poweder coat wheels

[Fenvy]

I have a set some wheels, they are 16s and have a lip. I was wondering how much I am looking at to powder coat them to gun metal if that's even remotely possible?

[SmithSR]

~$150 per, for a high end refinish restoration and then powdercoat, then shipped ground. So that would be total cost per wheel. If you were to drive them to a place locally and negotiate, I'm sure $100 is possible...depending on condition, work needed, etc. It's the labor cost that makes it seem expensive.

[Dori Dori]

I've got a place that charges $250 for all four wheels. Customer provides paint though (not expensive). They do excellent work too.

[Grant@tirerack]

One thing to keep in mind with powder coating is the heat required to cure the finish. That can affect the alloy of the wheels if they were heat treated when manufactured. It's sort of like tempering the metal again which can lead to stress in the casting. Just like chrome plating, that has to be taken into account when the wheel is designed. I'd say it's not as bad as heating your springs with a torch to lower your car, but it's close:)

[Silvia2b]

Powder Coating Specialties in town here says they won't even coat wheels anymore specifically beacuse of the heat issue Grant mentioned. He said it will affect the DOT rating of the wheel, and the wheel will not always stay true or keep it is shape, which would make it difficult to balance, and other more serious problems, so they just don't do it at all.

[Fenvy]

darn...

I really like those gun metal wheels with lips

[drifts14x]

If you can give up on the idea of powder coating your wheels, engine enamel is the way to go. Just yesterday, I pulled off all 4 of my wheels, scrubbed them with degreaser and a special tire acid I have(bad for hubcaps) and painted them gloss black. The paint does take 3 hours to dry, but when I showed them to a few people today, they asked me how much I payed for my aftermarket wheels, and I even had someone ask me to do theirs after seeing mine. I will be posting my pics tonight on my cardomain page(s13driftx) if you want to see them. Trust me, outside of powder coating, I highly suggest the engine enamel.

[240marcuSX]

i was thinking about bronzing the stock 15" sawblade wheels. what do you guys think that would look like? not for everyday, they have my azenis on them, but i think they might look pretty cool.