How to Paint Wheel Rims
Many automotive enthusiasts paint their wheel rims to make their vehicles stand out from the rest. A thin band of contrasting rim color can add flair to a dark colored wheel. Wheel rims are normally painted while the wheel itself is in the process of being painted, but in some cases, the rim itself can be prepared and painted separately. If the wheels are being painted, the rims should be masked off after the rest of the wheel is dry.
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Things You'll Need
- Lug wrench
- Floor jack
- Jack stands
- Wheel cleaner
- Soap and water
- Soft cloth
- 400-grit sandpaper
- Masking tape
- Newspaper
- Primer
- Wheel paint
Instructions
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1
Park the vehicle on a flat, level surface. Loosen the wheel lugs with the lug wrench, but do not completely remove them. Raise the vehicle with a floor jack, and support the vehicle with jack stands. Remove the wheel lugs and dismount the wheels off of the hub.
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2
Remove all dirt and grime from the wheels by washing them with a mild soap and water solution. Use a non-abrasive wheel cleaner for removing tougher patches of dirt and grime. Rinse and dry the wheels with a soft cloth thoroughly.
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3
Wet-sand the wheel rim with 400-grit sandpaper. Apply masking tape to the inside of the wheel rim, and use a combination of masking tape and newspaper to mask off the wheel. Insert index cards into the lip of the rim to avoid getting paint over-spray on the tires.
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4
Apply three light coats of primer onto the wheel rim. Wait 15 minutes between coats. After the third coat of primer, apply five to 10 coats of wheel paint onto the wheel rim, making sure to wait 15 minutes between each coat.
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5
Wait at least one hour for the paint to completely dry. Remove the newspaper and masking tape from the wheel. Mount the wheels onto the hub and hand-tighten the wheel lugs. Lower the vehicle to the ground and tighten the wheel lugs with the lug wrench.
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References
- Photo Credit wheel_fragment image by Sergey Galushko from Fotolia.com
