What color should I powdercoat my rims? part 1

powerlabs

10-10-2005 05:38 PM

---

What color should I powdercoat my rims?
�

I am going to be putting my winter rims back on with some snow tires and I figured I might get the rims powdercoated while they are out, since I found a place that will do it for $100 bucks all 4 rims.
What do you think would look better on a GC8 Impreza? Here is what it looks like now:

[IMG]http://www.powerlabs.org/images/subicampusside.jpg[/IMG]

I am considering a black setup like Jamie's:
[IMG]http://www.subiegal.com/images/car%20stuff/rs/rs05/impreza25rs3.jpg[/IMG]

Or going for gold, like the 1998 2.5RS and like Subaru always uses on their rally cars.
[IMG]http://www.northursalia.com/techdocs/history/sti6c.jpg[/IMG]

I haven't ruled out anthracite (dark gray) yet either... Ideas? Suggestions?

BraveUlysses

10-10-2005 06:54 PM

---

Gunmetal.

jwild

10-10-2005 06:57 PM

---

if you have aluminum forged rims - DONT powder coat them. The baking process actually weakens the metal. There have been several stories with pictures of powder-coated rims deforming under hard turning causing the spokes to come into contact with the brake calipers....

Paint instead, many coats finished with clear coat.

good luck - go with graphite color.

Silver '02 REX

10-10-2005 07:10 PM

---

If you are going to go with the same gold as the stock Subaru ones, I say go with that, otherwise anthracite.

minx1225

10-10-2005 07:15 PM

---

graphite or gold... sometimes gold looks ugly when they are powdercoated...

LOLSTi

10-10-2005 07:21 PM

---

[QUOTE=minx1225]graphite or gold... sometimes gold looks ugly when they are powdercoated...[/QUOTE]
times two.

Silver '02 REX

10-10-2005 07:31 PM

---

[QUOTE=minx1225]graphite or gold... sometimes gold looks ugly when they are powdercoated...[/QUOTE]


Thats what I meant by staying with Subaru gold as gold can become ugly very fast.

jkrotty

10-10-2005 07:37 PM

---

gunmetal looks great on black cars

powerlabs

10-10-2005 07:45 PM

---

Exactly; at the Milwaukee autox I saw 2 cars with gold rims that just looked horrible. I don't know if it was the color, or the process used, or if they were just dirty, but it didn't look anything like what I would want in my car.
On the other hand, the STI gold color on rims would be sweet...
Either gold of gunmetal then I guess... How can I tell how it is going to look?

BTW, about the powdercoating: Its only 400C for under an hour. I can see how theoretically it may weaken some rims (it will, to some degree, lessen the strengthening effects of cold working processes like shot peening), but I don't see it being much of a factor on cast rims like the stock ones on Subarus.

blkwrx02

10-10-2005 08:21 PM

---

Another for gunmetal

ittybitty_STI

10-10-2005 08:42 PM

---

Gold looks good on the blk STIs but i also like blk. But its your choice your car.

chris-man

10-10-2005 11:01 PM

---

id say black.

Danno_HMT

10-10-2005 11:40 PM

---

black looks good.

stArs Inked

10-11-2005 11:05 PM

---

anthracite/graphite!!! :D
$15 paint stripper
$12 paint
5 spare hours...

[IMG]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a397/Superu777/8280cce2.jpg[/IMG]

sorry I do not have a better pic...

dropmech

10-11-2005 11:36 PM

---

white

silverF4turbo

10-11-2005 11:51 PM

---

Bronze

MB38	10-12-2005 12:28 AM

---

Purple.

SonnyCrockett04

10-12-2005 11:13 PM

---

Fusia

Brtnchild180

10-13-2005 05:10 AM

---

Gunmetal or Black

Imprezanize

10-13-2005 05:33 AM

---

gunmetal

markadopolus

10-13-2005 05:48 AM

---

Magenta

BrentS

10-13-2005 11:42 AM

---

Black with gold looks soo hot on a nice clean car! It does not look so good on a dirty one. The rims look even dirtier.

NWWagon

10-13-2005 12:19 PM

---

Go for the gold

George WRX Bush

10-13-2005 05:07 PM

---

Don't, it can change the material properties of the wheel.

teh Phil

10-13-2005 05:29 PM

---

Leave them alone or....
[QUOTE=minx1225]graphite or gold... sometimes gold looks ugly when they are powdercoated...[/QUOTE]

USF97J4x4

11-02-2005 08:48 PM

---

STI PINK
w/lime green center caps


get noticed babyyyy

splizaat

11-02-2005 08:59 PM

---

im fukin jealous of your car dam it

i was goin to give a better home for a 2004 Sti that is curently in a scrap yard :furious: and then wen i am startin to save up and good job for 6 months i get layed off get ur fukin release papers from the boss :mad: :mad:

good luck white would be nice !

powerlabs

11-02-2005 09:45 PM

---

And the winner is....
�

I looked at the catalogue and chose gunmetal gray / anthracite. I'll let you know how they turn out.
BTW the process happens at 375F. There is absolutely no way in hell that any material change could occur at those temperatures.

USF97J4x4

11-02-2005 09:50 PM

---

im a strong advocate of powder coating but be careful what you say. Some metals dont require a lot of heat to lose their temper, strength, etc, luckily those metals arent typically in rims.

powerlabs

11-02-2005 09:58 PM

---

[QUOTE=USF97J4x4]im a strong advocate of powder coating but be careful what you say. Some metals dont require a lot of heat to lose their temper, strength, etc, luckily those metals arent typically in rims.[/QUOTE]

Most rims are just cast aluminum. The stock ones certainly are. As such, there is no "temper" to mess with... I'm not at all worried.

powerlabs

11-09-2005 11:50 AM

---

Doesn't look quite as "metallic" as I hoped, but it sure beats scratched rims...
Now I just have to paint the centercap (can't powdercoat it because its plastic).

[IMG]http://www.powerlabs.org/images/rims2.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://www.powerlabs.org/images/rims.jpg[/IMG]

pleue

11-09-2005 05:11 PM

---

not really a fan, came out kinda flat I think. I think black would have been better/ foolproof

Dutch Scooby lover

11-09-2005 05:49 PM

---

Powdercoating wont get them metallic at all (if u mean matallic like your laquer)

Maybe have them redone black or white, cause tho gunmetal is nice, this defo aint gunmetal

C43	11-09-2005 05:58 PM

---

Black would look sick.

psyber_0ptix

11-09-2005 05:59 PM

---

brakedust

minx1225

11-09-2005 06:08 PM

---

SORRY for BAD Pictures! Dupli Color Graphite! 4 Coats of Paint and 3 Coats of clear :banana:
[IMG]http://x11.putfile.com/11/31217064629.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://x11.putfile.com/11/31217080783.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://x11.putfile.com/11/31217053555.jpg[/IMG]

powerlabs

11-10-2005 08:50 AM

---

[QUOTE=pleue]not really a fan, came out kinda flat I think. I think black would have been better/ foolproof[/QUOTE]

Yeah, I agree they came out really flat.
Still, black on a black car wasn't what I was looking for. I'm considering keeping the powdercoating as a basecoat and then spraying them with the metallic gray I want and then clear coating them. But I'll want to see them on the car first.

advanracing62

11-10-2005 09:43 AM

---

orange!

Damon

11-10-2005 12:17 PM

---

gunmetal for teh winn.

brcewane

11-10-2005 12:27 PM

---

Could just be the photo.. but they almost look like primer grey and then a clear coat over it...

powerlabs

11-10-2005 02:42 PM

---

[QUOTE=brcewane]Could just be the photo.. but they almost look like primer grey and then a clear coat over it...[/QUOTE]

Yeah... That's powdercoating for you... I think I'll give them a coat of paint.