better and more reliable than paint.

When applying the material without removing the wheels from the car, prepare newspapers and masking tape.

Preparation

Before applying liquid rubber, you can prepare the surface less thoroughly than for acrylic painting. You can leave a layer of previous painting, scratches, chips.

The main thing is to thoroughly wash and degrease the metal before applying rubber. When the wheels are dry, the initial layer of the substance is applied.

When processing discs directly on the car, it is necessary to protect all rubber elements and brake pads.

In order to ensure a better fit of liquid layers of rubber and penetration into hard-to-reach places, it is recommended to remove all wheels from the car.

Painting

Liquid rubber is sprayed evenly over the entire metal surface. The first base layer is made transparent, the old paint underneath is visible. The second layer is applied more intensely while maintaining transparency.

Layer follows layer, quantity depending on color. Usually craftsmen apply 3 – 7 layers. Liquid rubber dries faster than paint, so the next layer is sprayed every 10 minutes.

The distance from the tool to the material affects whether the discs become matte or glossy after processing. The close location of the can to the surface provides a greater degree of gloss of the coating.

The distance can be checked by testing. Once you have set this size, you should not change it until the work is completed.