Need To Paint Rims. Alternatives To Powder Coating?

Hello all, I have a paint durability question. My haphazard annual spray paint jobs on my rims have not lasted past the first dip off roading. I would like to do something more permanent this time around. I have a quote to get my rims sand blasted & powder coated for $400. I know powder coat is durable, but I've also noticed that once it gets chipped in one place, water and rust can get between the rest of the material and the metal, and the flaking becomes a major problem as the paint separates. How do the dedicated rim spray paints compare? Does anyone have experience with those? They're definitely less expensive.

 

I did just find this thread Refinishing Steel Wheels so apologies if I'm repeating old conversations

 

I used Dupli-Color wheel paint .
thicker than regular spray paint

 

I use regular old rustoleum. It is pretty durable and easy to touch up. I also paid a wheel place too much money to do my KH 15x8 rims and that chipped just like the rustoleum. When I painted the spare you could not tell the difference between the look and color of the rims. As with anything prep is going to be the key.

 

X2. Prep is everything.

X2 on Rustoleum - it has always been my go-to, ever since it was still made with real whale oil. (Look it up.)

The 'hammer' finishes are good at camouflaging less than perfect surfaces.

 

Properly applied powder coat is very durable. A friend had some Jaguar steel rims powder coated. Just after they were finished. He accidentally dropped one from about 5' high onto a concrete floor. We couldn't even find a mark or scratch on the rim.
My paint prep for rims consists of thorough sandblasting, then 2-part epoxy primer (usually SPI brand), then automotive quality single-stage topcoat, timed when the epoxy prime isn't cured so the topcoat color gets a chemical bond with the primer. This has proven to be very durable and looks factory original.
-Donny

 

When Powder coat fails it really is a mess, water gets under it and it starts to rust and the powder coat comes off in chunks, then you have got to remove the tires and have them blasted and start all over again. I had some antique BSA wheels powder coated and didn't like the way they looked. I had them blasted again and destroyed the spokes, I had to paint the hubs and wheels and replace the spokes, came out a lot better with stainless spokes, so all was Good after all.

 

X2. Here in road-salt country, powder coat dramatically accelerates the rust destruction of parts. Far worse than paint.

 

X3

 

Thanks, definitely going with spray paint this time then. I think part of my problem in recent years was just laziness in the prep stage. I think I'll get them sand blasted and totally cleaned/degreased then go with a high quality spray paint. Maybe rustoleum or duplicolor.

 

I'd go with good prep, like sandblasting, self etch primer then an acrylic urethane automotive paint. Won't fade or chip as easily as rustoleum or Majik or alkyd enamels. If you would like powdercoat, go to a heavy truck tire shop. The Service Tire Truck Center about 45 minutes from me will shot blast and powder coat rims for 40 bucks each I believe.

 

I have refinished wheels with Rustoleum "industrial" spray paint. So far they have held up well. It's nice to know I can touch up any problems.