When refinishing aluminum alloy wheels, is it better to paint or powder coat?

I understand the process to be:

1) Sand blast
2) Sand smooth
3) Powder coat (color)
4) Powder cost (clear)

What are the (+)'s and (-)'s ?

 

PC is more expensive but tends to last longer and doesn't require much work from you since you just pay someone to do it, PC usually has a better choice of colors like some of the chromes. Paint is cheap and you can change it easy if you don't like the color a few months down the road, if done right it can look just as good as PC and last years as well.

Also by paint I assume you are talking about a rattle can job, if you are going to use genuine automotive paint sprayed through a gun then I would just do powdercoat instead.

 

How would one go about getting the factory paint number to match?
Whether you paint or PC?

Wheels are EK4 Sir Alloy 15" ('99)

 

It should be on a label near the lock latch of your driver door frame like this:

http://www.automotivetouchup.com/paint-codes/honda.htm

 

You should NEVER powerdercoat aluminum wheels. The sandblasting and heat weakens them. Maybe try and read up on this prior to posting. It's not an uncommon question.

 

Unfortunately I don't have the car. I have the wheels from a '99 EK4 Sir.
My car came with steel wheels. The Sir wheels were an option on the '99.



If anyone has this car, could they tell me the paint code for the wheels.
Or if assuming that all civic alloys have the same silver paint code, could
someone let me know what that is?

 

Jeez. Can you not just Google the paint code? But wait? The wheels are aluminum? The pic you're using shows aluminum wheels. Not painted.

 

So assuming that the current condition is peeling silver paint, and some sort of surface corrosion.
What would you suggest as far as refinishing?
If not PC, then paint? If not paint, then what?
I couldn't tell you if it is original finish or a later refinish coming off. I don't want to polish to a chrome like finish.
From pictures I've seen, these wheels appear to be painted silver from the factory.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Wheel currently:


Factory fresh:

 

Someone can correct me but I believe most silver Honda/Acura wheels are painted blade silver metallic and the paint code is NH-95M.

 

If not then that will be close enough.

 

I took these to get professionally refinished. Told me they used regular paint. When I asked about powder coating they told me something about why they didn't do PC that I don't remember now so this post is not as useful as it could be. However, they had their reasons which seemed sound at the time.

 

^ i see a nice set of wheels on a snowy cold ground... man it must be freezing there..we get no snow here year round.

back on topic..NICE WHEELS, teh secks

 

are those 15s?

 

Yes, we get all four seasons where I live. Snow tires in the pic.

OP's are 15, mine posted above are 14s.

 

deschlong, how much did the refinish run you? How bad were they before?

 

hey deschong can you sell me the said 14" wheels lol....just asking i know the answer is no. LOL.

^^ like he said how much did it run you and what process did they use as far as PC or just painted.

 

Refinish cost me about $90-100 per rim. I think they threw in tire mounting too. I provided the stainless valves (McGard ones). They used the standard Honda silver; I wasn't fussy. It's the same OEM colour that Honda basically uses on all its painted aluminum rims. One rim required truing for another $90. Service included painting the centre cap and redoing the Honda "H" with a black decal.

Previous condition was about the same as what the OP posted. Flaking paint, brake grime, pitting of the aluminum. Shop fixed and smoothed all problem areas before paint. They did a really pro job, IMO.

 

No, they did an awesome job.
Lugs? Honda OEM's?
Link for valves?

 

Lugs are . (Note: Yes, they're for a 5-lug wheel, but McGard for some reason doesn't make a 4-lug kit of these lugs.) Lugs are the "bulge" style which are identical to the OEM ones. But, OEM Honda ones start to rust if you even just look at them. McGards are guaranteed to be shiny FOREVER. The only difference is the McGards are slightly longer by ~5mm. The stainless valves are included with this kit so it's really a great package.

Also (and this is IMPORTANT), this lug fits the OEM 19mm lug nut wrench, while made for Hondas by McGard do not. This point is not well advertised, but should be an important deciding factor.

 

deschlong, correct me if I'm wrong.
But are "tapered seat" as opposed to "ball seat".
My understanding is that alloys wheels use "ball seat".

 

All Hondas rims both steel and alu use ball seat but these are typically quite hard to find in an OEM-style lug that is rust-resistant. It's annoying and if this kind of thing bothers you (it might give you peace of mind knowing that your lugs make contact over a larger surface area on your rims), then a product like this is for you. Most often these washers are purchased to prevent damage to tuner-type lug nuts, but they actually provide some degree of added safety too.

 

^ totally off subject but i see in your post it says "then a product like this is for you"

^ i see the word this is a clickable link...can you pm me on how to do such actions on this forum. i just recently found out how to multi quote...

 

[ url = http: / /w ww.whatevergoeshere. com ] words go here [ / url ]

Without any spaces.

 

Not completely off topic but:

Wheel Lug locks - yes or no?

I've seen both sides. Locks break, keys lost, great safety, not worth the hassle.

You opinion, please.

 

I am pro- , only because it does offer another layer of car security. Do the locks break? I dunno. Losing key is annoying but you can get a replacement.

Just did a little searching and you CAN get the ball-seat wheel locks from Europe (where I am right now, incidentally) ... for example, on Amazon.de:
Product code is the McGard 25000.