Powder Coat or Wet Spray?

[rajinder_1]

Hi Guys,
My rims on the SL are looking a bit tired, thinking of getting them refurbed.

im in two minds if i should get them powdercoated of sprayed?

the SL is designo so has a sterling silver finish which i believe is sprayed rather than powdercoat, although i wqs told that i may be able to get somthng similar in powdercoat.

any advice welcome....

i think stats probably knows having owned a sl and in the refurb

thanks

 

[NICKYB]

Would a powdercoat not look a little thick?
may take away from the lines / sharpness of an alloy wheel.

polish / spray would look much better.

 

[rajinder_1]

i forgot to mention the wheel has already been partly refurbed before i got it so it no longer has the diamond cut rim and has been sprayed. the original split rim had a polished rim and couldoured centre.

i have had polished rims before and dont want the headache of poloishing constantly and keeping the rim clean to avoid it pitting and going a different coulour so will probably get the whole rim done in same colour.

i know that some will say that i shoud keep it as it was supposed to be but keeping a polished rim clean is hard work and i dont want to be in the same boat in a few years time with the rim looking worn

 

[NICKYB]

Another option is to get them dipped - you could have them any colour even carbon effect (as an example)....I have seen this done just not sure where they actualy do it in the UK.

 

[LTD]

I've looked into this recently for my rims.

I've decided to opt for a face only refurb (just deflation of the tyres and work on the visible areas) for now as it extremely cost effective. £140 for 4 against nearly £300 for the full bhuna.

This will be painted and laquered.

I'm not too confident about the treatments used in powder coating with alloy wheels so it ain't happening to mine.

It's due in next week so I'll take some piccies

 

[rajinder_1]

will look at prices for wet spray, would i be better getting them shot blasted first or just get them sanded?

 

[Will]

With wheel refurbishment, to a degree you get what you pay for.

Ideally - stripped to bare metal and refinished inside/out will give the best/most durable finish.

Powder coat is a very tough and durable finish, but it lacks the ultimate quality of finish of a proper wet paint. Ie, it won't have such a fine finish or depth of shine - slightly thick and a very small amount of 'orange peel' look to it.

You can have either finish for the whole wheel face, or with the lips diamond cut and then the whole wheel laquered as well.

Or you could have a painted wheel centre and bare metal polished lips etc.

Many possibilities - depends on what you want really, and the type of use the car gets.

For a daily drive car, powder coat for the whole wheel is a practical choice. For a garaged/good weather car, diamond cut or polished lips may be a suitable option etc.

Will

 

[moonloops]

Doesn't powder-coating (the heat they use) weaken alloy wheels??

 

[Will]

Doesn't powder-coating (the heat they use) weaken alloy wheels??

Possible in theory I guess, however there's tens (if not hundreds) of thousands of powder coated alloy wheels out there so it can't be a big problem.

There's enough OE finished wheels (BMW, Mercedes etc) cracking without powder coat to be of greater concern first though...

Will

 

[marty359]

Brand new wheel in sterling silver

Old wheel powdercoated(pic did'nt focus very wel)

 

[Lugy]

Doesn't powder-coating (the heat they use) weaken alloy wheels??

Think about what happens when you brake really hard and where the heat goes!

I've melted paint on alloys before, fair enough the discs were orange but hey!

When we wet paint at work, we use the same heat as powdercoating. Personally I'd have wheels wet painted. It's just better.

 

[The Pan Man]

I have had two sets stripped wet painted ETC at £250.00 per set and both sets had to go back to be redone and still results were average to say the least. This was done at one of the largest Alloy Wheel Specialists locally. When I get another set done I will go for powder coat. HEAT? Nearly all new motorcycles have powder coated wheels, can't be much of a problem other wise OEM's would not use it.

 

[npuk]

Powder coating offers a more durable finish than wet painting.

 

[Will]

I have had two sets stripped wet painted ETC at £250.00 per set and both sets had to go back to be redone and still results were average to say the least. This was done at one of the largest Alloy Wheel Specialists locally. When I get another set done I will go for powder coat.

In fairness though - your results will only be as good as the person who is doing the work.

Wet paint produces a superior finish to powder coat, but powder coat is a bit more durable.

What was wrong with the wheels you had done? Poor preparation, orange peel etc?

Not the paint's fault

Will

 

[The Pan Man]

Hi Will Yes I do realise that and what was wrong:: Poor preparation, orange peel etc?
Thats is spot on, fair enough they redid both sets but overall were still very poor. I have since seen some work by a Coventry firm and was very impressed with what I saw. So I will try them next time.

 

[rajinder_1]

looks like i will get them stripped, shot blasted and then sprayed, i use the car most days and its not garaged.

So i will not go for the polished diamond cut edge as i have a feeling this will prove more hassle to keep clean...

 

[rajinder_1]

another question, i have 2 piece split rims, should i break them down or just leave them as 1?

if i were to break them down is there any procedure i should follow to dissmantle and put back together???

thanks

 

[Will]

Basically, polished or diamond cut lips can only be lacquered - you can't use an etch primer like you would normally when painting bare aluminium. Hence you don't get very good adhesion or durability.

One stone chip or scratch will allow moisture/air to reach the bare metal, then they'll start to oxidise (turn white) and peel.

It's a nice looking finish (diamond cut) and I have it on my CLK55 (garaged/good weather use) but for a daily car not the most practical option.

Will

 

[rajinder_1]

Hi Will Yes I do realise that and what was wrong:: Poor preparation, orange peel etc?
Thats is spot on, fair enough they redid both sets but overall were still very poor. I have since seen some work by a Coventry firm and was very impressed with what I saw. So I will try them next time.

hi Pan Man,

who is the firm in coventry im actually from Cov so would be great to g o and see what they are offering

thanks

 

[stats007]

Powder coating offers a more durable finish than wet painting.

Not really. A wet lacquer is just as durable as one applied in powder form. No finish is going to protect from wheel scuffs - and polyester powder chips in lumps.

A wet finish should be cured at around 60 degrees - if you're using the same heat as powder coating something is wrong.