Vintage Auto Parts: Customizing And Painting Your Wheel Rims

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