Wheels: Powdercoating x Paiting

jamanta · August 06, 2009, 08:47:17 AM

hi guys

i have a red s2r with white wheels and i would like them to be black because they look more aggressive. which route would you recommend? i know that powdercoating would be ideal, but i would like something more affordable as i would have to pay to remove the tires and valves off the wheel, have it powdercoated and then have a shop re-assamble the wheel, valves, have it balanced, etc since i don't have those kind of tools. i can get the wheels off and on the bike easy but is there a way to remove the tire and valves from the wheel with some regular tools without damaging the lips?

do you think that painting with duplicolor wheel paint and primer would work fine? how resistant are those paints? and lastly, when the time to change the tire comes, will the tire removal machine damage the paint around the lips?

thanks so much!

gage · August 06, 2009, 08:51:06 AM

There is a lot of talk that the wheels may be damaged by the powdercoating process specifically if they heat the wheels to remove the existing finish. I would go with paint but would suggest that you get them professionally done which would mean removing tires stems etc.

Better white than flaking off black paint

jamanta · August 06, 2009, 09:16:05 AM

those wheels are made of aluminum, aren't they?

what if the wheel is sand blasted? this is a difficult topic, i'm really thinking about just painting with duplicolor wheel paint. i read a lot about it and seems that the results are good. what worries me is when the tires have to be removed... the lips may be damaged.

anyone else: can you give me some opinions??

Cider · August 06, 2009, 10:00:32 AM

I'm not an expert in the field, but I don't worry about powder coating wheels. Thousands of wheels have been powder-coated without any problems.

No matter what method you use, it can get scratched when the tires are changed. DIY spray paint is the least durable option that you mention, but it would be easy to do touch-ups.

scduc · August 06, 2009, 03:12:39 PM

Wow, you have white and I want white. I have black and you want black. Maybe we should look into this? And you live in Rio D. where all the georgous babes are. I think you may be lucky.

jamanta · August 06, 2009, 03:15:04 PM

Quote from: scduc on August 06, 2009, 03:12:39 PM
Wow, you have white and I want white. I have black and you want black. Maybe we should look into this?

where are you located at? maybe we can figure something out. my rims are 99% new!

He Man · August 06, 2009, 03:22:12 PM

Trade them out. Thats your best bet, unless you want an even glossier finish like the black fog magnus has.

I think sand blasting is too harsh on the wheels and could lead to deformities like pitting. But it would also depend on the type of sand and pressure used. Soda blasting it is safer but a bit more expensive.

you can defintely remove your tires with a few tire irons. provided you can find a way to break the bead. Or even with the harbor freight tool that costs $100 bucks. the valve stem takes 2 seconds to remove.

I PCed my wheels with a home setup and they are holding up nicely, i dont think spray paint is a good idea. Wheels take way to much abuse for spray paint to not scratch off.

jamanta · August 06, 2009, 03:37:32 PM

Just checked with a few places here in town, and it costs $175 per wheel to paint in a specialized wheel paint shop. That does not include mounting, dismounting and balancing the tires. They do a nice work but it's a little over priced. http://www.skipswheelwerks.com/

also checked on powder coating. $85 per wheel with the chemical strip. does not include mounting, dismounting and balancing which i can get for $20 per wheel at a bike shop here in town. total = $105 per wheel. much better and more durable for sure.

depending on how this turns out, i will also powdercoat my forks light gold or bronze.

He Man, you gave me some cool ideas for my bike. yours looks pretty cool.

jamanta · August 06, 2009, 03:42:48 PM

Quote from: scduc on August 06, 2009, 03:12:39 PM
And you live in Rio D. where all the georgous babes are. I think you may be lucky.

i'm actually in the US now... i lived most of my life in rio where i was born. the babes are really nice there! are you in the US? maybe we can work something out with the wheels

He Man · August 06, 2009, 03:48:45 PM

thats pretty cheap for chemical strip. id do it. I chem striped mine too...wasnt fun. but they have industrial strength shit that could get it done a hole lot faster.

being that its local to you, its super cheap. Dont knock paint out. Liquid Paint looks better, and its probably very close if not just as durable as powder. But youd have to be pretty anal about it.

Good luck and post up pics.

jamanta · August 06, 2009, 03:52:26 PM

will post pictures soon. i don't know when i'll get them done though

early research if you know what i mean... i actually just bought the bike 3 days ago

i will probably get on it in the winter since it rains so much here and i can't ride! summers here are precious, can't be without the bike

scduc · August 06, 2009, 04:14:56 PM

I'm outside of Milwaukee Wi. So the end of the riding season is still a couple of months away. I dont think I want to shorten it any. However, I am interested, so if in a couple of months you are ready to make a swap, look me up.

geoffduc · August 06, 2009, 10:42:02 PM

I've recently had the wheels off my retard powder coated red by a guy over here in the UK, he did a flawless job on them and the cost was Â£75 per wheel.
I know its not much use to you over your side of the pond but powder coating is considered the way to go over here, so good luck and don't worry, just get it done

ducpainter · August 07, 2009, 02:58:41 AM

Quote from: jamanta on August 06, 2009, 03:37:32 PM
Just checked with a few places here in town, and it costs $175 per wheel to paint in a specialized wheel paint shop. That does not include mounting, dismounting and balancing the tires. They do a nice work but it's a little over priced. http://www.skipswheelwerks.com/

also checked on powder coating. $85 per wheel with the chemical strip. does not include mounting, dismounting and balancing which i can get for $20 per wheel at a bike shop here in town. total = $105 per wheel. much better and more durable for sure.

depending on how this turns out, i will also powdercoat my forks light gold or bronze.

He Man, you gave me some cool ideas for my bike. yours looks pretty cool.

What about bearings and cush drive rubbers?

I don't think they like stripper.

jamanta · August 07, 2009, 07:54:21 AM

Quote from: ducpainter on August 07, 2009, 02:58:41 AM
What about bearings and cush drive rubbers?

I don't think they like stripper.

i was about to ask that. if i remove the bearings and the drive rubbers, can i reuse them or will they have to be replaced for new ones?

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Wheels: Powdercoating x Paiting