Ok I picked up a second set of 17's for track rims and I want them White. Yes I know brake dust and all but since they will be track rims they will be easy to clean. So the question is what is the most stupidly durable paint I can lay my hands on? Epoxy polimide? Then flat or glossy? I intend to pull the tires and actually rough the surface with a sand blaster.

Suggestions?

IPSC

 

why would you want to "rough" the surface- wedsand them down w/ some 500 wet dry and spray them with a nice eurethane auto finish- that or have them powder coated. Most anything out of a can will look ok but not hold up and will hold brake dust.

 

What I've always been told on track wheels is that basic paint is ok, but never to go to anything thicker like resin or powdercoating as it may obscure cracks or other safety issues.

Dan's advice sounds pretty sound though... just stick to the regular paint.

 

well really powder coating is not any more thick than a spray job- its just applied in a different manner and then baked on to make the surface much harder. A eurethane spray job is great as is and im sure if you baked it would also be alittle harder. Problem with spray paints is that ususally they are an enamel base which takes awhile to dry and stays softer/more porous or something but for that reason it holds the dirt more. Also doesnt hold up as well. People that say powdercoat or spray obscures cracks should realize that the original paint could obscure cracks, as well as any other coating applied.

 

I'd avoid powdercoating wheels, expecially for track use. The baking can make the alloy brittle. I've seen several Viper and Corvette wheels break on track and all were powdercoated.

Porsche alloys seem to be more hearty than the ones I'd seen break, but why force the issue?

 

Well how hot does something need to be heated to during the powdercoating process? 300 degrees for what an hour? Is the aloy that (and these are Turbo twists) soft?

I agree that whatever is put on the rim could hide a crack. I am thinking a two part epoxy paint. I have seen some that are very durable.

So one would only need to wet sand as a prep? That is good as I am used to coatings that go on firearms and we always sand blast to give the coatings the best surface grip possible. Now granted these coating are expected to stand up to 500 hours of salt spray and only come off with direct sand blasting. But these are a baked on thing as well.

IPSC

 

yeah weakening a rim would depend on how hot you baked it- usually when prepping wheels- or anything you would want to make look nice- you would not sand blast it cuz that will leave you a rough surface- you may want to try some other form of blasting if necessary. Sticking paint to the original bonded surface usually works best-that way you are not un-sealing the aluminum and introducing oxidation etc- and you wont have to re-etch prime the surface.

 

What I did with two of my track wheels:

1. Clean them good.

2. Scuff them up with scotch brite

3. 1 - 2 really thin coats of primer

4. 4-5 coats of anticite colored spray paint

5. 8-10 coats of clear-coat spray paint.

They lasted about 4 years before starting to chip alot.

Not the best pic, but you get the idea:



-Z

 

I would just powder coat them. my 0.000002 cents