Wheels are a very vulnerable spot in any car. It is they who take on the maximum impact: impacts of oncoming stones, curbs, tree branches. Alloy wheels are especially susceptible to wear; when hitting an obstacle, they can not only bend, but also crack or scratch in some places, and their appearance becomes unsightly. However, the situation can be corrected; for this, special paint for discs is used.
Wheel rims are painted for two main reasons:
- if the discs have lost their original appearance and require restoration;
- painting for decorative purposes - for example, luminous paint for wheels will give the car originality and make it stand out from the crowd.
In the second case, special colors are often used that attract attention, often they use paint for disks with the “chrome” effect.
Types of car paints
Painting wheels is not only a decorative move, but also protection. Modern coatings are able to reliably protect the metal from corrosion. There are several types of such paints, they all differ in composition and purpose.
Powder
Powder paints for painting rims are popular with motorists due to their durability and high resistance to various kinds of influences. Among the serious advantages are the possibility of applying to almost any type of titanium, steel discs.
The disadvantage of powder paints is the need for special equipment - the dye in the form of a powder according to technology should be melted at a temperature of about 200 degrees. That is why powder technology is not suitable for aluminum - aluminum wheels can be deformed.
The staining technology involves cleaning the stamp from the old coating by sandblasting. Then the surface is thoroughly degreased, covered with primer and a dye is applied in a special spray booth.
It will take at least a day for the paint to dry completely. It is possible to do such work in garage conditions with your own hands, but it is unprofitable.
Acrylic
Acrylic paint works well for painting wheels. This option is the best choice. It is very convenient to use acrylic, and you can apply it yourself - the dye is sold in an aerosol, but you can also work with an airbrush. It is possible to paint disks with aerosol acrylic paint quickly and efficiently, and at the same time inexpensively.
Among the main advantages, one can single out the complete protection of the surface from the effects of precipitation. Road reagents will also not be able to harm the painted surface. But it must be borne in mind that acrylic has an average durability.
Paint for discs in spray cans is chosen in most cases because of its affordable price and ease of use - the spray allows you to get a high-quality result as quickly as possible.
Before applying spray paint, it is imperative to treat the disc with abrasive materials. Next, the contents of the can are thoroughly mixed (the can must be shaken for three minutes) - thus achieving uniformity of color. Then, without fail, a test spray is made on any other area, if the paint is sprayed well and evenly, it can also be applied to the discs.
Compared to powder dyes, the advantage here is the possibility of quick drying - the painted surface dries in just 10 minutes. The choice of colors is also extensive, spray paint is available in any shade, but silver paint (chrome-like) is popular.
If you add a little phosphor to acrylic, you can get luminous paint - the wheels will glow in the dark, which will attract prying eyes. The brightness of the glow depends on how strongly the phosphor is “saturated” with light.
Rubber
Rubber paints are in great demand among those who like to highlight their car, tune it in every possible way. The reason for the great popularity of such coatings was their versatility. They can be used not only on metal, but also on plastic, glass. The coating can be either matte or glossy, this gives customers the opportunity to choose what they want.
On sale there is also a rubber luminescent paint that glows. The composition contains a special pigment - a phosphor, which accumulates light during the day, and begins to emit it at night. It turns out an interesting glowing effect.
Applying dye to cast wheels is very convenient. Spray aerosol paint for wheels in two or three layers of small thickness. The surface will be smooth and even. The process may take an hour or more. In this case, the priming of the discs as a preparatory step can be skipped.
In the video: painting wheels with Plasti Dip liquid rubber.
Popular products
Body
body paints are an alkyd one-component composition, produced in aerosols. The product has increased strength and wear resistance, has good adhesion.
Body paint is distinguished by affordable cost, low consumption (the optimal number of applied layers is two or three). Ideal as a paint for stamped rims as well as cast versions. It should be applied with a spray gun. How much material is needed to paint one wheel is usually indicated on the bank, but the consumption is small.
Motip
Unlike Body enamels for Motip discs, these are acrylic-based compounds designed to give an attractive appearance. Products from Motip have all the advantages of acrylic paints, the compositions protect the surface from various influences, and are characterized by high adhesion.
The palette has black, white, golden colors. The texture can be matte or glossy. All products are supplied exclusively in cans.
How to paint: the enamel is sprayed onto a cleaned and degreased surface, holding the can at a distance of 30-40 cm. The material is ideal as a paint for alloy wheels.
As an analogue, you can use Kudo products - these are spray paints based on good quality liquid rubber.
What paint to paint depends on the goals - if you need to give the surface gloss and shine, and not just protect it from corrosion, then it is better to use acrylic and rubber coatings. Painting discs with luminous paint will make the car doubly original.
How to paint wheels yourself (2 videos)
Paints of different brands (25 photos)
Steel wheels of passenger cars - the parts are quite durable. A steel disk made by stamping cannot become unusable from time to time. The only thing is that with prolonged use, the paint is gradually scratched. To prevent the formation of rust, the discs are changed or repainted. We will tell you how to paint stamped wheels in the next chapter. Enjoy reading.
It is clear that it is best to clean the disc “to metal” before painting. In this case, only sandpaper (ISO P400-P1500) and, perhaps, a drill with a metal brush are used.
How to remove a layer of old paint
The problem is that it will take more than one day to complete such a cleanup. But, the result will please with its appearance:
Fully cleaned steel disc
In order not to waste time in vain, the surface is only cleaned of rust, then polished and degreased. The "old paint" remains. This option is also considered acceptable. We list the stages of preparation “step by step”:
- Thoroughly flush the disc with water. To simplify the task, use a brush;
- Mechanical cleaning from rust;
- If necessary, you can use a rust converter: the product is applied, left for 2 hours, then the surface is sanded and cleaned. You can't use water!
- Degreasing (white spirit or solvent 646 is suitable);
- if the wheel has obvious defects.
- Application of two coats of primer with an interval of 20 minutes.
In the last step, a universal acrylic primer is used. These funds are sold in aerosol packaging.
Ground application
Note that phosphoric acid can act as a rust converter. And to dry the soil, if the finish layer is applied, you need a day.
It is important to know: once a mark has been made on the metal with sandpaper, water should not touch the surface in principle. Use organic solvents for cleaning.
The priming itself is the dress rehearsal for the painting process. To simplify these "processes", the disk can be installed on an inverted bucket. The coloring of the rim is then performed by turning the disk with the right side towards you. As you can see, everything is simple.
Perhaps, after applying the primer, you will have to work with sandpaper. Sanding with P1500 sandpaper is carried out already before painting, which is mandatory.
Coloring process
So we got to the most important thing. Consider how to properly paint stamped wheels, so that later you do not have to redo everything from scratch. In principle, there is nothing complicated in this process:
Applying paint to the rim
Of course, not everyone has an airbrush, as well as special equipment. Therefore, an overturned bucket, unnecessary tires, etc. will help again. The main thing is to be smart, as the author of this photo did:
Homemade equipment for discs
And also, it is advisable to follow the tips:
- Using an aerosol, the can must be shaken periodically;
- The temperature of the aerosol can should not be too low: 30-35 degrees is the norm;
- Hold the spray at a distance of 20 cm from the surface (no less);
- When painting, you can not stay in one place for a long time, otherwise streaks will form.
The paint is applied in two or three layers, maintaining an interval of 10 minutes. An hour after painting, the surface is treated with varnish. You can use the finished product in a day. But it is better to wait 60-80 hours - during this time the varnish gains maximum strength.
Usually, acrylic paint, glossy or matte, is used to paint metal. The primer for this paint is also acrylic (universal). There are also nitro paints. All of the listed materials are packaged in an aerosol. But for nitro enamels, as it is easy to understand, not every primer is suitable. Be aware that nitrogen (nitro) based primers and paints are banned in most countries.
We list tips that are known even to beginners:
- The higher the air temperature, the faster the drying;
- The color of the primer should roughly match the color of the paint;
- The aerosol must be shaken before use. The temperature of the packaging, moreover, should not be lower than 25 degrees. The advice applies to any aerosols: with paint, with a primer or varnish.
It was said how to paint stamped discs, if you know that the work will be done by hand. And therefore, such an option as the use of powder paints was not considered. Good luck.
According to reviews, 4 discs consume: 2 cans of dye (450 ml), one can of primer (450 ml), one can of varnish.
Dismantling is not required
Sometimes, in order to complete the painting faster, the rims are painted without removing the tires. First, the pressure is reduced to the maximum, and then, as can be seen from the photo, masking tape is used:
Adhesive tape glued under the edge of the rim
Perhaps comments are unnecessary here. Do the same to save time.
Hub like a lathe
There is a method that allows you to quickly paint over the rim:
- Let's say there is rust on the surface of the rim. To find out about this, you will have to disassemble the disk (Fig. 1);
- Further, the disk is mounted on the hub, the engine is started and the gear is switched on (Fig. 2);
- If using a left hub, turn the steering wheel to the left, and vice versa;
- Using a cloth-based sandpaper, polishing is carried out (Fig. 3). It is better to fix sandpaper on a bar;
- In the same way that the "preparation" was performed in step 4, staining can be carried out (Fig. 4).
All steps are illustrated in the photo:
Use this method at your own risk.
How to make a border
You can buy contour tape to paint in two colors. The standard version of the two-tone color is a border near the rim. The result of all work will look like this:
Forged rimmed discs
The border color is the first layer of paint. Or rather, two or three layers. When doing two-tone painting, keep the following in mind:
- Let the paint dry before applying the tape. What takes 15-20 minutes;
- Do not use regular tape with contour tape. It will be removed along with the paint;
- In the example shown above, painting could be done like this: 2-3 layers of red enamel, drying, one "outer" layer.
The last layer must be dried at the end. Then varnishing is performed. Be aware that the width of the contour tape is always 6 mm. But this is not a problem, since polyethylene can be glued under the tape.
Express coloring: four discs in 15 minutes, an example in the video
Stamped discs are considered the most durable, since all that can deteriorate over time is the paintwork. The steel from which such models are made is able to withstand all the tests of current roads. But the paint on the autodisk is gradually scratched and corrosion appears over time. In order to avoid serious damage, it is changed to a new one, or simply re-painted.
The wheel does not need to be stripped before painting. In tires, the pressure is reduced as much as possible and simply sealed along the border with masking tape. This prevents paint from getting on them. But if the auto disk has been severely damaged by corrosion, then it will still have to be disassembled to clean the rust on the rim.
Painting of stampings
Special car services perform painting quickly and efficiently, but they charge a lot of money for it. In such a workshop, discs are cleaned of old coating and rust using sandblasting, which is carried out on special equipment. Such a car is expensive, so not every motorist can find it in the garage.
Auto disks are also painted with the help of an airbrush and high-quality paint. That is why this procedure costs a lot. But those motorists who want to put the wheels in order at no extra cost can repaint them themselves. And for this you don’t need to buy expensive equipment, but all because almost all the materials that are needed will surely be found by every driver in the garage.
Painting stampings in a car workshop Do-it-yourself painting of stamped discs
The very first step in self-painting discs is their proper preparation. The whole result of the work done depends on this. The materials you will need are very easy to get, and they are inexpensive. In order to paint the rim, you will need:
- sandpaper of different grain sizes;
- drill with a hard wire nozzle;
- degreaser;
- masking tape;
- primer;
- automotive putty;
- quality paint;
To begin with, the autodisk should be washed from dirt and dried.
Then you can start processing and removing the old layer of paint. But such work can take more than one day, so if the work surface is not very succumbed to corrosion, then all the paint can not be removed. It is enough to walk with a drill with a nozzle and remove small rust.
But if there is a desire to do the job with high quality, then you will need to sweat properly with the removal of all the old paint. If the rim has obvious defects that have not been eliminated during pre-treatment, then the surface must be corrected with machine putty. But before that, degrease the autodisk with alcohol, gasoline or a special tool. With the help of putty, all dents and deep scratches are leveled.
Note!
Putty must be applied in several layers, and each layer must be made thin, otherwise it will not dry well.
After the putty has completely dried, the turn of applying the primer comes. Apply the product at a distance of at least 25 cm, and also make several layers. Each of them needs to dry for about 20 minutes. It is necessary to carefully monitor the spray and not linger in one place for a long time, otherwise streaks form. Next, the soil will need to dry for about three hours, but ideally a day is better so that it grabs well.
Processing with a drill with a nozzle After all the preliminary stages, the moment of painting comes. And here, for beginners, the question often arises: how to paint the car wheels yourself (stamping)? There are really few options. Coloring can be carried out with special acrylic paint, powder, liquid rubber. Powder immediately disappears, since this method can only be painted in a car repair shop for special. equipment.
Liquid rubber will work, but you need to be able to work with it, and it costs more than an aerosol can. The best option for such a case can be considered paint in a spray can.
It is inexpensive and very easy to use. Here are some helpful tips to help you paint thoroughly:
- the can must be constantly shaken during operation;
- the paint application distance must be at least 20 cm;
- the air temperature in the room or on the street should not be very low;
- apply the paint in several layers, each of which must dry for at least 30 minutes;
- do not keep the can for a long time in one place, in order to avoid the formation of streaks;
If the streaks still turned out, then the problem can be corrected with fine-grained sandpaper. But this can only be done on the first layers of paint. After drying, varnish is applied. The wheels should dry out for 5-6 days, and during this period it is undesirable to touch them at all. If you do not allow the paint to completely dry, then there is a risk of scratching the discs during assembly. Painting stampings with your own hands is quite possible, the main thing is to adhere to all stages of preparation.
Paint, varnish and primer must be of high quality, and preferably from the same manufacturer.
Required Materials Auto disk tuning
Tuning is one of the ways that allows you to distinguish a car from all other vehicles. And there are many types of such tuning, for example:
- installation of new plugs;
- unusual painting of auto disks;
- chrome plating;
- inlay;
- backlight;
- unwelding.
Installing plugs is a replacement of old ones with new, more original ones. You can simply buy a new kit and paint it in the desired color, or make your own. The main thing in this matter is skillful hands and imagination.
The most common way to improve can be considered an unusual painting. This means that you will not just have to repaint the disc in metallic, but choose bright, catchy colors, and maybe even several.
Chrome plating is also quite popular with car enthusiasts, as it gives the wheels an incredibly stylish look. In this case, a metallic coating with a mirror effect is created. The inlay is a decoration of the rim with Swarovski crystals. This procedure is laborious and quite expensive. But the wheels in the end look just amazing.
The backlight looks very effective at night.
For this method, neon tubes or neon tape are used. Installing them on a disk is not difficult even for a beginner.
And the last method of improvement is unwelding. It involves expanding the disk by sawing parts and adding more metal to the structure. But this method has more disadvantages than advantages.
What paint to paint auto stamping wheels in two colors
It is better to use paint in a spray can or an airbrush for such purposes. Staining usually occurs in two shades, while this process does not require special skills. The rim of a stamped disc is painted in one tone, and the middle in another. All manipulations are performed using masking tape and oilcloth.
Painting with multiple colors The place necessary for painting is left uncovered, and everything else must be covered with foil and secured with masking tape. After the paint has dried, you should close the painted area and paint where there is no paint yet. Even in the case of double paint, you can use special stencils with a pattern. The main thing is to carefully cover the places where the paint should not fall.
About how to paint the steel wheels of a car yourself and how, is fully described in the article. An important point in this matter is its quality preparation. You should also pay special attention to your own safety. Gloves, mask and respirator must be present while working with paints and varnishes.
Thinking about how to improve the look of their car without spending a lot of money and making the car stand out, many motorists decide to paint the rims. Indeed, from such a procedure a noticeable effect is obtained, which depends, first of all, on the chosen color. Also, the advantage of painting is the absence of the need for official registration, as is the case with body painting.
Painting of steel rims suitable for any car, it can decorate an expensive foreign car, and an old domestic car. A wide range of colors will emphasize the individuality of each car and its owner.
Service painting of stamped wheels
Specialists for this procedure use modern powder paints, which create a fairly even and durable coating. Powder-coated discs become more resistant to sub-zero and plus temperatures, their paint does not fall off, and you can completely forget about burnout. Powder coating will protect the wheels from the effects of corrosion, scratches will be a thing of the past.
First, defects are removed by sandblasting, phosphating will protect the wheels from rust, and several layers of powder paint will make the wheels more durable.
In the service center, it is distinguished by process reliability and high-quality results. Each customer will be able to find the color that best suits the car.
Benefits of hiring specialists
At first glance, painting stamped rims seems like a fairly simple process, and many even believe that doing it yourself can save money. But it's not. After painting with your own hands, after a year or two, the procedure will need to be repeated, and this is an additional cost of personal funds. Painting by the hands of professionals will pass without defects, the wheels will emphasize the design of the car. The result will hold securely for many years, so painting stamped wheels, price, which you will need to pay only once, is a better offer for car owners.
Good painting requires not only new equipment, but also reliable specialists who can reliably protect the disc from the bad influence of natural conditions. This paint will last you for many years.
Prices for painting stamped wheels
| Disc diameter | Light alloy cast and forged wheels, not galvanized. Price per set (4 discs) | Light-alloy cast and forged wheels with galvanized coating (chrome, etc.). Price per set (4 discs) | Steel discs. Price per set (4 discs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| up to 11 | 2820,00 | 3660,00 | 2160,00 |
| 11 | 3240,00 | 4180,00 | 2490,00 |
| 12 | 3700,00 | 4700,00 | 2860,00 |
| 13 | 4160,00 | 5220,00 | 3230,00 |
| 14 | 4750,00 | 5900,00 | 3700,00 |
| 15 | 5340,00 | 6600,00 | 4170,00 |
| 16 | 5760,00 | 6980,00 | 4510,00 |
| 17 | 6180,00 | 7550,00 | 4840,00 |
| 18 | 7100,00 | 8520,00 | 5180,00 |
| 19 | 7020,00 | 8490,00 | 5520,00 |
| 20 | 7440,00 | 8960,00 | 5850,00 |
| 21 | 7860,00 | 9430,00 | 6190,00 |
| 22 | 8490,00 | 10120,00 | 6690,00 |
| 23 | 9120,00 | 10800,00 | 7200,00 |
| 24 | 9750,00 | 11480,00 | 7700,00 |
| 25 | 10380,00 | 12160,00 | 8200,00 |
| 26 | 11120,00 | 12845,00 | 8800,00 |
| Over 27 | negotiable | negotiable | negotiable |
Looking for advice on how to paint stamped wheels yourself can sometimes surprise owners of not-too-new cars with a limited family budget. Buying a new stamping is not interesting - too soon it will be no different from the old one. You still need to raise a lot of money for cast alloy wheels, and driving used, rusty and bent ones is not only unpleasant, but also risky - you forget about the condition of the rims, you can be left without wheels at all.
It is quite illogical and expensive to spend on painting in a service station: it’s quite simple, it doesn’t require a lot of intelligence, and auto mechanics will break so much for painting work that, you see, it’s enough for one brand new alloy wheel. So self-painting of stampings is a profitable and convenient option from all sides.
How to paint stamped wheels yourself: the instruction is detailed, with clarifications of all possible points and with a proposal of different options.
Training
First, you need to carefully check the condition of the disc being painted. Agree, it will be extremely disappointing if it turns out that a disk that looks like a brand new one does not hold geometry. That is, we go to the service station and roll the stampings, if they need it. Detected small holes (if the discs are in a disgusting state) are welded. But it is better not to allow this to happen, and not to restore a leaky disk at all (only if absolutely necessary).
That the wheels are removed from the car is not a question. Whether to remove the rubber, everyone decides for himself. There are enthusiasts of complete dismantling, however, most amateur car painters agree that this is superfluous, unless you suspect rust under the ramp - then the rubber will have to be removed without fail. If the slope is not dismantled, it needs to be lowered a little to make it easier to work. The rubber is covered with polyethylene on all sides, its edges are hidden up to the disk and fixed with masking tape. You can completely paste over with pieces of masking tape.
Related article: " ".
Disk handling
First, of course, it is washed off road layers and dried. Then all specks of rust are cleaned off and the welds are aligned. To speed up the process, either an electric drill with the appropriate nozzles is bought or borrowed from garage neighbors. Hard-to-reach curves are skinned by hand, sandpaper. Periodically, it is necessary to wash off the resulting dust so that it does not cover the untreated areas, and subsequently does not get under the primer or paint. If somewhere corrosion has eaten too deeply, you will have to resort to its converter.
After stripping, making sure that nothing is missed anywhere, the disk is finally washed, dried (for speed, you can use a building hair dryer, if there is where to get it), and the disk is degreased - at least all the same unchanged. Chips, deep cracks and rust holes are leveled with putty. After it dries, the disk will have to be degreased again.
directly painting
At the main stage, there is a subtlety: you need to process both from the front side and from the one that faces under the bottom. People approach the issue in different ways. Some completely finish the first side (priming, painting, drying), and only then move on to the second. Others first carry out a primer on all sides, then proceed to painting, again on all sides. Whichever is more convenient for you, decide for yourself. In any case, the untreated side is covered with a film while waiting, so that after that it does not have to be washed again. But it is better to degrease before direct action again.
A fully prepared disc is primed. This is done at least in two layers, but it is better to be generous with 3-4, with breaks between approaches to dry the previous application. When the primer dries completely, you can sand the surface with the finest sandpaper so that it is perfectly smooth. However, this step is not required, many omit it.
The next step- actually painting. The most suitable paint is acrylic. It is smoother, more economical and faster to apply it with an airbrush with an attached compressor, but cans can also be dispensed with. Acrylic is poisonous, so we follow the safety rules:
- the room should be well ventilated, otherwise it is better to do the work on the street, but in the absence of strong wind and rain;
- absence of drafts is a must. In the yard you will have to wait for calm weather or find a quiet corner where the wind does not fly;
- face mask. Ideally, a respirator, but at least do not neglect the mask.
The paint is applied from a spray can from a distance of 35-50 centimeters (different manufacturers have different requirements, so do not forget to look at the instructions). Its layers should also be 2-3. Check the drying time according to the same instructions, but keep in mind: firstly, in dampness and coolness, it is somewhat delayed; secondly, each subsequent layer dries a little longer. Those who want to shorten the wait can remember the building hair dryer.
One more clarification: it is necessary to spray quickly, with confident movements, so that ugly streaks do not form when the hand is in one position for a long time. The final drying may take several days, but certainly not less than one.
If desired, you can also cover the disk with wheel varnish on top. So the paint will be more resistant to abrasion and scratches, and the discs themselves will acquire a beautiful shine.
Do not doubt your abilities, since it is by no means difficult to paint stamped wheels yourself. Proceed with confidence - in the processed form, they will serve you for several more years.
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