Painting the wheels

After successfully keeping the rust at bay, I then began layering on very thin layers of primer. I used Rustoleum high performance primer and Rustoleum high performance enamel paint that is said to be tough enough to resist dings and damage. This is quick drying as well.

Painting was a challenge as you are a slave to your conditions. My conditions were sunny and windy. Lots of pollen, tree flowers and flying insects to make the smooth paint challenging.

After cleaning, prepping and applying the layers of primer, I painted the inside of the rims with the Rustoleum black enamel paint. I chose black for the inside because it would show less dirt and it would be harder to clean. I applied layer after layer until I was satisfied and let the paint dry overnight.

The next day I painted the outside facing wheels a nice ivory using the layer method. Now it's back to the garage to have the tires mounted and wheels balanced.

Prepping the wheels for painting

Cleaning wheels is difficult and a process more than a one and done deal. You can't just clean the wheels and be done with it, not these wheels anyway. I spent some time spreading on the Citristrip paint remover and scrubbing it off. The directions recommended leaving it on from at least 20 minutes and up to 24 hours. These five beauties needed at least 24 hours to strip off 50 years of paint.

I know I covered this paint remover in a previous post, but I wanted to begin with the paint removing as part of the process. In other words, once you remove the paint, take a break until you are ready to begin a process of rust removal and paint prep.

The next process is to remove the rust. After significant amounts of research on the internet and interviewing painters, I picked out the rust removal process that best fit my needs. I decided to use vinegar. So, I bought gallons of it, filled a container and dipped my wheels in them. This process took a couple of weeks as I cleaned two wheels at a time with a few days each for soaking.

The vinegar soak

I recommend soaking and scrubbing with a course sponge or tough steel wool. If you have chrome wheels, uses something gentle as you'll mess up the chrome. However, if these are steel rims, you won't gouge them too badly, they are tough. Also, my wheels had deep rust. I discovered deep damage that I will live with.

The reason that I am spending so much time rehabbing these wheels is that the newer versions won't fit well with the old VW hubcaps.

If you are able to clean the wheels with this process, then prep them immediately for painting.

My wheels required more work with a drill and wire brush. This stuff was just too much.

Nice and clean

Now, once all the rust is removed, don't do what I did. I cleaned them with water, expecting to paint the next day. To my horror, the wheels rusted overnight. Ugh!



Of course I didn't learn my lesson and repeated the rust 

The rust came back

removal, cleaning and re-rusting process a few more times before figuring out that I needed to put primer on the wheels.





Finally, after removing all the rust, I washed the rims with a pressure washer and wiped them down with mineral spirits. Once dry, I applied a very light coating of primer. I applied the primer with the rims standing up because I didn't care about the single color of primer spraying on all areas. For the actual paint, I'll lay the rims down and do each side in its individual cover.

Finally prepped for paint

The next morning, great news, the primer kept the rust at bay.