Painting or Powdercoating.......

[1999grandamse]

I have a set of 17inch QT S10s that I need to get painted or powder coated. The finish is scratched and dull, and they need a little TLC.
My dad's friend can do the powder coating for the cost of the materials, or I can paint them myself with Duplicolor Wheel paint and clear coat.

I'm pretty sure I want to make them a glossy black and keep the chrome lip and center cap. That, or I will make them a gunmetal color.
Before I do it, I want to find out if anyone has any suggestions for color or any tips. Also, if someone could PS them black, that would be great. I installed Vista and haven't installed PS CS2 yet.

The wheels
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a363/jac0204/IMG_1334.jpg

I can post more, higher res pictures if necessary.

And please don't tell me to get 18s. I like my 17s and I think they look good, I just want them to look a bit newer and different.

[MPC_05SE]

This is obviously not the same wheel nor has it been PSd ... but if you can have them coated for just the cost of materials...get them coated! You won't get a finish like this or one that will last as long from a rattle can....just my opinion.
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l161/KevinCM/Powder%20Coating/TAwheelsSMB2.jpg

[JoeyK]

Powder coat will hold up to the acidity of brake dust far better than any rattle can paint that you can find. If you go with paint, I'd go with a good fleet paint from either PPG or Dupont, which is formulated to hold up to acid. Putting spray can paint on your wheels is just begging for an a$$ache- That's just my .02 as a painter...:)

[SE2000]

I'm all for the powder coating. Especially if you're getting it at cost.
Since you are planiing on refinishing the wheels, it would seem just as easy to strip and polish then to coat.
If you want them to be unique, I suggest powdering the side of the spokes only with a dark gray or gunmetal type finish. Then a good heavy clearcoat.

[sudden_impulse]

If you go black I'd say go with black that's a little muted. I saw some wheels at Sears that were gloss black with a polished lip and they just looked cheap.

[1999grandamse]

Thanks for the replies. Powder coating is what I was leaning towards for durability reasons, but does anyone know offhand about how much powder is necessary for a wheel and how much it costs? My dad's friend that may do it is in Florida racing ATVs and won't be back for a few days, and I'm trying to stay under $100 or so.

Since I'll probably go with black, I was thinking of putting nightshade on the headlights and taillights for a more uniform appearance and better contrast. Any opinions/suggestions?

[Classifieds]

4 wheels usually equals $200... That's labor and materials. I highly doubt it will be $100 for you if you are just doing materials.

[tenspeed]

I would go with the powder coat too.

Everyone has black, with your silver car why not something different like dark grey or black chrome?

[1999grandamse]

Originally posted by tenspeed
I would go with the powder coat too.

Everyone has black, with your silver car why not something different like dark grey or black chrome?

Hey...."Black chrome" sounds cool. What's that? Is that available as a standard powder coat color? I forgot to mention, but obviously the guy only stocks the most popular colors and has to order the others.

[tenspeed]

I saw a black chrome ecotec valve cover on ebay a few days ago. It's chrome but looks dark. It looked great on the valve cover.

I did a net search and found this -> http://forum.caswellplating.com/photopost/showphoto.php/photo/1335

If you search, you'll probably find more pictures.

I found this on ebay, 3lbs for $28 shipped -> 260094643013
Ebay has a section devoted to power coating supplies. Charcoal metalic sounded interesting too.

[TA^Guy]

Gunmetal with silver lips.

My motorcycle helmet used to be Black Chrome, Leanne's still is.
Originally posted by Classifieds
4 wheels usually equals $200... That's labor and materials. I highly doubt it will be $100 for you if you are just doing materials.
Powder cost about $10-20 for 8oz. I don't see it needing more than 8oz to do 4 wheels. Metalwash and some heat resistant tape and that should be about it.

[MPC_05SE]

Here is an example of a black chrome wheel. Typically you can assume it will take 8oz. per wheel. Even if he has to order the powder, I only have one supplier that takes more than just a few days to get it to me.
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l161/KevinCM/Powder%20Coating/triumphwheels_blackchrome.jpg

-Kevin