Time to powdercoat the rims

David

David

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I tried Meguiars wheel cleaner on my restored Alpina's because it said it was safe for painted rims. Guess what ? Its not. Blistered the paint in no time.

I'm going to powder coat them this time because even before this mess the paint wasnt holding up (road chips, flaking around the lugs)

Has anybody tried this place?
LA Wheel and Tire
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBVLvKvapyk

or this place
Prime Fabrications
http://www.primefabrication.com
 
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I've been researching the same topic after just purchasing some old powdercoated Alpinas. While they may be stronger than paint, powdercoating limits the colour choice and gives you a duller finish. Mine are almost a 'primer grey' and I am sure they won't polish up. I do wish mine would have a bit more sparkle and when the time comes and budget permits, I will probably go with a proper paint+clear.
 
Dan who owns Speedway in Santa Ana does an awesome job prepping and painting Alpinas, $150/wheel. They use a Porsche silver.
 
That's who had done mine. I know wheels are subjected to some pretty harsh conditions even in normal everyday driving. And while I don't know what is reasonable to expect, I wish the paint would have held up better.
 
I spoke with LA Wheel and Tire. They said they stay below 350F so annealing isnt an issue. They claim they have never had a wheel fail/crack. However doing the Alpinas in silver with a black center is going to be about $200 each and I dont think that includes removing and remounting the tire.

This sucks.
 
Wheels--paint or powdercoat?

My experience with wheel coatings:

1) I've never seen a powder coated wheel that has correctly matched the correct original color or texture of the original finish..
2) All my wheels for the past 20 years were refinished by chemical stripping to bare metal and then re-finished by Speedway metal in Santa Ana--results have been excellent.

PS I clean them using water, a bio degradable cleaner that is citrus based and agitated with soft wheel btushes to remove brake dust and grime--dry with terry cloth toweling--works great and won't mar painted finishes. Now 8 years on Alpinas they are like new--12 years on a set of bottlecaps on my '02 are still in great shape.

Plus--at my house we actively practice non-curbing wheels--has worked for nearly 40 years.
 
How have you cleaned your wheels??

Do tell us how often they are/were cleaned--and what type of wheel cleaner have you used--also what wheel brushe(s) have you used?

My process of cleaning wheels does not include use of any harsh chemical spray on--of so called wheel cleaners. Perhaps thats why my wheels have always remained in good shape with the Speedway finish remaining as new for many years.

BTW--David you are the first and only person I have heard express dis-satisfaction with Speedways wheel finishing workmanship. Perhaps your technique(s) used in cleaning your wheels became a factor in the failure of the finish.

Did you make your problem known to the owner?
 
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