Paint those damn wheels already!!!

Newbie here, over from XRU and now messin with this lil 04' taco. I bought this truck as an economical alternative, so it's not feasible for me to dump alot of money into it...but I can't just leave it STOCK now can I?

I know this route is somethin many of you are on the fence about. The chipping, the prepping, the time and work involved etc. I'm hoping I can sway you in the right direction, as this is my second set of wheels and I've learned a lil bit. I'm sure there's similar threads but I'm just doin this for fun...

Prepping and patience is key. Make sure you have a full days time to tackle this one. When sanding, remember the idea is simply to scuff up the surface and to allow the paint to stick, not to actually REMOVE the existing paint. Remove any and all grease/residue on the wheels. Get in between all the cracks and crevices thouroughly.

What you'll need:



Also, a spray bottle and a clean rag for cleaning the wheels up after prep, rusto's gloss black paint for plastic for the center caps (no primer needed but light sanding is recommended) and I used gloss black, high temp engine enamel to touch up the drums. And most importantly, a beer to calm the nerves and something to do while you wait for the paint to dry. Change your spark plugs, wax your hood etc etc. The WORST thing you can do, is be impatient and move to the next step before it's time.

Now for my dirty little secret. Get yourself some foam sponge type brushes, typically used for applying laquer to wood. Chipping is basically inevitable and I've found that spraying a little paint on one of the brushes and lightly dabbing the chip works wonders and you won't be able to see where it's been touched up.

ready to begin!



When priming, 2 thin coats is plenty. You're just giving something for the paint to stick to, no need to go overboard.



Of course it's best to paint in an enclosed area but if your garage is like mine (packed full of toys) you may not have the room. Also, sunlight works wonders visually and helps cut down drying time.

When you begin the initial paint process, use thin coats while allowing the paint to dry in between applications. This will insure consistent thickness and enable you to see the areas that may need more paint. Start from the inside of the wheel out, spraying consistently in the same back and forth (left to right) motion, for a clean and consistent coat. Take notice of where you begin and be sure to step around the wheel as you paint, don't just stand in one spot and paint the entire wheel.

First coat:



Second coat:



Fourth and final coat, after clear:



If you compare the picture from the second coat to the final coat, you can see how much more clear my reflection is in the paint and how well the shine pops in the sun. Be absolutely 100% certain the wheels are COMPLETELY dry before adding clear, or the paint will spiderweb.

Got er' done!!





I think they turned out pretty damn good and all in all it's really very easy. Hopefully I've inspired atleast one of you to give it a go. I'll take some better pics once the sun pops back up again.

 

Nice job, They look great

 

LOL...I just realized the picture of the final coat is the same as the above picture. Tried to edit it but couldn't. Here's the correct photo of the final product.



Also, I found out that the previous owner was a dummy. As evident by his fingerprints left burned into the brake drum when he touched it while it must've been super hot.

 

Sweet right up man. wheels look good

 

Looks good! might give this a go on my new '12 taco!

 

DO IT! it's actually pretty fun and a great (even if temporary) alternative to throwin down a bunch of cash on wheels. Save that money for POWER!

 

im torn between flat black and gloss black on my stock wheels


also i have done vehicle painting before, and the key thing (along with good prep) is please for the love of god go easy on your first coat. You can add coats later but if you lay on the first real heavy its going to be a pain to fix or look like crap. so for the first coat just barely cover the surface.

 

Does it chip off with time from rocks and what not? or has it staid pretty solid?

 

Great idea with the playing cards! Looks good man. I keep wanting to do mine but every time I get close to starting, seems like all hell breaks loose in life.

 

Damn nice job.