sonus

I need your advice guys. I'm about to have my wheel barrels changed for more lip, and I figured I should have the wheels refinished at the same time.

The BARREL: Currently the barrel is bare polished aluminum. I've used ZoopSeal, but I'm in the mood for something more permanant and more hassle free (read durable). Should I:
1. Add a clear coat of PAINT to the new polished lips
2. Clear POWDER coat them
3. Clear anodize and possibly add 1 or 2 to the mix for extra protection
4. Just chrome the darn things

The FACE: Currently its brushed and anodized - no clearcoat (I think). The finish has held up pretty well over the course of one year (including winter/snow/salt - stupid I know). But, there is a light bit of discoloration on one wheel I think b/c the car wash place blundered and used acidic wheel cleaner, when they shouldn't have. If I have the face reanodized, should I proceed with choices 1 or 2 for added durability?

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V8growler

I love them, great look. I would go with a clearcoat to all, if they were mine

ZephyrS4

way to go for the barrels. Then leave the lips polished. I hate my clear coated lips. They get chipped way too easily. A polished lip would be pretty easy to polish every now and then to keep looking nice without all the little chips that would be there if the lips were painted. Is there a way to powder coat the inside of the barrel and leave the lips polished-only?

ruknd

powdercoated the centers AND the inner barrels flat black (no more worrying about brake dust deposits)...polished teh lips AND powdercoated them clear. The pc clear is a bit duller than jsut polished lips but I was using adams polish (1 and 2) at least once a week. I did use 3 coats of rejex on them and I now just wipe the wheels (lips and all) with the schmit mit after spraying with my foam gun.

sonus

Thanks for the compliment

sonus

clear coats of paint of paint don't adhere well to polished lips/barrels. And they eventually peel. How's the powdercoat holding up? Any evidence of that?

oc_tt

I'm not sure, but I sure do like those wheels, combo looks good!

sonus

Thanks!

ruknd

Powdercoating is a much better option though also pricer.