The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts 3 piece wheels & powder coating

I've got my fresh set of 3 piece wheels now for my '51 6100 and getting ready to get them sandblasted. I'm wondering about getting them powder coated or should I stick with a good quality urethane enamel on them? I'm thinking that either way you have to be cautious of how much material is put into the lock ring groove.
Thanks
Don

I would think powder coating would be fine, but be sure to explain the whole idea to the guy doing it, so that on the parts that fit together he puts just enough on to do the job, and not so much that it causes problems.

Grigg

I wouldnt. Id use spray paint, for the simple reason that they are going to get the cr@p beat out of them to take them apart, and gonna get beaten again to get them back together. Powder coating will chip or crack and it aint an easy fix once the wheels back together. Ill be doing this before to long and Ive given it a lot of thought, and I cant see them not getting chipped in the process. Hence, touch them up with a poof can when done.

Jeff

I have worked with two different sets of two piece lock ring wheels, both painted professionally for high dollar car restorations, and the rings were chrome plated. The paint was thicker than it needed to be, not that there was a problem with fit, but more of a problem with squishing and chipping it.

Very carefully I was able to mount tubes and tires on all of them without chipping the paint or the chrome. It would have been simpler if they were powder coated.

Cut up some antifreeze jugs into about 2" X 5" strips, a few dozen strips, and use them as pads between the lock ring and the wheel, and between tools and ring or wheels.

Grigg

Grigg Im sure you have more patience then the guys at the tire store!

I am going to go with powder coat. It's durable and easy to keep clean. I haven't tackeled the 3 piece wheels yet. But by design they don't look like they would have to be beat on to get apart if the tire bead has not rusted to the rim. And if they are powder coated I doubt that they would rust.Maybe some one with more experience will chime in.
Cleon

Trust me- - - -it takes some energetic work with a tire hammer or a slide hammer to break those things down, even if they aren't rusty or siezed up. You're bound to miss a lick occasionally, resulting in dinged-up paint or minor dents. I like to coat the sidewalls with a thin layer of oil or grease, and touch up the wheels with a spray can if I want to hide the dings, then pressure wash everything to get the grease off.
Jerry

Just curious, is there any reason you couldn't touch up a powdercoated rim with some matching paint?

I think it would take too much paint to get it the right thickness, the chips would be very noticeable.

Yes you can touch up with paint, it is not that difficult,
Powder coating is not always thick, it can be thin too, just depends on how much they put on.

Grigg

I was told if you get the rims powder coated that the crack after some time from the flex of cornering & they start to rust in those cracks.
If you have things that are PC & want sand blasted it costs more cause it will take longer.

I took the 3 piece wheels to the tire shop this morning to have the old tires removed. They put 3 young strong boys on them and they had all 6 tires off within a half hour, I dropped them off at the powder coaters, and should have them back to the tire shop in about 10 days to have the tires mounted. I will let you know how it turns out. I have had 2 piece wheels with the split outer locking ring powder coated before with good success.
Cleon

Had the tires mounted on the newly powder coated wheels this morning. I'm happy to say the tires went on like they had eyes. 2 people mounted all 6 in 30 minutes. And they did not have to beat on them. No chipped paint or scratches. Cleon

Great!
I knew it would work.
Do you have pictures yet?

Grigg

Grigg, here are a couple of pics. I have not put the wheels on the truck as I am into the brakes now. (Dirty nasty job)The wheels are silver.The lock rings or snap rings are black along with the reinforceing rings. I have chrome covers for the lug nuts. The pictures did not copy well but you get the idea.They come out better when you maximism the picture. Cleon
http://inlinethumb51.webshots.com/39922/2757308010098468599S600x600Q85.jpg
http://inlinethumb58.webshots.com/34105/2206576310098468599S600x600Q85.jpg

They look great. Was it expensive?

Super55, I paid $55.00 a wheel for sand blasting and powdercoat.
I think that is about average. It's well worth it to me as I don't like to paint wheels. Cleon

I just paid $40 per wheel for blasting and powdercoat, one piece wheels. Not sure if he charges more for multi piece?

Grigg

Grigg, I would say you got a very good price. I have had quotes as high as $70.00 per wheel in this area. Cleon