Powdercoating, I need your opinion

[BigDaddyLS]

I have 18" enkei rs6's which have a silver finish. I love em and I love they look but the way they're machined around the outer edges next to the tire it takes me FOREVER to get them clean from road grime but if I don't they almost look like they've been curbed so I'm seriously thinking about haveing them powdercoated either gun metal grey or black, or maybe even a color. My LS is silver with a LSE body kit and silver angeleyes, painted grille, and eibach springs to give you a visual. What do you guys think? Should I powdercoat em? if so, what color?

 

[Chris_n_FL]

if the wheels have a polished lip, i say go black. Thats what i plan on doing to mine whenever the chrome gets chipped or ruined somehow.

 

[Fordman]

Powdercoating is a great way to go. I personally am partial to chrome, theres some coatings out there that can shine almost as good as chrome. I would not have them coated to match the car, I like a little contrast.

 

[eL eS]

I have been considering powder coating some parts. I know quik ls posted a website in the past of a company that does parts coatings but I think I want to work with a local company.

 

[ohioLS]

Powder coationg a color on wheels is common but powder coating clear onto aluminum wheels is junk and very hard to next to impossible to do on cast and or some forged aluminum wheels. I am currently in research with a powder company trying to figure out a system to powder clear on cast aluminum pieces for my 67 Jaguar. The issue is that the clear will not adhere to the piece and we ended up with orange peeling effect because there are so many impuretes in the aluminum castings themselves. They also for warn anyone buying aluminum rims that have clear on them being they will probably only last a couple years before they start to fall apart thats why some rims are dirt cheap cause they are made dirt cheap. I would recomend buying actually chrome wheels and or buy a new set that has been done in black(or whatever color) and not doing it yourself the reason is simple you will recieve some kind of warranty with them.

Good luck and lets us know with what you come up with!

-Scott-

 

[DLS8K]

I would not get your wheels powdercoated. Although it may be more durable than paint, the powdercoating seems to fade at a higher rate. In fact, my brother got his wheels powdercoated no more than 2 years ago and his wheels have gone from a gunmetal grey to a greenish grey. Hope this helps.

 

[eL eS]

Hope this helps.

Yeah it does. Thanks.

 

[kleetus]

Hmmm haven't heard of fading issues on powder coating... I know that the precoating prcess is extremely critical to success. They will need to be either bead blasted or corn cob blasted to "normalize" the surface for adhesion. Once they do that, I would think that a quality powder coating company would have some higher quality materials than most DIY kits.

Anyway, I'd do a contrast color. That's what I'm planning for mine anyway...