wheel painting tip

[oem4me]

For years I've used a common sense technique to improve paint quality on wheels. I don't follow the paint threads so this may be widely practiced already. I apologize for posting the obvious if it is.

A couple of squares of plywood, a lazy suzan bearing, some small L brackets, and large coffee can with a jar lid screwed to it is all you need.
Affix the lazy susan to the plywood squares and secure the coffee can with L brackets. Then screw a jar lid to the top of the can. Naturally, keep everything as concentric as possible, though it doesn't have to be perfect.

Set the wheel to be painted on the can using the jar lid to center the wheel. Loose fit, by eye. The can is about eight inches tall, so the wheel easily clears the base.
Grab a corner of the base and give the wheel a spin, then keep your spray gun steady. This way, a totally consistent glossy coating is easy all the way around. A handful of spins and gun positions per side and you're done.
Spray the backside first, then flip and do the tire beads and the front. Hand or fingerprints will show on the wheel interior, and there may be marks in the paint where the brake drum mates, but who really cares.
This takes just a little time to set up, but makes it way easier than running laps around the wheel, and the end result is much better looking.

[jocko]

Not common sense, good sense! Thanks for sharing!

[my56chevytruck]

Real good info, I have to repaint mine, I'll remember this, hopefully!!

[62stepside longbox]

Thanks for sharing the tip!

['63GENIII]

Pretty cool idea! Rotate the wheel instead of the painter. Thanks!

[Mathew21]

Great Idea, Thanks for sharing.

[LT1 Burb]

Looks great

[nxtruck]

Thanks for sharing this. I've got a set of rally wheels to paint for my car trailer and I will definitely use this method this time. Thanks again!

[60-66]

16s for your daily driver ! Lookin good. Now teach us how you match paint like on Big Red .

[oem4me]

Originally Posted by 60-66

16s for your daily driver ! Lookin good. Now teach us how you match paint like on Big Red .

Dang! Good eye, Jon. Not much gets by Mr. 60-66!
No magic on the mixing. All by eye. Start with a close base color and add tints or other paints a drop at a time if necessary match the existing color. Test and do it again, and again, and again. Not a process for the impatient.

[TJ's Chevy]

Great info! Thanks for sharing!

[60-66]

Are you using acrylic enamel ? Im getting frustrated with the paint shops around here. Are you mixing into a quart and doing spray outs ? or just dabbing ? Ive never done this before at all. My body guy wont touch it , he relys on me and the supply stores. Looks Like I need to experiment.

[oem4me]

Originally Posted by 60-66

Are you using acrylic enamel ? Im getting frustrated with the paint shops around here. Are you mixing into a quart and doing spray outs ? or just dabbing ? Ive never done this before at all. My body guy wont touch it , he relys on me and the supply stores. Looks Like I need to experiment.

My paint inventory isn't too big. It's mostly comprised of remnants from older jobs and various colors given to me by others. I started painting years ago with acrylic lacquer, then went to acrylic enamel, then some urethanes. None of these are even available anymore out here in Cali. With new high quality paint being so expensive, I'll use whatever paint I have for these small jobs, so long as I can match the color. My limited supply usually means I mix only as much as needed, be it lacquer, enamel, urethane, or whatever.
Color wise, it's mix and dab, but then reduce and spray for final test. Sometimes the spray test shows a different result than the dab test. There are lots of potential reasons for this, but I'm not expert enough to analyze every situation. I just know when it looks right or doesn't. Redneck approach all the way here.
Auto painting causes great fear in the bravest people from what I've gathered, though to me it's a good fit. Don't know why, but I'd rather spray paint than twist wrenches, any day.

[LT1 Burb]

I did mine this weekend also.

[oem4me]

So nice! .. and correct. What/who convinced you to go with saddle? I thought you had decided white was your color for the wheels. Is that a newly chromed, previously painted steel hub cap? I'm thinking of doing the same, if the result is good.