Community Forums

rodeking · 10-23-2012, 09:08 AM

If you have the un-coated aluminum wheels, after polishing them can you powder coat in clear to protect the shine?

Jon Mopar · 10-23-2012, 10:37 AM

Are you doing can spray clear over them, but conventional rattle-can clear coat it will flake off over time, and may also yellow...ultimately looking way worse. Clear coat doesn't like sticking to bare aluminum. You'd be better off just keeping them bare with wax on them

"power coating" is not the same as liquid clear coating. Powder coating is actually that...a special mix of resins and binders etc mixed and ground into a power. Once sprayed, heat is used to cure it, making it hard and shiny.

I hear if you're going to use clear coat though, Glisten PC is good stuff. Also, Sharkhide Aluminum sealer (find it at Eastwood`s website) is also something to look into.

BirdDoggin · 10-23-2012, 02:27 PM

I've done the "rattle" can clear coat on aluminum, it's a bit time consuming because any pit or imperfection in the aluminum is magnified by the clear coat. So you end up spending a lot of time getting the aluminum as perfect as possible. If you need new tires for your aluminum rims in the near future, wait, getting tires mounted will ruin all your work.

KSCRUDE · 10-23-2012, 02:39 PM

I was wanting to get 4 new aluminum wheels for my Baystar, but the dealer tells me they are not available in the 19.5 inch size with the factory coating. Alcoa calls it durabrite, and acuride calls is acusheild. I can get them polished or mill finished. I thought about the rattle can clear coat and may do that first. Would rather have the aluminum chromed as it is way more shinny and requires little to no maintenance when done over aluminum.

Hurricane Owner · 10-24-2012, 07:10 PM

Chrome plating weakens aluminum. Your better off polishing.

bttravel · 10-24-2012, 07:29 PM

My son does custom aluminum polishing in SE Missouri and he uses Sharkshide a lot on aluminum boats to protect the shine. Makes them very easy to clean and lasts several years. The trick is in the polishing. The boats and wheels he does look like mirrors.

Mr_D · 10-24-2012, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KSCRUDE

I was wanting to get 4 new aluminum wheels for my Baystar, but the dealer tells me they are not available in the 19.5 inch size with the factory coating. Alcoa calls it durabrite, and acuride calls is acusheild. I can get them polished or mill finished. I thought about the rattle can clear coat and may do that first. Would rather have the aluminum chromed as it is way more shinny and requires little to no maintenance when done over aluminum.

There was a company at an FMCA rally with chromed Alcoa wheels. They do the chrome work for numerous factories and have yet to have a warranty claim.
Problem was, they wanted right at $500 each wheel and they were 9.0 X 22.5's, which are too wide although my front tires will take a 9.0. Looked REALLY nice but..........