| Why scour vintage auto salvage yards for | | | | Now that you have passed the two steps of |
| classic car rims with which to enhance your | | | | purchasing your paint product as well as |
| classic motor vehicle. Why not paint your own | | | | sanding and preparing your rims you are now |
| tire rims? This used to be the guise of only | | | | off to the races - or on the way for |
| the professionals. Now as an amateur you can | | | | preparation for your next classic auto meet. |
| accomplish a professionally appearing job. | | | | It is most essential that the surfaces are |
| | | | clear of any residual sanding dust. This step |
| First things first you will need paint with | | | | is often glossed over. Its good enough is the |
| which to paint your own rims. Duplicator is | | | | standard line. Down the road you may find |
| the first choice. Duplicator will offer you a | | | | that paint will "flake" off your carefully |
| full range of painting colors to match your | | | | laid project of wheel customization. Be more |
| style whether it comes in the ranges of | | | | than perfectly sure that the surface is |
| classic silver, white or gunmetal. | | | | totally clean of sanding dust. Clean that |
| | | | wheel one more time just to be sure. |
| Choose your color first. Of course you may | | | | |
| have already purchased paint. Alternatively | | | | My rims are masked with newspaper and |
| you may be lucky enough to find your color | | | | standard auto body shop masking tape. |
| factory prepared - in which case the work is | | | | Obviously you do not want to turn your tires |
| done already for you. As well the ever | | | | into the very colors that you are painting |
| important cost factor may be less. | | | | your rims with. You would not want white or |
| | | | classic silver colors sprayed onto your |
| Many vintage vehicles will empty the pockets | | | | tires. It is the experience of many |
| of a succession of owners before being | | | | professional Autobody paint shops that spray |
| completed as a final project. It is often | | | | from other auto painting jobs can |
| quoted that many vintage vehicles will go | | | | accidentally make its way over amazing |
| through a succession of an average of 3 avid | | | | distances. In addition ensure that the lip |
| classic auto enthusiasts before completion. | | | | has been masked off well. Carefully apply |
| | | | your masking tape on the "lip" areas to |
| The initial step in the process is to sand | | | | protect this from being painted or |
| down your rims giving the surface a rough | | | | overpainted as well. Of course it never hurts |
| texture. This roughing of the metal surface | | | | to initially pump a little air into the mask |
| of the tire rims is done in order that the | | | | to clear out any older residual paint traces |
| paint has something solid and substantial to | | | | as well, from previous jobs. |
| adhere and stick to firmly. It's your choice | | | | |
| about how much metal you wish to remove and | | | | After the time period spent to ensure that |
| abrade which of course depends on the | | | | the rims are dry, and of course you have |
| condition of the rims, in terms of the | | | | masked off those areas that you do not want |
| quality of the original metal, its thickness | | | | overpainted or sprayed you are ready for the |
| and depth, and as well of course the current | | | | major step. Put some newspapers on the |
| condition and quality of the metal of your | | | | ground, pavement or concrete in your shop. |
| auto rims. As a working material you can | | | | Place those rims, one at a time, on top of |
| choose 300 grit sandpaper. Of course it all | | | | the newspaper. The newspaper covering will |
| comes down to personal preference and | | | | ensure that those surfaces will remain free |
| expertise which in many cases goes back to | | | | of markings and paint damage/ |
| our very training and mentors in our | | | | |
| individual craft. Generally as long as the | | | | You can now apply the first of perhaps |
| metal rims have had no major damage along | | | | several coats of paint. It all depends on |
| their lifetimes and you sand evenly, the | | | | your preferred final appearance and levels of |
| surface should be more than adequate for the | | | | quality desired. You can let the paint dry |
| paint to adhere to properly. | | | | well and apply the next coat of paint as |
| | | | desired. |