Its taken weeks and was only really possible as i had two spare wheels..
You will need :
Holts Chrome/Aluminium Spray , Holts Rover Gunmetal Grey , Holts Clear Lacquer, Holts White Primer. They are about £3.50 each from a car accesory shop, not Hellfrauds where they are £5 each !!
I used 2 Chrome , 3 1/2 Gunmetal , 3 Primers and 3 Lacquer
First, get your wheel, Take out every allen bolt (if they are IMITATION split rims) , if they are genuine split rims, then leave them well alone and seek professional advice. Check the scuffs and scrapes, if they are too bad it may have to go away to be refurbed....i was lucky , just a bit of curb damage to mine.
Dad owns a marina, so i went down there and got some two pack marine filler (hard as rock and waterproof). I then sanded the wheels down taking the inevitable sharp edges off. Next mixed the filler and gently filled the scrapes and nicks (be careful not to get anyone the tyres). Leave to dry at least overnight....
Next flat it down with wet and dry - start with 240 then 400, finally 1000. Dry the wheel off and check for any imperfections or bits you have missed . If there are any (and there will be) fill these and leave overnight again. Repeat above until you are happy. Getting the curve of the wheel is hard but possible.
Once you are satisfied that all is well, you need to mask off the tyre and the valve, Gently tuck the masking tape under the rim between tyre and metal , i used a roll of tissue paper to mask off the whole tyre rather than use all the masking tape.
Now you will need some white primer (not grey) white allows the silver you are going to put on the rim to shine better. Prime the whole wheel. Once dried ,flat with 1000 wet and dry and repeat. When you have finished this wipe it with a tack-rag to take off any dust.
Ok, now stand the wheel upright on a workbench and now spray the rim, nice circular motions, being careful not to get any runs.....couple of coats should do it. Leave to dry overnight. Next you need to mask off the rim, i had an edge to follow as mine are imitation split rims. Put the tape on just firmly enough to stick, not too hard or it will pull the silver off when you remove it.
Spray the gunmetal grey on the face, nice side to side motions about 6 inches away, when you have a nice coat on it, turn the wheel 45 degrees and repeat. Watch for runs, if you see any forming, put the wheel flat and hopefully they will just spread out. When dry (overnight) flat with 1000 wet and dry and repeat.
The lacquer I used reckoned to be applied 1/2 hour after the final coat, so i did , you will need to unmask the rim ( watch the silver paint) but leave the tyre masked still. Spray the whole wheel with lacquer using the same technique as for the paint. The secret i found is not to be afraid of the paint or lacquer , if you are you will end up with a 'dusty' matt finish.
Leave for three days then take off tissue and tape from tyre and valve, and refit allen bolts (if needed). I then polished them with 'Harly Wax' which gives them that 'still wet' look in the picture. Put them back on he car and your're done !!
) ....perhaps thats a job for the future ....
