Rim Prep and Painting

Done a bunch of searches but haven't found what I'm looking for.
I want to restore some fairly rusty rims to stock look.
My initial plan is to use wire wheel on a drill to get rust off, sand what is left then prime with rattle can - suggestions on primer?
Finish it with Glacier White paint - again suggestions?
Open to any & all ideas...TIA

 

I'm going to do the same thing, but I'm going with sandblasting and powdercoating. So much easier and painless to sandblast. Actually media blast, not sand. Sand is too abrasive and leaves a rougher finish.

 

You doing the sandblasting yourself? I don't have that set up in the shop.

 

Pay to have them blasted and powdercoated? Cost me $30-35 per wheel to have that done.

Or, have them blasted and paint yourself. From my experience the wire wheel may not do the job you want, and if it does you'll have spent enough time and money you'll wish you had paid for a cheap blasting job. Then use a two-part epoxy for your paint so that they do not chip easily?

 

Ditto on the epoxy primer. Used to sell it ( PPG) and saw it used on frames with no topcoat for restoration work. If you're not set up for it, epoxy or catalyzed products are best left to the bodyshops. Isocyanates are nasty stuff!! There are some decent rattlecan primers if you're looking to go that route. Look for a good brand name ie; 3M, SEM, Tremco, and read the labels for topcoat compatability. HTH

 

X2 on all of this. If you know a good powdercoater in your area, it is well worth the cost and what MOP says is what they usually run.

 

Thats wild around here everyone is around the $45-$50/wheel to do the same blast and powdercoat. :evil:

 

Just bought one of these tonight, so I'm gonna blast 'em myself, along with a zillion other things. Harbor Freight #93608. On sale for $199.99, plus a 20% off coupon, got it for $160. Also bought 50# of glass beads. The powdercoater I'm going to deal with is charging me $115 to do my Jeep frame, so I don't think he'll be too bad on the wheels.

 

Ron,
If your wheels are the least bit rusty, I wouldn't waste the glass beads on them. Sand will do the job much better. Use a filler primer to get a smooth finish. :v6:

 

They were that price around here a while back, but the last time I priced them they were only 35 I think. Even at $45 - 50 it is well worth it if you are wanting them to last a long time. I just haven't ever had much luck with just painting rims and having it last more than 2 - 3 years.

 

I talked with local powder coater - they want $18 to $25 for sandblasting based on condition then up to $45 for coating depending on the color & type. A body shop that I have used said up to $50 per rim includes sandblasting & painting with "hardening" to resist chipping. He's the guy that I'll use to paint the tub when I get around to that task.
I'm going to drive the jeep with the wheels over to his shop next week for him to get a visual on them. I'll discuss coating versus painting with him then as well. Thanks for all the advice.

 

WOW Sandblasting and Powercoating! Will really look nice!

I have always cleaned, brushed, repaired and painted-- rarely with catalyst. And even this crude way of restoration creates a great improvement. I usually have my money spent long before considering
sandblasting.

 

A year later & finally got the wheels done = work SUCKS!! Getting meat put on Wed & will have 33's & wheels for sale, cheap. Photos to be posted soon with new wheels & tires, then time to paint the tub. BTW - local guy sandblasted & painted for $30/wheel.

 

Here's my rig with the stock rims & after taking off the aftermarket 3"+ shackles.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v200/GTDean48/Jeep/CJ5a.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v200/GTDean48/Jeep/CJ5b.jpg

 

Darn wish I had seen this before you could have drove over and used my blast cabinet for
Well you are one county away if ya need something else now!

 

Thanks - I'll keep that in mind as the project continues!

 

The rims look good but I would have painted them red.

 

This is what I'm going for or close to it. Red wheels may be too much red!

 

Red body, white wheels and top, and everything else black, ain't that the way they're supposed to be? Gotta love it!

 

Excellent Ron but I've got a black top. Had 1978 Shovelhead FLH for 7 years until I got a 2000 Road King Classic. Have a 2004 Chevy Silverado 2500HD crew cab with Duramax diesel but no Libby company vehicle. Thanks.