re: Alloy Rims

[sfjen]

Aloha Folks-

My 1989 came with the usual steel Toyota Rims, 5 bolt pattern. Well, at the junk yard I found a 1991 Camry that had the alloy 5 bolt pattern rims and at 19.00/ea I thought I would get them, plus my sweet to get them off!

My question is I have been researching and some say they are aluminum and others say alloy. I ask because I think they are alloy and can be painted, as I see some nicks, a couple of "paint-flakes" I believe that came off, close to the lip area.

If these can be painted would you suggest just a lite sanding first, then would you prime or not? If so, what kind of primer?

Lastly, at Kragen I saw the brand Dupli-Color I believe, and they sell wheel paint and wheel clear protective coating. Is this the way to go or are there other paints, brands you would suggest?

Thanks so much.
Mahalo

PS: for those little nicks, rash marks on the lip area is it all right to use say a dremel tool and stone to smooth them out a little?

[blu_91_cam]

Sorry not sure on what the rims are made of but I have used the duplicolor bronze wheel paint on my steel wheels and they worked out great. All I did was wash them then ruff them up with a scotch pad. I didn't use any clear but it might be a good option.

[storm.surfin]

for starters, I love that you're using Aloha and Mahalo (aren't you in Montana?)

regarding your question, alloy and aluminum wheels are the same thing (aluminum alloy, or just one of the other for short)

the best route to paint your wheels is to use a mixture of laundry detergent (powder) and water and clean the wheels thoroughly with scotch-brite pads (green scrub pads for cleaning pots). this will clean and sand them. Buy the color paint you want and have at it. if you already have tires on the wheels, use wide masking tape and cover the edge of your rims and cut the tape away from the rim, covering only the tire with the remaining tape. be sure to remember what paint you bought and where you got it because you're going to want to touch it up regularly.

in order to paint your wheels properly, a body shop would have to do it otherwise they will chip or peel. so as an alternative, keep them looking nice by touching up regularly instead of putting a lot of effort in the beginning and having to touch up anyway

[storm.surfin]

oh yeah, use a file to clean the nicks, a power tool leaves you the possiblity of cleaning up your errors

[sfjen]

Aloha Big Island Storm-

I am originally from da islands and am currently in Northern, CA - mainland. So, as the family always says, we gotta spread the Aloha Spirit.

Thanks for your reply and advice to clean the wheels, I hope the laundry detergent might be able to take off the pesky brake dust. That stuff is hard to get off.

Will let folks know how it goes.
Mahalo!

Originally Posted by storm.surfin

for starters, I love that you're using Aloha and Mahalo (aren't you in Montana?)

regarding your question, alloy and aluminum wheels are the same thing (aluminum alloy, or just one of the other for short)

the best route to paint your wheels is to use a mixture of laundry detergent (powder) and water and clean the wheels thoroughly with scotch-brite pads (green scrub pads for cleaning pots). this will clean and sand them. Buy the color paint you want and have at it. if you already have tires on the wheels, use wide masking tape and cover the edge of your rims and cut the tape away from the rim, covering only the tire with the remaining tape. be sure to remember what paint you bought and where you got it because you're going to want to touch it up regularly.

in order to paint your wheels properly, a body shop would have to do it otherwise they will chip or peel. so as an alternative, keep them looking nice by touching up regularly instead of putting a lot of effort in the beginning and having to touch up anyway

[storm.surfin]

for caked on brake dust use clr or similar product