I picked up a set of chrome smoothies from Rob Gilbert (on the HAMB) that I want to put on my truck. I want to keep the baby moon caps but paint the wheels black. The chrome isn't in perfect condition; its a little rusty here and there. What's the best way to paint them glossy black using rattlecans so it'll adhere well? I'm thinking I'll just scuff them up REAL good and then lay down some primer and then paint, and then maybe some clear for protection. Any advice on what type/brand primer, paint, and clear to use?
Blasting is the only way to go other than having the plating stripped at a shop and thats $$. Most of the chrome is so poorly done it comes off easily by blasting. Wear protective clothing and face shield if you do it. That freakin chrome is sharp when it lifts. armadillo
buy a blaster and do it yourself and still have a blaster left over after your done....they aint that expensive...
You might check into having the chrome baked off at an automotive machine shop that uses an oven to bake the crud out of heads and blocks. A friend of mine had a set done that way and they came out pretty well. If I'm not mistaken they shot blasted them for him too.
As long as the wheels aren't corroded under the chrome, scuffing and painting would be fine, using the procedures you mentioned. If you're talking spray cans, Duplicolor is some of the best. Just don't mix and match brands if you can help it.
Acid etch primer would help with adhesion. Also heard that you can dilute hydrochloric acid, or muriatic acid solution before paint to dissolve the top most surface of chrome-- knock the shine off. A personal opinion is that sandblasting produces weird results-- I don't really like it that much. It's fine if you are doing it yourself, but if you're paying $20 per wheel, MO is that you'll be a little dissapointed.
I've heard that once you've got the shine off, paint adhesion is much better? Is acid etch primer available at a local hardware store?
sandblast, eching primer, primer, paint...like everyone else said, I just wanted to make sure you read it again...And like said before that chrome is FREAKIN SHARP!!!
It all depends on what kinda of car you want people to see. A rattle car paint job looks good for most, but to the true diehards who love it. It's the easy way out. Do you want to be a hack the rest of your life? I don't think so, otherwise you wouldn't be asking. Do it right the first time!
Looking for a temporary solution isn't necessarily being a "hack". I'm pretty sure that you can get an unpainted 15" smoothie for close to $60-70, so it's fair to say that this guy is looking for a low-cost way paint the ones he already has. You can get acid-etch primers in spray cans at automotive paint supply stores. It's not cheap- will probably work out to be about the same as having the wheels sandblasted.
I have done the same thing. I used scothcbrite and scuffed them up good, cleaned them then used good, like 14 dollar a can good, self etching grey primer, primed them them wet sanded them with I think four hundred, then used krylon red paint, that was a year ago. They are on another car now but still look great. And if you have to repaint in a few years that is fine. Obviously if you have the money to let go you can blast and powder coat but don't feel you need to, Joe
Hey thanks a lot for the advice guys. I'll give some of these ideas a try today! I also read something about just grinding through the chrome. I think the only way to do it (if its even acceptable) is to put the wheel on the rear axle, let it spin while I carefully work the grinder in there? Extremely hokey
What makes the m***es think paint won't stick to chrome? Ever get any paint you didn't want on some chrome and try to get it off? As long as it's clean (try to reduce the sheen with SOS pads), spray them with lacquer (Duplicolor truck/ van/ SUV), screw primer, you don't need it.
Okay so today I dived right in and painted them rattle can glossy black. Here's basically what I did: - Spent the morning prepping the wheels. This included sanding any and all of the chrome's shininess off. First the emery cloth, then the finer sandpaper. Some rusty spots called for the wirebrush; no problem. - I went over to the hardware store and bought some XIM #400 white primer as suggested by HRP and someone else in another thread. It came in a rattlecan and cost twice as much as a regular brand. - Also picked up a can of Rustoleum glossy black protective enamel and Rustoleum crystal clear enamel. - I mounted each wheel one after another on the rear axle, then let the engine idle in first gear (safely jacked up of course), and proceeded to lay down some paint on the spinning wheels. - A couple misty coats of XIM primer, followed by several coats of Rustoleum black, followed by one coat of Rustoleum clear seemed to do the trick. Tomorrow we'll see how well its drying and whether I did good today or wasted a bunch of time (and money). So far so good though! I'll post some pics in a bit.
Yeah I actually decided to go with it after reading your input! Thanks HRP. Anyways, here's some pics of today's escapade. Unfortunately, I forgot to take pics of the wheels after I scuffed off the chrome shininess, but if you can think of brushed aluminum, that's basically what they looked like. The wheels to begin with: Good stuff: All primered up: My paint station. It wasn't spinning as fast as it looks! Not bad, good enough for me: Sitting to dry overnight: What do you guys think?
This morning I checked out the paint. Seems to be drying very slowly, but isn't that a characteristic of enamel paint?
Just an update. Now that it has been a couple week since I sprayed the wheels, the paint is really curing well. I can't dig my fingernail in it anymore, and its drying up pretty hard. I think the XIM primer was definitely the key. That stuff is great!
Get some Bulldog Adhesion Promoter, comes in a spray can, is designed for things like this. I have personally painted two complete sets of wheels using this product and the results were outstanding. Clean the surface thoroughly, spray the Bulldog according to the directions on the can and "Bob's yer Uncle", ready for paint. Four years later, wheels still look great! Got this tip from Scott at Hot Rad Haven.
Its been almost a couple of months since I painted these wheels, and the paint did harden up fairly well, but still not as much as I'd like. I'm just afraid that when I put them on the truck and are driving around that the stones and stuff that get kicked up will chip the paint. I can still make a mark with my fingernail if I push hard enough... maybe I'm just being a *****?
yeah, i'm thinkin' what ply 49 said i'd try to leave them out in the sun for awhile if they're not on yet,if they are, they should cook themselves.oh and cut your fingernails,lol they do look good.
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