a few pics of some alloys i did for my Passat

Well another 2 and a half hours down and all wheels are sanded down and now have the first coat of primer.

the cans weren't exactly clog free so there are a few splatter marks that I'll need to sand out

along with a couple of signs of my impatience and inexperience with spray paint

time to leave to harden for a couple of days, then wet & dry the worst out, then another coat of primer

running total cost still £140.51

Approx time spent - 6 hours

Edited 14 February, 201115 yr by PastyBoy

Starting to take shape Cliff - keep going buddy!

I am really encouraged by how easy it has actually been!

Admittedly these are the "easy" set - and filling and repairing the huge gouges in my current rims is going to be more of a task;

but If you're not a perfectionist, or are but it's you doing the work so cut yourself some slack!, and aren't afraid of a bit of DIY it's been a relatively pain free process!

Are you planning to rub down between the 1st couple of colour coats, as well?

Are you planning to rub down between the 1st couple of colour coats, as well?

To be honest i'm hoping to be able to avoid it.

A rub down of this primer coat with 400 grit wet & dry, then another thin coat of primer, rub down with 600 grit, then a coat of black

See what it looks like then maybe a final rub with 600 before a final coat of black.

To get to the current single primer coat stage has take 75% of the primer, and i have already used some of the black to do my xbox, so i may not have enough black to do 2 coats anyways!

New tins are only about £3 each so it's not the end of the world should i need more - I guess we shall see

it was me. however i was looking out of the passenger side window at the time!

Through choice or necessity?

Through choice or necessity?

Like a moron it was choice!

eyes on the road at all times when these are put on

If you can spring the cash I'd really recommended a light rub down at least after the 1st coat of color.. I never did it until I painted my vents and was amazed at the difference it made... much, much smoother (kinda solid) looking results.

I've also found that you'll get splattering from the spray can for 2 reasons. The 1st is prolonged use with out shakes and the 2nd was not depressing the nozzle fully.. with the metallic silver i used it seemed to throw out more of the fleck if it was fully pressed.

Oh, and you probably already know this, but my Dad once told me that if it starts to look wet, you've used to much paint. Really tricky to judge though as you kinda have to know it's about to look wet before it actually does, lol..

I also found that gently rubbing down with a microfiber cloth between each coat, before you re-key, made keying easier as it removed the primer or paint that hadn't stuck properly.

Just my experience, not saying i'm technically right.

Edited 3 February, 201115 yr by Rob.

If there was still a "Thanks" button i'd be clicking it like mad

Cheers Rob - to be honest i've found my approach varies from visit to visit.

Some times I think i should be concentrating on one wheel at a time, then (as with the primer last night) i decided to try and get all 4 to the same state at the same time.

It's a learning process i guess but your experiences and inputs are much appreciated

And yes the spatters wre from prolonged sprayage! Again a sign of my impatience.

I'm also beginning to wonder if white primer to go under black paint was a mistake!!

Ive done a few sets of wheels now, and some other parts like the grill and ive found if your nt careful it will be really 'orange peel' effect and a bit dull. Think this is due to too much paint and not flatting back each layer. I have a few sets im gonna start when my sandpaper arrives.

All 4 at the same time would be a good idea for the colour coats as you'd be amazed the variation ambient temp and humidity can make on the outcome so 1 at a time, on different days could cause variations between wheels. That said, it'd be hardly noticeable seeing as your using the same paint batch. I'd defiantly try and use each can of paint across all 4 wheels though,. even if it means thinner coats.. at least that way you won't get paint batch variations.

If it were me I'd be prepping a wheel at a time, covering them up in a bin bag or the like, and then once all 4 were ready, colour coating all 4 together.

I was one of those kids that wanted to spray EVERYTHING.. I've done a few bikes, car bits and bobs, cd players, freeview boxes, home phones, mobile phones.. Truth is, I don't really care what it is i'm painting.. lol, i just like personalizing stuff.

Edited 3 February, 201115 yr by Rob.

One thing I am surprised nobody has mentioned (unless I missed it) is make sure the room you are painting in is warm and also warm the wheel before painting it otherwise the paint will 'bloom' with the cold (goes a 'milky' shade).

Cant really offer any advice as never spray painted anything before (well other than a Norman helmet for my son's school project!). Really enjoying this thread, it is something I have thought about doing myself. Looking forward to seeing the wheels progress

If it were me I'd be prepping a wheel at a time, covering them up in a bin bag or the like, and then once all 4 were ready, colour coating all 4 together.

That's pretty much what i did i just go bored of the prep work one evening so primed one wheel well ahead of the others

All will now be sanded smooth and primed again where needed, then let the colouring begin!

One thing I am surprised nobody has mentioned (unless I missed it) is make sure the room you are painting in is warm and also warm the wheel before painting it otherwise the paint will 'bloom' with the cold (goes a 'milky' shade).

Not a chance! Only place i'm aloud to do the work is in the garage which at the moment is probably hovering just around zero degrees.

The spray cans are left in warm water to heat before some vigourous shaking but how the hell do you heat an alloy

Really enjoying this thread, it is something I have thought about doing myself.

I assure you if i can do it anyone can do it!

glad your enjoying it pastyboy, it sure feels good knowing that you've done it yourself (even when it doesn't turn out that great). When my xbox died the first time I sprayed the case before repairing and putting back together....lasted 6 months before it died again!

Like others have said prep and taking your time is the key to the best results but I know what you mean when you want it done quicker :yes:

Good luck, keep us updated

One thing I am surprised nobody has mentioned (unless I missed it) is make sure the room you are painting in is warm and also warm the wheel before painting it otherwise the paint will 'bloom' with the cold (goes a 'milky' shade).

I had this problem when doing my headlight inserts :S All worked out in the end though.

Not a chance! Only place i'm aloud to do the work is in the garage which at the moment is probably hovering just around zero degrees.

The spray cans are left in warm water to heat before some vigourous shaking but how the hell do you heat an alloy

Heat gun, portable heater or a hair dryer as a lest resort, if it is that cold then they will bloom.

If you have absolutely no way of warming them up then wait until a warm(er) day.

.... I never thought to mention temperature, lol... Think it's cuz I always have to spray outside.... so it's always warm!

.... so it's always warm!

Even at the moment? :no:

No, I'm a "fair weather" painter, I mean.. lol. Almost always do it in the warmer months.

lol yeah i would imagine that nothing makes spraying more difficult than sleet falling on the prepared surface!

Getting there now

sanded the primer down using the 400 grit wet & dry

holy crap it's good stuff.

You think the primer is smooth and then wet & dry it and OMG it's like 10 times smoother

I gave it a another light coat with the final third of a can of primer I had left.

Sand that down with the 400 grit and then damp wipe down to clear off the final dust.

Get the black out and get spraying.

It's even more difficult to spray than i remembered on the xbox case.

All i could get was different patchy shades of grey however light coat, let it dry, another light coat, let that dry, light coat, dry thicker coat (getting bored now), let that dry, thicker coat and they are black.

Rotate, spray sides of the spokes, rotate finished off the sides of the spokes and the outer rim.

Leave to dry

I'll definitely need more paint though

I've got about about a third of can of black left and haven't even got anywhere nearer spraying the inside/backs of the rims :no:

The scratches still show through the black which is a little concerning.

Hoping that a final sand down of the black with 600 grit with smooth them out

Ah well it's all a learning process.

Good on you for giving it a go though mate, look forward to the finished results. Will they be on for Combe?

Maybe you can have a go at getting rid of the kerb marks on my Evolo's as they were there when I bought them! I just don't have time at the moment.

Thanks Si

My main reason behind doing it was the sense of satisfaction of foing it myself (and of course it was considerably cheaper!

Should be finished and on ready for Combe

Pictures of the current stage

Defnietely needmore paint to do the insides though!

Edited 9 February, 201115 yr by PastyBoy