Painting Car Rims Ideas

About Painting Car Rims Ideas

Car rims are the most outer edge of a wheel. They’re where your tires are actually attached. The inner part of your car tire is attached to the rim. You’ll often hear people use “rims,” and “wheels,” interchangeably, where decorative wheels are called rims. Some people may also say “tire,” when they actually mean wheel. Knowing the actual parts of a wheel assembly can save you (and your auto mechanic) a lot of trouble.

Painting Car Rims DIY
Any car, no matter its age or condition, looks better with a great set of wheels. You can take any basic economy car, bolt on a set of nice rims, tint the glass, and transform it into a respectable ride.

Prepare Rims for Paint
Before you can paint your rims, you must remove them from the car and prepare them for a new finish. Sure, you could just spray them as they sit, but the result will look awful and you’ll probably get overspray on your car’s paint in the process.

Obviously, you’re going to need to find a way to support the car after you remove the wheels and while the painted rims are drying. So, make sure you’ve got that part of the plan figured out before you buy any materials.

Once you know how you will safety support your car while you’re painting the wheels, unbolt them and remove them from the car. Degrease and clean the rims thoroughly on both sides, and with a level of detail that you’ve never used before. Every speck of grime must be off of the wheels before you take the next step in the process.

If the wheels have rust, or the existing finish is damaged or chipped, you’ll need to scrub them with a wire brush, sand them with the extra-fine and then the super-fine sandpaper, and then rub them with steel wool to create a smooth, blemish-free surface.

Next, wash the wheels again, dry them, and apply the rubbing alcohol, paint thinner or mineral spirits. Inspect the surface. It should be completely clean and smooth. If not, you’ll need to repeat the wire brushing, sanding, and steel wooling process.

Painting Car Rims with Tires On
When the wheels are ready for a new finish, grab the painter’s tape and whatever material you’ve decided to use to cover your tire to protect the rubber from paint overspray. Tape the material around the entire circumference of the wheel rim, applying the tape under the lip of the rim. Be sure to cover the valve stem with painter’s tape, too, so that it doesn’t get clogged up during the paint application process.

Painting Car Rims Black
Now you’re ready to paint your rims. Choose a dust- and pollen-free area to ensure the best results, and lay out the drop cloth on your painting location’s surface. Also, make sure your painting location offers good ventilation, and make sure you wear your paint respirator mask. The last things you want to happen after all of this prep work is to get dizzy and pass out, falling onto the new paint on the wheels.

The Best Kind of Paint to Use on Car Rims
You’re going to use three different types of coating on your wheels. You need a primer. You need spray paint designed specifically for automotive wheels. And you need a clear coat finish. It matters what the wheel is made of, too. Choose the right paint for steel, aluminum, or magnesium wheels.

Painting Car Rims Matte Black
To prime the wheel for paint, use three light coats of self-etching spray primer, allowing each coat to dry between applications. Be sure to apply the primer between all of the wheel spokes.

Next, apply the paint. Follow the directions on the can with regard to spray distance, method, and number of recommended coats, otherwise the paint may run, which won’t look good. Be sure to get the paint between all of the wheel spokes, and also allow the paint to fully dry between coats.

The last step is to apply a couple of applications of clear coat to protect the finish. Use a light coat each time, and yes, allow each coat to dry completely.