Hi all, I'm respraying some 8 spokes and have been looking for etch primer, but can't find any at any of the DIY shops around. Where can you get it from? I bought Plastikote metal primer instead, will this be useless? The wheels are off the rims so I need to get a hard wearing finish that will not flake off under pressure washers, or stone chips. It's especially noticable as the rims used to be white underneath, though I am going to bare metal in a lot of places due to rust spots.

Is there any technique to doing wheels I should know of?

Cheers

Halfords used to sell etch prime in 400ml aerosol cans. Auto paint suppliers will sell it in 1-litre tins or spary cans.
Plasticote is 'ok', but you have to build up layers to get a decnt coat - no idea how tough it is though. Perhaps enamel would be better?

Mill Auto Supplies 84 Priory Bridge Road, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 1QA 01823 352555 ?




Les.

as les said plasticoat is ok but you need a lot of coats to get a decent finish when i left school i worked as an industrial paint sprayer/shotblaster if you have the time get them sandblasted and a decent 2 pack high build primer and go from there,many 2 packs will take cellulose without the need for a barcoat look at wj leigh paint manufactuers for some info on different epoxy paints

Thanks for the replies. I don't have time or know of facilities to get them shot blasted, a wire brush on a drill is the best I can do.
I won't bother with the plastikote then, I'll go and buy proper etch primer.

Cheers for the link Les but it doesn't work, I'll google the name.

if you can strip them back to bare metal, then what about powder coat? only costs about £15 per wheel

U-Pol Acid 8 etch primer in aerosol. Ebay or local Motor Factors. Not likely to find at DIY stores.

All I could find in any shop I know of that might sell it was brush-on etch primer, from Mill Auto Supplies. I've near enough finished removing the paint from the wheels, and I started to apply the primer but it's bubbling around some areas, possibly where I couldn't remove all the old paint as it's too tight to get the wire brush into. I can't see any way of removing this paint, and I think it will ruin the finish of the wheels so I don't quite know how to remedy it.

Hot air gun, blow torch, paint stripper. If the remaining paint is almost invisible to see, then a layer of barrier paint will prevent a reaction.


Les.

Ah good idea. I'm waiting for the primer to dry before I take it off again and have a go with the hot air gun. At least it's only the front of one rim so far, not too much time wasted.