To Powder Coat or Spray Paint Aluminum Wheels

Hello everyone. My efforts to replace my rusty steels wheels on my 2n gen seem to be adding up in cost.
I picked up some 2001 4 runner wheels and had them media blasted for a few hundred bucks. I was just going to use VHT spray can wheel paint in Graphite but powder coating would only be 240 bucks more. The only problem is the plastic center caps cant get powder coated but I can get a match at home depot. It seems like a lot of effort for such old rims. Whatcha guys think to spray or shell out 240 more for powder coating?

 

Being from the rust belt, powder coating is no better than liquid spray painting. They both require the base material to be prepped and primed if your want any longevity out of the topcoat. I once had a front bumper powder coated and the only prep work was to sandblast the old paint and rust off and apply the powdered topcoat. It didn't make it through the first weeks of winter before it started to rust and by the time the winter was over with it looked worst than before.
Now if you're talking about applying the liquid spray paint yourself versus having a shop powder coat it, that would be a different story.

 

I used the VHT spray paint on my stock TRD Offroad wheels. I used a drill with a sanding bit on it and sanded the original flaking, crappy paint off, then cleaned the wheels and sprayed 3 coats of black and 3 coats of clear. I'm happy with how they came out for $40 worth of paint and a weekend worth of time. It's only been a couple of months so I don't have a long term report yet but they've held up well driving on rock roads and inclimate weather.

 

DIY job using a 2K urethane paint system from Sherwin-Williams Automotive. Not rattle can.

Stripped bare. Sanded, prepped, primed, color, clear. First winter will soon be here.

 

If you REALLY like the wheels and plan on keeping them forever than I’d personally powder cost them over a Rattle Can but if it’s only temporary wheels than just spray em…. I got my swimstep done on my boat and found out they had different types of powder coating now also other than just the Sony smooth they also offer ANY COLOR you can imagine and you can do it in a matte rough finish that won’t scratch. Something else to think about? I went to Rhino liner so check it out if you dare!? Cheers!!!

 

Powder coating is baked on I dont think thats accurate about being as durable as spray. But Im wondering how long it would last. VHT you dont have to prime but I would use self etching primer. The real kink in the works now is the plastic center cap, since the wheel is 16 inches the thing is huge and will look wacky with mismatched color.

I do plan on using spay paint cans my self, no clear, its a polyurethane paint anyway. I'm just not sure if its going to look that good from just the rattle cans.

 

Awesome. Good luck!! Hope it comes out great.

 

How much $$$ are you on the hook for already and what do you expect to spend at the end of this? If you really like the wheel design and don't want to pay a bunch, I'd say the rattle cans are your best bet. There is no shame in that game. If you're patient and careful, you can get really good results and it'll cost less money and just more of your time.

On the other hand, my neighbor went the powdercoat route with FJ wheels on his T4R and off road camper. They look super good and they're all perfectly matched. I'll ask him about cost when I see him next.

I went down this rabbit hole last year and ended up buying new wheels altogether. It made more sense for what I was planning if I could find wheels the width and offset that I wanted, rather than use stock wheels and spacers. I shopped around and waited for a sale so that I could have a local place price match. Ended up with new, better looking, lighter wheels for about $134 each.

For me, finding the color, gloss level, and type of rattle can that I wanted wasn't working out but I'm a bit particular on dumb things. I also didn't want to add a project to my list at the time I don't regret that.

 

Cool thanks guys your advice just sealed the decision, I was on the fence but rattle can it is then. They just were media blasted so Im thinking of going straight to a good self etching primer, then three coats of this vht graphite polyurethane. 2 cans graphite and primer for under 30 bucks. I'm going to paint from behind and the back of the lip of the rims first. Any other suggestions?

 

I think you're on the right track here. I'm not a fan of powder coat from what I've seen. At least with the rattle can, or home paint job, you can touch it up or redo them fairly inexpensively.

 

If you're going to offroad it use spray paint. DD and mall crawling Powdercoat.

 

Thank you for posting the picture. I just bought my 06 last week and it has the same rims with peeling flaking paint. This gives me hope for a inexpensive solution.

 

Just out of curiosity?? Why wouldn’t you be a fan of powder coating?? I mean it’s baked on & becomes part of whatever you attach it too and doesn’t chip when eben hit with rocks or a hammer?? I’ve got parts on my truck & boat powder coated and it’s like a ROCK!! Just kinda makes me wonder how someone would like spray paint over it? Nothing rude just curious? Maybe you want to take it off later and change the color with Laquer thinner? Or.

 

Yeah that clear coat that comes on them
Isn’t to great from the factory. Glad I sold mine.

 

Valid question. I've had some small parts powder coated in the past, it looked great and was a hard coating. BUT, it chipped really easily and when you started having problems with the integrity of the surface, touch up was not easy. I've heard stories of powder coat holding up really well but it seems to me like the same stories you used to hear about a chevy engine going 200,000 miles without a problem. That was the exception, not the rule. Maybe I'm just a cheap ass and am biased to the method that fits my personality!
Still, not a fan of powder coat.

 

I hear ya!! Was just wondering, I powder coated my rock crawler rails and let’s hope I don’t have your luck with these. Lol.

 

I had my oem trd off road wheels blasted and powder coated 4.5 winters ago and they still look great. Winter here is a good 5 months with tons of salt. They were very corroded before I they were blasted and powder coated FYI.

 

What did you do about your plastic center caps for painting when you powder coated your wheels? Yea only a little off road here.
16inch 2001 4 runner rims, nothing fancy, couple cans of primer and 2 or so of color you guys think?

 

The math with this is difficult. Unless you have all the equipment it is just as cheap to buy a new set of wheels, even OEM. I just went through this decision process a couple of months ago when I ended up getting a set of TRDs from my local dealer for ~$200 apiece. Meanwhile I have a set of chipped and dirty TRD sport wheels shod with Michelin LTX M&S tires with about 4k miles life left on them in my basement. I wanted the new shoes before winter... I need to get rid of the old ones or sell them I suppose. Would be good for anyone wanting to refinish them DIY.

 

I had my FJ Wheels "remanufactered" by AWRS a little over 2 years ago. All I did was drop off my truck, and pick it up 2 days later. They do everything. Dismount, strip, repair, powder coat, remill the faces, remount, balance. Cost me $625 all in. AND I got to choose the color, and there are literally hunders of colors & textures to choose from.