PrimeTiime

Finally had a nice day outside (55 degrees) so finally got to painting my rims.

1. Cleaned Rims
2. Sanded Rims
3. Cleaned Rims Again
4. 5 Coats of Primer (All Light coats except last 2)
5. 3 Coats of DupliColor Black Wheel Paint
6. 3 Coats of DupliColor Clear Coat Wheel Paint

Did not paint center caps or the lugs as my car is silver so It looks good with the silver/chrome in the center imo. I used playing cards to block off overspray getting on the tires from the rim as I did not take them apart before painting.

Only thing I didn't do is paint the very back of the rim area (as can be seen in the close-up) but with all the brake dust that gets on that area its kind of pointless anyway and its barely visable.

The pics are from an iPhone so they aren't the best they look even better in person. Love the final outcome.

SharksBreath

iTrader: (33)

i would not have chose black, but it looks like you did a good job on them (besides not doing the barrels)

keep up the good work!

rossv1

Black wouldn't have been my choice either but it looks like a quality job

1black_seven

iTrader: (2)

Nice clean job!

I used plasti dipped on mine. The thought of making something permanent givese the willies.

PrimeTiime

I had plasti-dipped a previous car's rims and was not happy with the matte look. To my understanding since then they have come out with a glossifier for it to make it shiny but I have always had black rims so I went with the permanent choice with the real paint.

anx1300c

iTrader: (2)

You're brave painting anything at 55 degrees; I'd hold out for closer to 70. They look good though.

IamaTL

why didnt you paint the whole wheel?

PrimeTiime

Never have painted the barrel of the wheel. It cant be seen unless you are staring at the wheel close up and even then its barely visable. I just don't see the point especially when it will get dirty the second I drive it and won't be able to clean that area unless I take the rims/tires off every time and that ain't happening lol.

Agreed but I been holding off for weeks and the first break of sunshine and decent weather I went for it lol.

GKinColo08TL

Nice job...painted mine gun metal (charcoal honda duplicolor) a few weeks ago. Similar steps to yours, took me about 6 hours to sand and clean and prep for panting.

PrimeTiime

I started at 10am this morning and finished literally about 15 minutes before I made this threat so probably about 6 hours for the whole job for me. 20 minute in between each coat feels like an eternity lol.

CLtotheTL32

iTrader: (3)

I don't think stock wheels should be touched but you did a good job

GKinColo08TL

I hear you...duplicolor said 10 mins - 1 hour between coats, then clear said if you wait more than an hour you have to wait a week.

PrimeTiime

What color would look good for the brake calipers with the black/silver look?

I don't really want to paint them black or silver as that would be overkill and they would kinda get lost. I want something bright. Teal? Red? Lime Green? (Kidding about the lime green)

asdfpic

looks good

IamaTL

get some caliper covers and paint those

https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-2004-2008-93/rdx-caliper-covers-863935/

LockDots

Dammit OP I'm trying to hold off from painting my wheels and you have to go and motivate me now? Shame on you!

Came out very nice by the way.

story.customz

Looks good OP! center caps look a bit out of place though, what if you painted them black and then did the stamped part silver?

Project 04TL

they dont look too bad .. but i do agree they would look alot better with a black cap and silver A

TWiSDiT

iTrader: (4)

area looks local to me, are you montgomery county?

if so, hope to see you on the roads one day!

nttstt444

iTrader: (1)

You did a nice job, I wish I had the guts to paint mine.

THEReeM718

iTrader: (2)

Nice job. Now paint the center caps.

story.customz

Just to give you an idea OP. Plasti dip + salty roads = super shitty looking rims btw haha

LockDots

^^^Looks like the picture was taken after the car was sitting for a bit (rusted rotors). Spray them with water and it should all fall off fairly easily getting you back to the original plast-dip look. I do agree however, that paint looks better than plasti-dip on wheels.

Steven Bell

iTrader: (2)

PT, your wheels look great. Who cares what anyone else says or thinks......


For your calipers, you might consider keeping a theme color. That would be something you'll carry throughout the car or a color that's already ON the car (like red, from the tail lights).

Mine are red, love them!

DFLH100

iTrader: (1)

nice job op. what grit sand u use for taking off the stock paint? you did it by hand?

LockDots

Having done this before myself on my former car's wheels he probably didn't go down to the metal but just 'roughed up' the paint to let the primer adhere to it better. I'm basing this on him having said that he did it quickly while he had the chance to. I went down to the metal on my old wheels and let me tell you....it took a HELL of a lot of work.

While we wait for the OP to confirm this and tell us what grit he used, you can go with 400-800 to get it ready for primer.

GeeCastle

Diggin the glossy finish I plastidipped mine about a year ago.

PrimeTiime

Dude that's crazy yeah im in the Germantown area near Seneca Valley High School. You?

Exactly I roughed up the paint just enough to make sure the primer stuck to it. I used 480 grit sandpaper.

TWiSDiT

iTrader: (4)

haha i knew it! nice nice
yeah im pretty close by. Im actually around Rockville Town Center/Square if you drive down 355 past Montgomery College, you will see my car at work in one of those white townhouse looking buildings across Giant

TotalTL

thats clean as hell, nice job

UA6

Nice work man.

daciss

I have the exact same rims and thinking about doing the same thing with mine!! They look good! Im planning on using plati dip but should get the same results.

dynodonkey

black on silver ftw

ebelp

Looks like you have steelies on your car now, yikes. I prefer the stock wheels silver or a light shade of gunmetal.

curassm

Next time paint them white. White and silver combo u ll like it. Trust me op