Has anyone painted their Moab wheels?
- Thread starter Taylo1
- Start date
The durability of the paint all the depends on how well the surface is prepped. Also, if you're doing some serious off-roading and your wheels are hitting the rocks then I wouldn't expect even the finest job to last.
It can definitely be done well. @Ranger_b0b has the technique down to an art form.
Pretty well. They have a couple marks on them from playing in the rocks and my bike carrier has done a number to the spare, but normal driving they will last a long time. The bonus is that when you paint them like this, you know the color so touchups are only a Q-Tip away!
My current project is refinishing some AEV Pintlers. The Moabs are going to a buddy of mine who wants them for his Cherokee...This picture shows them all sanded down, ready for primer.
So, the factory wheels are powder primed. The theory I heard is that they calculated the coating process into the heat treatment of the wheel. Having them done again is supposed to age them (make them brittle). I don't know for sure that. Lots of guys have them done...I'm just comfortable enough painting them that I chose to do it that way.
I did read on the AEV forum that my wheels specifically would have issues if they were powder coated again.
Ok, thanks for the info on that. I may call and talk to a coating company and see what they have to say. I know that powered coating is going to be tougher.
Powder coating is not tougher, that’s a myth and hype. It’s more about the proper prep and resins in the paint itself. For example, if you go with a 2K Ceramic paint it has a lot more resins in it. It will be very hard compared to other paints. Try something like Eastwoods. Now, as for getting the right color, that’s another issue.
Nice. /Exactly. And just follow the application. Prep by scuffing the surface, then wipe down with alcohol and lint fredcloth until it comes off clean, spray with self-etching primer, light coats, then your Eastwood’s and clear coat if you want. Will be tough
So...I used Duplicolor Wheel paint. It sprayed down nice and covered well. This time around, I'm using a Lacquer through my HVLP gun. Reason is this...as @JMT said the more solids you can get down, the more durable the paint will be. With Aerosol cans, the solids need to be ground up SO fine that its tough to really get enough on your surface. There just isn't enough in the can. I've heard good things about Eastwood, but I think the problem comes down to simply physics.
Also, the only thing 2K means about paint is that it will cure at room temp...1K needs to be baked to kick off the reaction. So...basically anything you get in an aerosol is going to be 2K.
All that being said, I've sprayed at least three sets of wheels through the years and aerosol has held up really well. Its only once I started wheeling the jeep that I've noticed scratches and whatnot. I'm experimenting a bit this time, as I'm mixing the color myself and using ready to spray quarts from Duplicolor. No reducers, recoat windows, etc.
Also, the only thing 2K means about paint is that it will cure at room temp...1K needs to be baked to kick off the reaction. So...basically anything you get in an aerosol is going to be 2K.
All that being said, I've sprayed at least three sets of wheels through the years and aerosol has held up really well. Its only once I started wheeling the jeep that I've noticed scratches and whatnot. I'm experimenting a bit this time, as I'm mixing the color myself and using ready to spray quarts from Duplicolor. No reducers, recoat windows, etc.
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