Powder Coating Wheels
 

I am considering going the powder coeated route on my factory wheels. Is there anything I need to look out for before doing this, either with the wheels, preparation or the people doing the work? I never had this done before and want to make sure I get it right.

Was considering getting new wheels but really can't decide on any. So this would be an easy trade.

Also, what rough cost can I expect? I was thinking $800-1200 for a set of new wheels, so I would expect the PC to be cheaper than that.

A good shop will do it all for you, and it should cost about 80 per wheel as long as you're not going any crazy color or two tone.

Subbing.

I would say somewhere around $200 - $300 +/- $50 would be fair. But, I honestly have no idea.

Just a tip man, google industrial powder coating, it's the same thing, but since they don't have a sole focus on wheels they're generally cheaper.

How do you pic a color? Do they have a color palet or do you bring an example with you?

check your local car forums, I'm sure somebody knows a good powdercoater in your area.

i bought a set of beat up rx8 wheels for $430 shipped and I dropped them off at a local powdercoating shop a few days ago. Your best bet is to get an idea (pics etc) of what color you like and then go to the shop and have them show you an example of an item in that color. at least that's how i did it.

For a set of four 18" wheels I'm paying about $380 which includes removing curb rash, the color itself and clear coat.

Does that include mounting and balancing?

I am under the impression that powder coating places usually do not mount and balance.

make sure you find a GOOD shop. my 08 STi was a base model so I didn't have the BBS gold wheel package. I wanted mine powder coated gold but the shitty shop I took it to powder coated them like mustard yellow. They were ugly as sin

But if you go black i'm sure thats hard to fuck up

This.

There's a shop near me that will PC and then have them mounted and balanced by the Pep boys across the street.

Thus the PC shop is not mounting and balancing!


Tapatalk

That would be correct.

Here's a few questions you need to answer first:

1. Do you have another vehicle to drive for the few weeks or more your wheels are off?

2. Can you live with using a sharpie to color in the chips that will occur in the PC?

3. Do you want them PC'd because you hear PC is better than paint?

4. Can you still bring yourself to PC after reading this? http://www.mazdaspeedforums.org/foru...at-rims-70926/


If you're still set on PC, then make sure you find out if they're going to do the prep work or if they're expecting you did it all first.

Rattle can may be easier for maintenance, but the prep work is just too much for some; when you can take it to be PC'd. You'll be out wheels, but for some who live up north, we have winter wheels!

Agreed, need to find out if the shop will do all the work, so you just have to drop them off!

There really isn't as much prep work as you'd think. Also, I was assuming OP didn't already have another set of rims/tires based on his post about not wanting to buy new rims. YMMV.

I got ya! I'm in the same boat as the OP. I read a how-to someone linked here to a focus forum and that guy did a lot of sanding. Call me lazy, but I'd rather pay someone to do it. Plus, I would fuck up the painting process. And what the fuck does YMMV mean?

Tapatalk

Well, to answer the first important looming question, I have winter wheels AND another vehicle. So there is no worry. As spring approches it has me thinking of the wheel thing so I can just mount them once.

I like the PC method because it seems more durable than rattle can. Plus I really suck at painting stuff. And ~$300 is pretty cheep to drop off wheels and pick them up completed.

I found one "local" place that does auto wheels, but they are still an hour away. Still searching.

They don't have to be taken down to bare metal. You just scuff the surface with a scotchbrite pad and then use mineral spirits to clean it off. But you definitely need to have the technique for spray painting. Most people just hold the nozzle down until the can runs dry. That's just going to make a mess of runs everywhere. But I can understand not wanting to deal with it. I had rims PC'd once, but wound up wishing I hadn't. But that's just me. Rattle canning is just as durable as PC. And when the paint chips you just touch up. You can't touch up PC. It leaves a crater. Your Mileage May Vary.