RexNuts Subaru Forums

Hey guys, painted my wheels AGAIN the other day so thought I'd write up a DIY on christmas eve

Things you need:

600g TOTAL of a colour of your choice
600 or 800 Grit Wet N' Dry Sandpaper
Newspaper
Masking Tape
Wax N' Grease Remover (NOT DEGREASER, I used "Prep wash")
Paper Towels

Things you should have and need:
Something to wash your rims
Something to remove your wheel

Firstly, this is what my rim USED to look like when I bought the car


Alright, well first thing is first

Step One:
You should remove your wheel, wash it and use the paper towels to dry it.
Next set it down on some newspaper (unless you want the ground to be painted as well), and start sanding
Next, keep sanding, make sure this is done properly (this part is prolly as, if not more important than painting itself so make sure you do it properly)
Now use the prepwash on it and dry it up with some paper towels then
Mask off your tyre with masking tape (Unless you plan on painting your tyre as well).

Step Two:
Time to start painting
You want one light coat of primer, and one wet coat. Keep your distance from spray or you'll get little blobs of paint
Then you want 2 light coats of the paint and 1 wet coat
Let it dry for about 10 - 20 minutes between each coat
NOW you CAN apply a clear coat if you want, but I STRONGLY RECOMMEND you don't

Alright, now you should be excited by how awesome it looks. Wait about 30 mins and LIGHTLY put your wheel back on so you can move onto the next wheel and repeat the process. I'd personally wait a day before taking it out to drive (AND REMEMBER TO RE-TIGHTEN YOUR WHEEL NUTS BEFORE YOU DRIVE)

White:



Black (Current):

Love the black on white! Just needs lowering

I like

Why do you recommend no clear? Discolouration?

Yes why

Yeah, a cheap clear gives the colour a yellow tinge which to me, looks unattractive (on white paint anyway)

and its really evident in the Sun

What colour etch primer did you use ??

Autobarn sells a clear coat which is non-yellowing, but it doesnt create a very smooth layer.

I got my HVLP sprayer for xmas today, so now i can use proper 2 pack clear on all my projects.

White primer, I haven't used the grey one so I have nothing to say about the comparision between the two



My mate who works at autobarn Banks told me "there is no good premade clear" (but thats just opinion)
I WANT A SPRAY GUN! but atm, I honestly can't complain about the job I did, we'll see a month down the track how it goes
I kinda forgot to sand the centre area of the 1st rim I did... oops

Make sure you don't drop any fuel on the rear drivers wheel when filling your car up like I did cause I had paint running off the rim like it was water .. Gold water

Also make sure you don't use any mag wheel cleaner on them or silicone spray as it will dissolve the paint

Will keep that knowledge in the noggin

man i need to get off my ass and finish painting them, im sitting on 2 black and 2 white rims atm =="

everywhere has sold out of the paint i need!! GRRR... apparantly suppliers wont open again until 4/1 lol...