Every car owner wants the car to be beautiful, aesthetically pleasing and, if possible, exclusive. There is plenty of scope for this. At the same time, someone adds certain elements to the exterior of the car, painting the hood, wings and other parts. And someone achieves the desired result by giving the wheels an unusual appearance.
However, the painting of discs can also be caused by a more prosaic reason - the nondescript appearance of the discs acquired during operation. The result of this is the formation of various types of chips, dents and scratches on the surface of the discs.
There are two ways to paint car rims:
1. Contact a specialist to paint the wheels in industrial conditions by applying powder paint.
2. Paint it yourself using acrylic paints.
Of course, carrying out work in a high-quality specialized workshop gives excellent results, however, not every car owner can afford it from the point of view of financial capabilities. But applying paint in a garage is quite possible for almost anyone who knows how to paint correctly. This does not require any special education or specific skills. You just need to stock up on the necessary materials and patience, because the work ahead will be painstaking and require great care.
Materials and equipment
For execution high-quality painting car rims you need to prepare the following:
· Sandpaper. You will need 4 sheets of fine and coarse sandpaper. It is better if it is immediately prepared for fastening on grinding wheel, installed in a drill.
· Two rolls of medium-width masking tape.
· Paint (preferably acrylic) - four cans, you can different colors, if there is an intention to make original tuning.
· Acrylic primer- 2 cans.
· One can of automotive varnish intended for exterior use.
· Respirator.
· Solvent and rags for degreasing disks and removing stains from them.
The color palette of acrylic paints is much richer than that of powder paints. Depending on the quality of paint and primer purchased, as well as the conditions under which painting will be done, the entire process takes from two to five days.
The sequence of operations necessary for high-quality painting of wheels
Before you begin the actual work associated with painting wheels, it is important to clearly understand what needs to be done and in what order. The whole process is carried out in several stages:
1. First you need to make sure that the surface of the disk is even. This stage is best left to specialists who have special equipment for detecting irregularities on disks and straightening them.
2. Purchase all of the above materials and necessary tools, in case of their absence. When purchasing primer, paint and varnish, you should make sure that they are from the same manufacturer. Only compliance with this condition can give confidence that they will be compatible, which means they will fit securely and hold well. Experts recommend buying acrylic paint in cans. This will avoid the need to purchase special equipment such as a compressor or spray gun.
3. You should start by thoroughly washing the disc. This will allow you to get rid of any remaining sand and dirt, even if they are located in places where access is difficult. The washed discs are wiped dry with a rag and, if possible, blown compressed air and dry for several hours.
4. At this stage with discs and primer. This can be done without the use of technology, that is, manually, using sandpaper, but it is best to use a special attachment that is fixed in the drill. Cleaning must be carried out so efficiently that old paint there are none left even in the most hidden places.
5. The cleaned disc must be degreased using a solvent. After this procedure, the surface of the disk should dry well.
6. A primer is applied to a dry and clean surface. Best result is achieved if the primer is applied in three layers. After applying each layer, allow the treated surface to dry.
7. Now you can start painting directly. Like a primer, paint is applied layer by layer, and each applied layer also needs to dry. If you are too lazy to remove the tire and you decide to paint the rim on the assembled wheel (although this is not recommended), the surface of the tires should be covered with cellophane film or masking tape.
8. You will also need tape if you need to paint the disc in several different colors. In this case, the required pattern is laid out using tape, and each paint is applied according to its own patterns. This must be done very carefully to prevent the boundaries of the surface being painted from being blurred.
9. After completing the painting work in one or more colors and completely drying the surface of the disc, varnish is applied to it. This is done to give the paint layer additional reliability and strength. After applying the varnish, the disc must dry for at least 24 hours. After which you can mount tires on it and install the finished wheel on the car.
When performing each step in mandatory Personal protective equipment should be used, since both the dust from old paint being removed and the fumes from primer and acrylic paint are harmful to the human lungs.
The appearance of any car is affected not only by the condition of the car body and its external elements. To a large extent, the presentability of a car is influenced by and. The presence of scratches, rust stains, and paint chips clearly does not improve the appearance of the car.
Scratches and chips of paint will inevitably occur over time. The car owner then has only two options - purchase or paint the existing ones. However, painting work at a service station is not very cheap, since they are not considered easy to perform.
Everything will cost much less if you make the disks yourself. There is no difficulty in performing this operation, but it is quite painstaking and time-consuming.
Features of rims
First, let's look at the types of discs, as well as what tools and materials you will need for painting yourself.
So, now there are three types available. The simplest are stamped steel wheels. It is on them that the paint often flies off and rust spots appear. Therefore, they require painting work more often than the other two types.
Stamped steel disc
The second type is alloy wheels. Rust does not form on them, but over time scratches appear on them, which do not add aesthetics. And after prolonged use, they lose their shine and their appearance becomes faded.
Alloy car wheel
The third type of discs is forged. All reasons for needing painting are identical to alloy wheels.
Whatever type of car is installed, the surface of the disc will need to be prepared before carrying out work. This is especially true for stamped and forged wheels. During use, dents from impacts appear along the edges. Therefore, before starting all work, it is advisable to roll the discs to remove dents, otherwise they will be visible even after painting, spoiling the whole look.
Next, you need to choose the time; it will be difficult to complete all the work in a day, so it is better to immediately take into account that the car cannot be used for 3-4 days, unless, of course, there is a second set of wheels that can be replaced.
It would be better to carry out all the work on wheels from which the tires have been removed, but this condition is not necessary; it will just be a little more difficult to perform all the necessary actions on the assembled wheel.
Materials and tools for painting
Before starting work you need to purchase necessary materials. The availability of certain materials depends on the type of disc. The following materials are required for all types:
- Sandpaper of two types (coarse-grained, fine-grained);
- Painting tape;
- Degreaser;
- Thin film for covering non-paintable surfaces;
Video: Do-it-yourself painting of wheels
You will also need an automotive primer to pre-treat the disc. You need to purchase a primer for acrylic base. For stamped ones you will need a regular primer for metal surfaces. And for light alloy and forged ones you need to purchase a primer for non-ferrous metals. For ease of work, it is better to take sprayable primer in cans.
Then you need. It also needs to be taken on an acrylic base. The color is at your discretion. If the discs are stamped, then there is nothing special about them; they are usually painted black or White color. As for light alloy and forged ones, this is a matter of imagination. You can choose any color for them or make a two-color coloring. But don’t forget about aesthetics; the wheels should fit well into the appearance of the car and not have a bright and provocative color.
Color spectrum
The last thing you need is clear varnish to complete the final stage of work.
Wheel painting process
Preparatory work
Having all these materials, you can get to work. Do-it-yourself painting begins with removing the old paint layer or protective layer. Basic work can also be done with a drill with a special attachment. But it will not be possible to completely clean the surface with a drill, since it will not be possible to work with it everywhere due to the shape of the disk.
After cleaning with a drill, those places where the nozzle did not reach should be cleaned with coarse paper. Special attention need to be given to places where there are bends. It is important to ensure that no old paint remains on the surface. If there deep scratches, you can try to remove them with the same paper.
Sanding a disc with sandpaper
You need to take the issue of cleaning the surface seriously, otherwise the remnants of the old paint after applying the new one will be clearly visible, and the situation can only be corrected by re-cleaning the surface.
When carrying out work, it is better to carry out the entire complex on each wheel separately, rather than, for example, cleaning all the disks and then moving on to another stage.
Priming discs
After thorough cleaning, you can begin priming. Before applying primer, the disc must be degreased. If the work is carried out on a disk from which the rubber has been removed, then nothing additional needs to be done. And if the rubber is installed, all surfaces that will not be covered with soil must be covered with film and tape. You also need to close the tire inflation valve.
Primer
The primer must be applied in two layers with a break of 10-15 minutes between each layer. After applying the second coat, allow the primer to dry completely.
Wheel painting
Next we move on to painting. If the disc is painted with only one color, then it is enough to cover the unpainted surfaces and apply several layers of paint with an interval of 10-15 minutes between coats for the layers to dry.
If a two-color coloring is chosen, then the main paint is applied first, again in several layers. Afterwards it needs to be given time to dry properly. Then those places with the main paint already applied that will not be painted over with the second color need to be covered masking tape.
After covering the unpainted surfaces, several layers of second paint are applied. After painting, you need to give the paint time to dry.
Final work
The final stage of painting the wheels will be applying varnish. Again, do not forget about protecting surfaces on which the varnish will not be applied. It is also advisable to apply the varnish in two layers.
For improvement appearance after painting the tire can be coated silicone grease for rubber parts, this will give it the appearance of a new tire, which together with a freshly painted wheel will look very good.
After completing the work, it is better to stop by a tire service station to check the wheel balancing.
It's no secret that every motorist tries to keep his “swallow” in the best condition. This applies not only to issues of serviceability, but also to appearance. After all, if , it will bring in extra money.
One of the most noticeable elements of any car is the wheel rims. They are invisible when they look gray and dull, but they immediately distinguish the car from others when they are well-groomed and look original. But during operation, discs experience the greatest wear of any visible element - they suffer from countless holes and potholes, from impacts from gravel and chemical reagents that utility services sprinkle on roads.
As a result, sooner or later the discs lose their original shine and acquire many scratches, chips, and different spots, and the appearance of the entire car suffers. Painting can solve this problem, and any car enthusiast can do it at home. This will also protect the wheels from future troubles and significantly extend their service life.
Painting options for alloy wheels
Alloy wheels - and these are the ones most often used - can be painted different ways. The differences mainly lie in the use different types paints:
- Powder paint creates a durable and resistant to any impact coating. It is used by many manufacturers, which speaks for itself. The rims of a new car are most likely painted this way.
- Acrylic paint also creates a durable protective film, which for a long time will be able to withstand all troubles. It is easy to apply and is the most common method of painting at home.
- Nitroenamel is easy to apply, but does not last as long as acrylic. Suitable for quickly correcting cosmetic imperfections.
- – rubber-based paint; when applied, it forms a thin rubber film that reliably protects the painted part. Sold in cans in finished form and you cannot mix them to get a different color. Limited shades are the main drawback.
Since every car enthusiast wants to know how to paint his alloy wheels With at the lowest cost, then let’s briefly look at the features of each method.
The use of powder paint requires special equipment, and expensive one at that, so it is home use may not be considered.
Liquid rubber is still rarely used, mainly due to the difficulties of choosing colors, since the range on the market is still quite limited.
Acrylic paint and nitro enamel are sold in cans. It can be applied directly from the can or using a spray gun. Can be mixed different colors and get desired shade. There are no difficulties in painting, but acrylic coating much stronger and more durable than nitro enamel. Therefore, car enthusiasts usually use it. We will consider this method.
Equipment and materials necessary for painting
Painting wheels is a responsible and step-by-step work, so you need to prepare in advance everything you might need. You need not only paint, but also many different things:
- Metal brush for cleaning disks from old paint, dirt, rust, and other contaminants.
- Sandpaper of different grits is needed for cleaning disks and eliminating scratches, chips, leveling the surface and final cleaning.
- Rags.
- Protective equipment – gloves, goggles, respirator.
- Solvent or acetone.
- Putty.
- Putty knife.
- Polyethylene, paper - to cover areas that do not need to be painted.
- Acrylic paint in cans – specialized for rims.
It’s great if it’s possible to use special devices for grinding - grinder or a drill with a special attachment, a sandblasting machine. You can use them for painting - they simplify the work and allow you to quickly get a high-quality result, although simply using paint cans is also quite acceptable.
For quick drying it is advisable to have heat gun or construction hair dryer. A regular one will do as well. household hair dryer, if there is nothing more powerful.
The room should have good ventilation, because paint is a rather toxic substance, even when using a respirator good ventilation necessary. There must be good lighting. It is very undesirable to work outside due to the presence of dust.
Procedure for painting discs with acrylic paint
Wheel painting – step by step process, which is divided into two large parts: preparing the discs and actually painting. You need to approach them with all responsibility, because any defect will affect the quality of the coating.
Of course, before work you need to remove the wheels from the car. Please note that it takes several days for the varnish to gain optimal strength. Therefore, work should be carried out when no urgent trips are planned.
Painting alloy wheels is quite possible with your own hands; it is not difficult. No assistant required.
Preparing alloy wheels for painting
Before painting, the disc needs careful preparation. It needs to be washed well and can be used if necessary. household chemicals. It is very advisable to remove the rubber, although in extreme cases you can paint it with it, but then it will have to be carefully insulated with paper and tape. If you strictly follow the sequence of actions and take your time, then alloy wheels painted at home will look no worse than new ones.
- It is advisable to hang the disk in such a way that there is maximum convenient access to any of its surfaces.
- Use a metal brush, sandpaper or sandblaster to remove old paint. Then you need to carefully sand chips, scratches and other defects.
- If necessary, cracks should be sealed using argon welding, and the seams should be cleaned and sanded.
- The uneven areas need to be filled with putty, and when the putty is completely dry, the uneven areas must be sanded down.
- Wash the disc under running water.
The surface of the disk is processed, leveled, and then comes the primer before painting.
- Use a rag soaked in solvent to degrease the entire surface.
- Apply the primer in 2-3 layers from a can or using a spray gun, while making sure that there are no missed spots or spots.
- For faster drying, you can use a hair dryer or heat gun.
- After the first layer has completely dried, the primer is applied again - this will be the final layer.
- After drying, use fine-grained sandpaper to remove any resulting irregularities.
- Repeat degreasing with solvent.
Now you can start the actual painting.
Applying paint and varnish to alloy wheels
This process is simple, but we will give a few useful tips, since it is very important to paint alloy wheels correctly - any mistake will be visible and the appearance of the entire car will suffer.
The paint is applied in 1-2 layers, allowing each layer to dry completely. You can use a spray gun or a can of paint. When painting, they need to be kept at a distance of about 40 cm from the disk, repeating its relief so that the distance does not change and the paint is applied evenly.
You need to start from the inner surface, since the paint will still leak onto the outer surface and form streaks on it. These drips must then be wiped off with a rag containing solvent and the outer surface painted.
After the last layer of paint has completely dried, varnish is applied, also in 2 layers, with each one thoroughly dried. When the varnish is completely dry, you need to wait another day before putting on the rubber.
Please note that varnish coating It acquires optimal hardness only after a few days, so during this period it is better to refrain from traveling, or at least avoid off-road driving, where there is a risk of scratching the fresh coating.
As you can see, the process of painting alloy wheels is not that complicated and is quite possible at home. Despite its simplicity, when the technology is implemented, the coating turns out to be of quite high quality and beautiful.
During winter operation of the car, all its parts, including wheel rims, are subject to strong exposure to the reagents that are sprinkled roadway. From such exposure, the paint gradually cracks, peels off, and after a few years the discs lose their attractiveness. This is especially true for stamped discs made of steel, on which traces of corrosion also appear. What to do in such cases? The discs are essentially in completely good condition, throw them away and buy new ones, no matter what you raise your hand, this is, in principle, not advisable, from the point of view financial costs. The best solution is recovery paint coating. Even if you turn to a specialized workshop for this service, this operation will still cost less than buying new disks. But you can do it differently, you can do everything yourself. Moreover, this does not require any special materials or special skills or abilities; you will learn everything along the way.
In order to paint rims on a car with your own hands, you need to do preparatory work, and also choose paint material.
Which paint to choose
Today, two types of paint are used to restore discs:
- Powder;
- Acrylic.
The powder composition has certain advantages, for example, paints of this type are more durable and resistant to mechanical stress. In addition, when producing alloy wheels at manufacturing plants, powder coating is used. However, despite these advantages, the technology for applying such paint is quite complex and requires the use of specialized equipment (heat chamber and sandblasting). The fact is that dry powder is applied to the disc, which is fixed on the surface under the influence of high temperatures. There is another disadvantage of powder paint - when using it, you can only paint the entire product, and not its individual parts.
When using an acrylic composition, car enthusiasts will not have to face such problems. Acrylic paint has a brighter and more saturated color and palette, so you can choose the most suitable suitable shade, which will match the color of the car body. Painting car wheels using acrylic composition also has disadvantages. These include low resistance to environmental influences.
Based on the above, when deciding what to paint the rims with, it is better to give preference acrylic compounds. You can find this kind of paint in any specialty store. When choosing a manufacturer, remember - it is better to purchase paint and varnish from the same company.
IN Lately For painting not only rims, but also body parts, another covering material began to be used - liquid rubber. In terms of cost, number of shades and mechanical strength, it is comparable to acrylic paint. It is even easier to apply than acrylic. The most famous brand is liquid rubber "Plasti Dip".
In addition to paints and varnishes, you will need other materials.
Necessary equipment and materials
If you choose the powder painting method, then first of all you will need a sandblasting machine, which is used to thoroughly clean the worn disc of old paint, dirt and dust. In addition, with the help of this device you can perfectly level the surface of the product.
Advice! Sandblasting can be replaced a regular drill with various abrasive attachments.
You will also need a heat chamber, which is necessary for “baking” the powder paint. It is impossible to replace this type of equipment at home, so you will have to fork out more or still use a cheaper painting method.
Painting car wheels with acrylic paint is simple and cheap way bring old disks back to life. To do this you will need to prepare:
- Brush;
- Washing powder or regular dish detergent;
- Sandpaper of different abrasiveness (from 200 to 600);
- Automotive finishing putty;
- Several cans of primer;
- Can of varnish (transparent);
- Can of solvent 646;
- Protective gloves, respirator and goggles.
As you can see, the second method requires much less financial costs, especially since most of this list is already in your garage. Once everything is ready, you can start working directly.
Car wheel painting technology
First of all, make sure that the room in which you will work is well ventilated. Acrylic and varnish are not the best best combination for good health. Wear goggles and gloves to avoid chemical burns and remove the wheels from the vehicle.
In order not to stain the tire, it must be sealed with masking tape along the rim. The adhesive tape must be applied as tightly as possible to the edge of the rim while simultaneously tucking it into the gap between the rim and the tire.
There is another option, you can remove the tires from the rim completely. If you are afraid to do this yourself, then you can contact a car service; this service will cost you little. Next, it is necessary to prepare the surface of the discs for subsequent processing.
Surface preparation
Use a brush and detergent to thoroughly remove old paint and varnish from the surface. To degrease the disc and remove paint residues, use a solvent or anti-silicone.
Advice! To get rid of worn paint material in hard to reach places use an awl or thin screwdriver.
After this, go over the surface with sandpaper. At this stage, there is no need to rush; it is better to sand every millimeter of the disc for a long time and thoroughly. Use coarse sandpaper first and then last stage- the smallest. The surface to be treated must be periodically watered with water to remove any remaining sanded material and to better polish the disc.
Advice! It’s also not worth cleaning discs with fanaticism, since minor roughness and cracks will in any case hide layers of paint and varnish.
Of course, the old disk will have numerous chips, dents and other defects, which can be eliminated using automotive putty. When it's dry, go over the surface again with fine sandpaper and pour water on the disc.
Primer
The degreased and cleaned surface must be primed. To do this, you need to start applying the primer first to the inner surface of the product, and then move on to the outer part.
Advice! While spraying, shake the primer canister periodically.
To ensure that the repair (painting) of discs is carried out efficiently, try not to rush. The primer must be applied evenly, while holding the container with liquid at a distance of 25-30 cm from the surface. After you have applied the primer, let the disc dry and repeat the procedure (2-3 coats will be enough). In order not to wait long after each application of primer, you can use a regular hair dryer. In any case, it is better to start painting the wheels only the next day.
Painting and varnishing
Before using varnish and paint, carefully read the instructions for use of these materials, as drying time for liquids may vary depending on the manufacturer.
Dried and primed diks must be placed on polyethylene so that during painting, dust and dirt do not stick to them. The technology for applying paint is the same as for primer - we start with inside products and then move on to the outer part. Apply 2-3 layers of paint, leaving the surface to dry for 15 minutes after each application. After that, wait 20-25 minutes and use the varnish. After the first application of varnish, it is necessary to check the surface of the discs for unevenness. If you find them, then go over them with fine sandpaper. Next, all that remains is to apply the final layer of varnish and wait until the product is completely dry (6-7 days). This completes the restoration of the discs.
In custody
Now you know how to paint wheel rims with your own hands. As you can see, this process does not take much time, and the money is several times cheaper than at a car dealership. The main thing is not to allow dust to settle on the newly painted surface, as this will greatly spoil the appearance of the products. In all other respects, just work calmly and carefully and the result will please you.
Photos were taken from a video posted on the channel My OBZOR. Thanks to the author!
Regular driving on uneven roads and unpaved surfaces leads to loss of appearance of car wheels. First of all, this is due to the fact that when moving, small stones, crushed stones and other materials get into them, leading to various scratches, chips and peeling paint.
To fix these problems, you need to know how to paint yourself. rims without the intervention of professional car painters.
In addition, such a process will not only return the original appearance of the elements, but also create for them additional protection. Before moving on to painting, it is necessary to analyze the types of paints and varnishes.
Types of automotive paints
Powder
The paint and varnish material is applied using a device such as a spray gun. Previously, old paint particles are removed from the wheel product using abrasive materials. After which the surface is leveled and prepared for painting.
This method is not suitable for DIY painting due to the use of special devices and a thermal chamber. In addition, such a coloring procedure can cost a decent amount.
Acrylic
This type of paint can be applied to any base using a simple spray can. The disc is first cleaned with sandpaper, thoroughly washed, dried and painted. After drying, it is varnished to add shine.
Tools and materials for DIY painting
Any process of painting a car part, including a wheel rim, requires a set of various materials:
- abrasives (sandpaper);
- special brushes with metal and plastic bristles;
- household chemicals: detergents and solvent;
- finishing putty;
- primer;
- dye;
In addition, you will need protective equipment: latex gloves, glasses and respirator.
Preparatory work before painting yourself
After drying, it must be treated with a steel brush and sandpaper to remove the old paint. The prepared car disk must be perfectly clean, without any rust residue or peeling paint.
After processing, it is purged using a compressor. You can use a pump or fan as improvised means. After blowing, degrease the surface using a regular clean rag and solvent.
If the wheel rim has scratches, chips or other damage, it must be filled with putty. Automotive putty will hide minor imperfections and ultimately create a smooth finish. You will also need a spatula and hardener for this process.
Take the putty with a spatula and add a small amount of hardener. Mix thoroughly and apply ready-made composition for visible defects of the wheel product.
After drying, sand the surface and, if necessary, repeat the operations until the disc becomes smooth. At the end of this process, we use a grinder and a sanding disc. We carry out surface treatment and bring it to perfect condition.
Wheel rim primer
On next stage preparatory work performs priming. To perform the procedure, degrease the clean, sanded surface of the disc using a solvent. 4-5 minutes after drying, we begin to apply the primer.
Take a spray bottle or a can and begin to evenly apply the primer to the disc. It is advisable to prime at a distance to prevent drips on wheeled products.
As a rule, the primer is applied at a distance of 15-20 cm from the surface of the disc. If you maintain this distance and apply it evenly, the surface will be perfectly smooth without streaks.
After applying the first coat of primer, the disk must dry thoroughly. At the next stage we use soft sandpaper with a grain size of 600-800 and treat the surface dry or with water.
The primer is removed in such a way that the surface has no roughness, but becomes perfectly smooth. If, after removing it, small defects remain, the operation must be repeated. Then we let the wheel rim dry and prepare it for the painting process.
It is extremely important that the room in which paint work will be carried out has a ventilated system. As alternative option Painting can be done outside in calm weather. The surface of the disc must be completely dry so that the paint sits evenly on it without drips.
The final stage of painting the disc
To achieve maximum resistance to anti-corrosion effects, it is recommended to purchase paints and varnishes from one manufacturer. The process of applying acrylic paint is practically no different from priming the surface.
If a compressor is used for painting, then open a can of acrylic paint, fill the spray bottle about halfway and add 1/3 of the solvent. Mix thoroughly and check the quality of the resulting material for metal sheet or other subject.
Then we begin painting, applying the material evenly to the disk surface, keeping a distance of up to 20 cm. After finishing, let it dry and proceed to applying varnish.
If you don’t have a compressor and a spray gun, you can use a regular bottle of acrylic paint. Before applying, cover automotive parts and body elements with masking tape to protect them from paint. Shake the can thoroughly and apply evenly to the surface of the product.
On a note! After the first application of paint, as a rule, small streaks form on the disc. Therefore, to evenly smooth the surface, it is recommended to apply paints and varnishes in three layers to achieve maximum durability.
After the disk has dried, evenly apply a small amount of varnish to it. Let it dry for one hour. The applied paint material becomes durable and dries completely only after 24 hours. To add extra shine, use polish.
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