Painting the wheels?

[COP TZR]

oh and my other question.  Does the current finish need to be bead blasted, or can the painter just sand the finish, etch prime and then spray the paint?

I guess ducpainter needs to chime in.

[Ghettogarage]

Yes but powder coating holds up to rocks and is very chip resistant paint is not.

[ducpainter]

Yes but powder coating holds up to rocks and is very chip resistant paint is not.

I have to chime in on this.

Powder is no more chip resistant than paint.

The advantage to powder is simply that once it cools it's done and doesn't require the additional time to fully cure.

There are plusses and minuses to each system.

[COP TZR]

I have to chime in on this.

Powder is no more chip resistant than paint.

The advantage to powder is simply that once it cools it's done and doesn't require the additional time to fully cure.

There are plusses and minuses to each system.

I know there are probably alot of variables to this question, but what's an approximate amount of time for paint to fully cure?

  I dropped my wheels off today to the paint shop.  They are getting walnut shell blasted then etch primed and prepped for 3 coats of a base coat with flex agent and then 3 coats of clear. Does this sound right? I'm going to let them sit in my basement for the remainder of the winter (4 weeks) then go reassemble with rotors and mount/balance tires.  That should be enough time to cure I hope.

[ducpainter]

I know there are probably alot of variables to this question, but what's an approximate amount of time for paint to fully cure?

  I dropped my wheels off today to the paint shop.  They are getting walnut shell blasted then etch primed and prepped for 3 coats of a base coat with flex agent and then 3 coats of clear. Does this sound right? I'm going to let them sit in my basement for the remainder of the winter (4 weeks) then go reassemble with rotors and mount/balance tires.  That should be enough time to cure I hope.

7 days to pack...90 days to wax. You should be fine after a month to mount tires. Urethanes cure about 95% overnight with regard to solvent resistance. They do stay soft, depending on film thickness, for about 30 days.

Are they being blasted bare? I'm not a fan of etching primers on bare metal. I like epoxies.

[COP TZR]

7 days to pack...90 days to wax. You should be fine after a month to mount tires. Urethanes cure about 95% overnight with regard to solvent resistance. They do stay soft, depending on film thickness, for about 30 days.

Are they being blasted bare? I'm not a fan of etching primers on bare metal. I like epoxies.

I'm not 100% sure if they will be blasted bare.  Now that you mention it, I recall the painter saying something about an expoy primer. 

[ducpainter]

I'm not 100% sure if they will be blasted bare.  Now that you mention it, I recall the painter saying something about an expoy primer. 

Etching primers do not have the corrosion resistance of epoxies.

If the wheels have bare metal showing I would request epoxy.

[Ghettogarage]

Guess we will agree to disagree on that one Ducpainter.
Why do you think most factory wheels are powdercoated.

if powder coating is done correctly you can hit it with a hammer and it will not chip.

[ducpainter]

Guess we will agree to disagree on that one Ducpainter.
Why do you think most factory wheels are powdercoated.

if powder coating is done correctly you can hit it with a hammer and it will not chip.

Cost...plain and simple.

I'll have to disagree about the hammer thing...I call bullshit.

Powder is just the pigment without the solvent...

and there is zero corrosion resistance.

[Ghettogarage]

there is zero corrosion resistance- Agreed.

it is not cost. it would be much cheaper to paint them, Rims are the only part not painted and it is all about durability.

Powder is just the pigment without the solvent-not true, it is plastic or polyethylene PVP crosslinked. it is what gives it the chip resistance.

[COP TZR]

fellas, fellas, cant we all get along? 

[ducpainter]

there is zero corrosion resistance- Agreed.

it is not cost. it would be much cheaper to paint them, Rims are the only part not painted and it is all about durability.

Powder is just the pigment without the solvent-not true, it is plastic or polyethylene PVP crosslinked. it is what gives it the chip resistance.

as is catalyzed urethane.

There are many reasons for powder, and it's a great process.

The upsides...

1...a monkey can do it

2...you can recycle the overspray and reduce cost

3...it's ready to assemble as soon as it cools

4...it is cheaper than liquid...don't be fooled...particularly in a manufacturing environment...that's where it shines.

The down sides...

1...reduced maximum gloss

2...zero corrosion resistance once the film is breached

3...limited color availability in the aftermarket

4 ...parts must be disassembled and blasted for refinish.

Every process has it's place...but don't tell me powder is indestructible. I know better

fellas, fellas, cant we all get along? 

We're getting along...

we agree to disagree.

[COP TZR]

I will call the shop tomorrow and confirm the method of priming, and request epoxy.  I just hope I dont get an earful from them challenging their paint techniques.

[ducpainter]

I will call the shop tomorrow and confirm the method of priming, and request epoxy.  I just hope I dont get an earful from them challenging their paint techniques.

The only time epoxy is important is when there is a significant amount of bare metal.

If they are blasting the paint off then it would be important. If they are sanding and painting then it is less so.

I did a bunch of industrial work in the past. The military specs epoxies on aluminum, as does aerospace. There is a reason for that.

[COP TZR]

The only time epoxy is important is when there is a significant amount of bare metal.

If they are blasting the paint off then it would be important. If they are sanding and painting then it is less so.

I did a bunch of industrial work in the past. The military specs epoxies on aluminum, as does aerospace. There is a reason for that.

Thanks DP.  They are definately getting blasted, but I'm not sure to what extent.  Painter wasnt thrilled about hand sanding, especially all the intricate areas around the hubs.