Painting wheels

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We bought some TJ Moab wheels for my teenage sons Liberty.

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We had the tires removed in order to prep the wheels for paint.

Overall they are in good shape but do have some chips in a few places.

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The question of the day is - do we strip the wheels of the old finish completely (using aircraft stripper) or just clean really good and scuff up the finish?


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[Charlesthe2nd]

If they are the same style as the stock Liberty rims, then I'd say that you need to strip the coating off them. That coating can bubble and crack over time.

I had my stock rims sand blasted and powder coated, great way to re-purpose them instead of tossing them for new ones. Only cost $40 per wheel. Though, now I wish I had bought new rims with a better backspacing.

 

[HoosierJeeper]

Nice Moabs!

Honestly, unless you really hate the color, I'd leave them. Shy of taking them to a body shop, nothing that comes out of a spray can will last as long as the OEM finish and they'll look ratty quick. I touched my stock wheels up with some Duplicolor spray cans (paint and clear coat, scuffed before and then wet sanded between each coat), and they looked great for a few months and then started flaking again. Next I Plasti-dipped them and it looked good until you pressure washed them. Too much work to baby them like that, so I sold them and got my Moabs.

My personal experience. Maybe someone out there has mastered it.

 

[tommudd]

Unless you really hate the color leave them the way they are.
If not I painted my old set of Moabs ( due to a lot of rock rash on 3 of them ) , just lightly sanded ad painted them, last over 4 years when I sold them, ( didn't want to sell but made 500 on them )

 

[SourKraut]

Charlesthe2nd, how has the powder coat held up over time/use? I've been considering doing this on my rig eventually.

 

[Charlesthe2nd]

Charlesthe2nd, how has the powder coat held up over time/use? I've been considering doing this on my rig eventually.

Are you a sour German, or just have an insatiable love sauerkraut? I'm more of a kimchi guy, but I do enjoy a good sauerkraut. :happy175::happy175:

The powder coating has been on there for about 5 years and it's held up great. Minus some rock rash, they still look really good. The only thing I regret is not getting a smooth finish, similar to the ARB powder coating. I opted for a matte finish to match my rear bumper and sliders. It tmakes cleaning them a bit more difficult and when they're dusty or salty it makes them greyish.

 

[SourKraut]

Are you a sour German, or just have an insatiable love sauerkraut?


Some might use the term "ornery" to describe me and I am of German descent, so yes you nailed it there. Not a huge fan of actual sour ***** although a good reuben is hard to beat sometimes!

Thanks for the wheel info.

 

[u2slow]

The question of the day is - do we strip the wheels of the old finish completely (using aircraft stripper) or just clean really good and scuff up the finish?

I did some hand-sanding, especially the corroded/chipped/peeling areas.... 2-coats dark graphite wheel paint, 3 coats clear. Its held up for 3-4 years now... still looks good. (Basic 16" KJ alums, BTW.)

 

[tjkj2002]

If you want the longest lasting coating for alloy wheels you will want to get them blasted with a softer material,not sand,so you end up with a smooth surface not the rough one you normally see with regular sand blasting.

Then find a local place that does anodizing,might cost $100 per wheel but the typeIII coating(black only mainly) is very tough and will last.

 

[jeeptorino68]

Previous topic
http://www.jeepkj.com/forum/f230/painting-wheels-50815/

Sanded the bad spots, used self etching primer. And let the paint dry well in the sun. Multiple coats