painting the centre on a 3 piece rim???

[Bruce]

Hi guys,

I have some 3 piece watanabes that need the centres painted. 

Just wondering if anyone has pulled them down to paint before and whether it is a straight forward process or whether I am better to send them off to get done?

I have been quoted minimum of $100 a rim from a couple of different places.

let me know your thoughts?

I can put some photos up if that helps?

thanks

Bruce

[benny]

just mask up and buy a can of wheel paint cant cost you anymore then $50 total!!

[Riceburner]

+1 and if it's a total failure you can always take them to the pro's!

[RBZ 260]

geez u guys a dodgey. 

 

Ive redone my 2pce ones. u got good quotes as the mob i asked wanted 150. thats to remove clean up and respray in basic colours only ie no metalics pearls etc.... and refit.

 

took me 20min per wheel to remove the bolts. about same to refit.

 

now since yours are 3 piece u probably need to redoo the seal between the two halfs of the dish.(if its true 3pce) i think they just use some sort of silicone seal. or maybe u dont have to split it. prob pics will help if u post.

 

than i sanded the centers smooth and did ur normal painting like u would a car anyway.

 

polished the dish as it was lot easier, cleaned the bolts and refitted it all.

 

if u not skilled or dont have equipment most crash repairers will charge 20-50 for painting depends on colour. and that would be 2pk. once u remove and prepare the centers.

 

bring it home bolt it all up like u would a wheel. ie do in stages and do it diagonaly. once all finger tight u tourque it.

 

thats if u want to restore them properly. or if u want quick/cheap/bodgy job do what other guys said.

finished job will reflect the quality of work. cheap=crap

 

may as well do it properly expecialy if they are decent rims.

 

 

[Riceburner]

Cheap is fine if you take your time and prepare them properly, painting is the easy part. It means at least $400 to spend somewhere else, and if your not happy all you've done is lose some time and pocket change. Like RBZ said they are watanabes so $400 is 10% of the purchase price 

 

They'll probably get scuffed when you get your tyres fitted and wheels balanced.... Damn tyre monkeys!! *shakes fist* 

[zed240au]

never done watanabes but did repaint centres on my simmons wheels just undid bolts and pulled centers out had them sand blasted and repainted in 2 pac polished outers while had centers out didnt break seal so just bolted all back together at right tension in opposite pattern came up looking good

could always conside getting centers powder coated

mick

[Bruce]

thanks for the replies.

The centres are flaking, so I need to get them prepared properly hence the need to strip them down.

I have removed the bolts in the past but couldn't get the rim to split.(I didn't cut the silicone bead)

There is a company in Rowville that will sandblast them and powdercoat them for between $25-$50 a centre which I thought was quite reasonable.

I will have another crack at it,

cheers

Bruce

[aidannn]

check out http://www.wheel-whores.com/

 

plenty of info on wheels in general. but more specifically how to take a part 3 piecers. repainting etc etc.

[Bruce]

thanks for the link,

heaps of info there,

cheers