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I have alloy wheels on my 01 civic ex, but the paint is starting to chip off. I want to paint it a new color. Can i do it myself? or do i need it professionally done? What would be the cost?

 
Rep Power: 214

You can do it your self for cheap. Its really easy I did it to mine. You can do it with your tires on them to. just get some sand paper and sand off the clear coat, then put index cards around the rim in the grooves. All you need after that is the primer paint, base paint and the clear coat.

 
Rep Power: 256

if you really like your rims you can get them powder coated and they will basically last forever it usually cost between 80-100 dollars a rim.

 
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so all i need to do is wash, dry, and sandpaper the rims and then apply all the paint?
What's the point of the primer paint and clear coat?

I don't think i could afford to get them powder coated right now.

 
Rep Power: 215

primer helps the base paint stick and clear coat makes it nice a shinny

 
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Will regular black spray paint suffice? or do i need to buy some special kind of paint from a specific store.

 
Rep Power: 256

anything made for metal will work fine i painted my winter steelies with some left over dupli-color engine enamal and they still look like i just painted them this is threw connecticut winters to granted i do wax them.

 
Rep Power: 214

Primer is used to keep the base coat on and the clear coat is to protect the base coat from being chipped and so forth.

 
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well i bought all the equipment and started to sand down my rims but i noticed that the coating is still on. Is it okay to start priming and painting with the old coating on the rims? or do i need to buy a remover and get rid of everything to make it clean.

 
Rep Power: 230

the real work of doing any paint is all in the prep. the better you prep and get a good base to work from, the better your paint will look.

you should get everything completely off and nice and smooth before you do any priming. once its primed, some people like to gently go over it once more to make sure its nice and smooth, then apply the paint.

if its only another hour or two of work to get them ready to prime, its worth doing it because if you dont, they will **** you off everytime you look at them.

 
Rep Power: 0

yeah i get what you mean about all the prep work. i think i have this whole thing ready.
1) Remove wheels and clean them with water and soap.
2) Dry the wheel and then scrub them with sandpaper (320)
3) Apply paint remover or acetone and dry it.
4) Apply a few coats of primer.
5) go over it again with sandpaper (600)
6) Apply a few coats of the base paint.
7) Go over it with sandpaper (1000)
8) Apply the clear coating a couple times.
9) repeat with other wheels.

Am i missing anything or doing anything wrong? please tell me.