The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Powdercoat or Paint Rims

I'm wondering if I should either powdercoat or paint my rims on my 42 Pickup. These are NOS original rims that I'll media blast and then do something with. I'll either paint with catalyzed acrylic enamel or have them powdercoated. Which would be the most durable for rims?

Powder coat is much more durable. It takes a pretty good whack to chip it. Just make to tell your powder coater to not build it up too heavy on the bead area if the wheel. I've seen wheels, both powder coat and painted, that had too much material buildup on the bead seats, which prevented the tire from seating. Essentially the coating made the wheel a slightly larger diameter. Kind of like putting a 16" tire on a 16.5" rim. It'll go on, but it won't seat. Or at least not without exploding.

Hard to beat the powdercoat durability. Just had mine done a couple months ago with a medium gloss black.
The paint's cheaper and won't hold up but, you could just keep painting them every now and then.
-David

You can do it your self I bought a small unit from caswell that works nicely . I had a almost new digital oven that was all ready in my shop used for other things. I am not sure if you can get a rim in it. But I have used it for other things like my intake manifold. It was aluminum off a race bought so it did not look very good. Tossed it in the bead blaster, then sprayed it wet black and bake for 10 minutes. Looks great and will not peel.

I just painted mine. no chips....

Clint,

I had the origional rims for my '40 GMC blasted and epoxy primed. The rims had some pitting and I did ask about having them powdercoated and was told that the process would eliminate some of the pitting but not all and a good blemish free finish would not be guaranteed. So I opted to paint. I used body filler on all wheels and primed. I have not yet finish coated as I havn't picked a color. I believe a good urethane paint will provide a durable finish.