The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Wheels...Paint or Powder Coat

I am restoring my 66 Step Side. The OEM wheels are on her but need help. Should I paint them or powder coat them? Paint is cheaper but I want it to look best. Can they evn be powdere coated? Any idea he cost involved? Truck wont be a daily drive.

No reason that they couldn't be powdercoated. The only problem with powdercoat is if it's built up too much in the bead area, it can make mounting the tire almost impossible, as it can increase the diameter enough to keep the tire from seating properly. As long as the company doing the job is competent, this shouldn't be a problem. I've even seen paint do the same thing if it's too heavy.

powdercoat will hold up better in the long run and wont get tore up like paint when you mount your new tires, just my thoughts

There are advantages to both types of finishes.
Powder coating isn't cheap generally about $75.00 to $100.00 (depending upon where in the good Ole U.S. of A you're located) per wheel for balsting and coating. Powder coating is hard finish and can be had in a number of gloss levels and is very durable. The disadvantage is that if it chips, you have to have the wheel reblasted and recoated for it to look good. Also matching powder coating colors to your paint job can be frustrating as many powder coating shops have a limited general color selection. Fro example if you wanted to match your wheels to a Guards Red truck you would have to select the closest approximate match. Hope this is helpful.

I had mine powdercoated and am happy with the results. Not all powdercoaters are created equal. Use one with a lot of happy customers and ask for references. I used Prizm Powder in Ponca City OK. Good folks who take pride in their work.

I have had two sets of steel wheels powdercoated by a company in Hollster, CA. Great results both times and I'm happy with the results. I agree with the above comments on paint matching, but my wheels fortunately just needed to be either black or gray.

Joe

I like to paint mine. Much easier to fix. I do it myself too. I have never been a big fan of powder coating. I think excellent prep work is the key to powder coating as it is with painting. But that's me.

There's good & bad to both, powder is tough but not indestructible, sometimes if it chips, rust gets underneath it & it peels off. Paint is obvisouly weaker, but good enamel will hold up pretty well. My buddy had a set of ralley wheels powdercoated, somebody(he won't admit to it, blames his wife) put some tire cleaner on them & etched the surface, they look dull now.

Powder coat, hands down, cant beat em with a stick (& if ya do, they'll take it like a champ!).

Trick is finding a good shop, so gettin in touch with the local classic car clubs and askin people who they take thier stuff to will get you what you need in short order.
It will cost more per wheel than painting, but it lasts longer & requires less care to keep them clean & nice looking.