Harsh weather conditions or just normal wear and tear takes a toll on chrome rims and causes unsightly flaking and peeling. Give your rims a fresh new look by repairing and painting them yourself while saving a substantial amount of cash in the process. Getting the rims professionally powder coated will take a bite out of your wallet. Take the time to prepare the rims sufficiently prior to painting and remove all scratches with sandpaper. The end result will be worth the work.
Wash the rims with dish-washing soap and water. Allow them to air dry, then spray them with degreaser. Wipe the rims with clean rags.
Remove all flaky and peeling chrome using a scrub pad.
Scuff up the surface of the rims using a drill and cup brush.
Sand the rims using 320-grit sandpaper. Do not sand down to bare metal. Sand off any sharp edges you may have missed during the scuffing process. Sand the surface until smooth.
Pour paint thinner on a clean rag, and wipe the rims down to remove residue or sanding dust.
Lay masking paper on the ground; lay the rims on the masking paper.
Shake a can of self-etching primer for the time recommended by the manufacturer. Spray the primer on the rims using light, sweeping motions. Allow the primed rims to dry for the amount of time indicated on the can. Repeat to apply a second coat of primer.
Shake a can of metal paint for at least one minute as recommended on the can. Apply the first coat of paint using light, sweeping motions. Allow the wheels to dry for the amount of time indicated on the can. Repeat to apply the second coat of paint. Allow the paint to dry for the amount of time indicated on the can.
Apply a coat of wheel clear coat using light, sweeping motions. Allow the clear coat to dry for the amount of time indicated on the can. Repeat to apply a second coat.
