Paint or Polish?

[Jamieg285]

I have a set of 3rd gen wheels (the ones in my avatar <--- ) that I'm about to do a basic refurb on.  I plan on painting the main angled spokes in black and having the outer rim and spoke edges raw/polished or painted silver.

Given that this is a daily driver that doesn't get cleaned as often as it should, what do you think I should do with the silver bits - polish or paint with a bright silver wheel paint?

[EDGE]

you could try them raw and unfinished and see how long they last, then paint them silver if you're not happy with the results :)

[F Body]

Quoting: Jamieg285

Given that this is a daily driver that doesn't get cleaned as often as it should, what do you think I should do with the silver bit

Paint

NB: 98% of modern alloy wheels have a painted silver finish

[philoldsmobile]

definatley paint,

The quality of the casting varies greatly with these wheels, i have seen some that looked good polished, but others were like an aero bar..

[FUBAR]

Quoting: philoldsmobile

definatley paint,

The quality of the casting varies greatly with these wheels

you'de have a very hard time polishing them I reckon.

[Jamieg285]

That's fairly conclusive, paint it will be.

Next question is about the black paint - black smoothrite or black alloy wheel paint?

Not going for a perfect finish, but needs to be a good 8/10 or better.

[F Body]

Quoting: Jamieg285

black smoothrite

It will last twice or three times as long as alloy wheel paint

Quoting: Jamieg285

Not going for a perfect finish, but needs to be a good 8/10 or better.

Well you will only get one chance with the smoothrite, so it needs to be done somewhere warm and dry, so it drys before you get any runs

[Roadkill]

Quoting: Jamieg285

Next question is about the black paint - black smoothrite or black alloy wheel paint?

I'd opt for the Alloy wheel paint.

Have had real mixed results with Hammerite/Smoothrite . . . .

[Jamieg285]

I'm leaning towards alloy paint for both colours now. That'll give me the option of anthracite rather than black.

[F Body]

Quoting: Jamieg285

I'm leaning towards alloy paint for both colours now.

Don't do it

Quoting: Jamieg285

That'll give me the option of anthracite rather than black.

They do smoothrite in a couple of different shades of grey, but it's called something like the garden range

Disappears to garage to find an old tin

[F Body]

Quoting: F Body

Disappears to garage to find an old tin

Hammerite Garden Metal Shades

http://www.icipaints.co.uk/products/info/hammerite_garden_metal_shades_textured_matt.jsp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">http://www.icipaints.co.uk/products/info/hammerite_garden_metal_shades_textured_matt.jsp