Quality two tone paint job on steel rims

rokemester · Post by **rokemester** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 2:04 pm

I have some pretty nasty looking stock rims that I would like to restore. Any tips on how to do a quality job? Are there masks you can purchase or put together. I'm an amateur when it comes to auto paint, so this will be a challenge. Maybe the best bet is to turn them over to a pro, but I"m guessing it won't be cheap.

rokemester · Post by **rokemester** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 3:28 pm

I found some useful information on a previous post. If anyone has new ideas I'm all ears. Thanks!

Post by **jmartini** » Tue Jun 09, 2009 2:23 am

I had mine bead blasted and then powder coated black completely, then on the outer rim a light sanding and then painted to the factory color so that they are the two tone stock color. They look great and with the powder coating they should last a long time.

rokemester · Post by **rokemester** » Wed Jun 10, 2009 3:13 pm

Thanks John. Yes based on everything I've seen I think powdercoating the rims is the best way to go. I have identified a media blaster in my neck of the woods and another guy that will powder coat for $25/wheel which didn't seem too bad to me.

Did you use the exact stock white, which tends to be a bit on the bluish side? My spare is still in pretty good shape and is two tone with the blue cream color.

Mike

Post by **jmartini** » Wed Jun 10, 2009 3:41 pm

It is actually a very light shade of blue, and you are right it can look almost white but it is the stock color for the rims. $25.00 per rim is a good price on the powder coating! The beauty of the powder coating is that it will last a long time!

rokemester · Post by **rokemester** » Thu Jun 11, 2009 7:14 am

When you powder coated your wheels did you specify the VW black, or just go with a gloss black that the powder coater specd?

Post by **jmartini** » Thu Jun 11, 2009 4:53 pm

I can't really remember anymore, I think I compared the Black to the powder coat (gloss or satin) and picked the closest match.

rokemester · Post by **rokemester** » Mon Jun 29, 2009 6:47 pm

Well the rims turned out OK. The media blasting left a pretty rough finish for the black powder coating. Here is the method I used to paint the interior rims with L87 Pearl.

rokemester · Post by **rokemester** » Mon Jun 29, 2009 7:02 pm

The finishing steps...

Post by **jmartini** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 2:38 am

Beautiful!

Ferrety76 · Post by **Ferrety76** » Mon Aug 06, 2012 10:34 pm

I purchased a 1966 a couple of months ago. The wheels do not have clips. How do one install the hubcaps? The wheels have the VW logo and also say 4J x 15. I would like to install hubcaps on my new beetle and I do not really know how to install them with no clips. Help please.. thank you. And by the way rokemester, your wheels came out very nice!