Wheels
I decided to refurbish my old wheels and at the same time change the colour of them to make them fit in with the cars design a lot better.
I decided other people may want to do this .. So I made a step by step guide.. And here it is :)
Contents
Step 1 – Old wheels
My old wheels were silver and had chips out of them.. 1st job is to take them off the car. It’s most handy if you have another set you can put on. As really you need a weekend per wheel to let them dry hard enough.
Step 2 – Masking up
1st let the tyre down. You could have them removed but I found it less hassle and just as easy to keep them on. Then place masking tape around the edges.. Then tape a cloth or newspaper around the bulk of the tyre…
Then begin to rub down the paint on the alloy. Using 800 wet and dry. Rub out all the scrapes and marks you can find. And remove all the paint from all the surfaces.
If you have any large scrapes on the edges …Buy some alloy based filler. It is made from alloy flakes and fills the holes and bonds like new.. Follow the instructions on the tin and sand it down all smooth after.
Step 3 – Primer
The next step is to primer the wheels ready for the new paint. I used yellow primer filler as it was a good base colour for the new gold.. And it filled any pin holes left in the alloy.
Apply the primer in thin layers. And slowly build up until you have a good covering…about 5 coats.
Step 4 – Getting ready for top coat
Once the primer has gone hard. (Overnight is best) using wet and dry 1000 grit.. Rub down the entire wheel until you get a glass like finish… if you can feel any of the bumps.. The paint will show them.. You may rub down to the metal again.. If so do another layer of primer and rub down again.
Step 5 – Top coat
Once you are happy with the primer .. And the wheel has had time to go hard. Its time for the top coat.
Apply this in the same way as the primer. Layer after layer. Allowing each one to go hard. About 5 layers
Step 6 – Clear coat
In order to make the wheels hard. It is important to do a clear coat on top.. Allow the gold to dry for a day or so and then apply the clear coat in the same way. About 5 layers
Step 7 – Drying
Leave the wheels to dry.. For a day and a night.. this is real important to make sure they are rock hard for fitment.
Step 8 – Fitting
Once they are hard.. Fit back on to the car..
