The whoes of painting my alloy's

[827Roverman]

A short while ago I purchased a set of used Draco's off a club member for my 940, they needed a bit of refurbishment, so I paid a local wheel specialist firm to media blast them and sort out a few minor kerb rashes for me, the wheels came back with quite a good finish, so I began the repainting using E-TECH & PROTEK aerosol products, first applied two coats of etch primer, followed by two coats of grey primer, then a light flatting down, then washed & dried the wheels, I wanted to do the wheels myself rather than pay a professional, I had decided to do them two tone, the main centre's in metallic silver, the slots and rim in graphite grey with the outer edge of the rim in silver, two coats of silver applied, then masked it all off whilst I did the graphite, to me they looked fantastic, the paints used was E-TECH, then came the lacquer, from my ebay supplier PROTEK was the lacquer sent, I applied two coats, I got a few runs, so allowed the lacquer to harden off a couple of days before flatting down my runs, only to find the lacquer was PEELING/FLAKING off, I have contacted the manufacturers of both products without a great deal of help, the bottom line to me, is that it would appear that Protek lacquer is not compatible with E-Tech paint, so now got to start over, all good fun innit ! so before some of you start shouting about should have had them powder coated or professionally painted, it was a job I wanted to do myself in my old age and spare time, but we all make mistakes from time to time don't we ! now starting repainting using one different product.

[mhuk]

I found out I had ordered the wrong lacquer when I did my rear clusters and off it all came. Always check what your spray either with research for a test card.

What a pita it must be for you!!

[230ina245]

That's a bummer! - still, you will get more practise & make an even better job next time.
Out of interest, could you tell me if the metallic silver paint comes out like a chrome finish or more of a dull aluminium finish?
Tim

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by mhuk

I found out I had ordered the wrong lacquer when I did my rear clusters and off it all came. Always check what your spray either with research for a test card.

What a pita it must be for you!!

I've been refurbing some alloys at the same time as David and had similar problems with E-Tech pain but unlike him, i did the lacquer "wet-on-wet". This is the other recommended procedure by E-Tech (either wait at least 24hrs or do it wet-on-wet) and mine ended up blistering! However, the test piece i did beforehand came out perfectly - go figure!

Originally Posted by 230ina245

That's a bummer! - still, you will get more practise & make an even better job next time.
Out of interest, could you tell me if the metallic silver paint comes out like a chrome finish or more of a dull aluminium finish?
Tim

Tim - if you're thinking of the E-Tech Bright Silver paint that is meant to look like chrome - DON'T!!!!





First pic, before lacquer, second pic moments after lacquering. The "bright smooth spots" were where it blistered while i went and had a coffee while it dried. I don't have any pics of the blisters as i was hissed off (only one letter out! ) about it that i didn't want a reminder of how bad it was.

Just to show i'm not a complete pratt that can't paint/refurb a wheel, here's a couple of pics of an Omega wheel for my 760, deliberately left the little dings there as "patina" and the fact that one is going to be the spare ultimately. First one before the lacquer, second after with tyre refitted.





The paint used on the Omega wheel is a combination of Autotek primer and lacquer and Halfords wheel paint (steel silver) and latterly, Autotek lacquer. The other wheel (16" Telesto, ex S/V40) is going on my 827 and the rest of those will be done with Autotek paint.

I really feel for David, i know how much this project means to him and it should have come out a lot better, especially given the price of E-Tech paint comapred to the others available.

[827Roverman]

Originally Posted by 230ina245

That's a bummer! - still, you will get more practise & make an even better job next time.
Out of interest, could you tell me if the metallic silver paint comes out like a chrome finish or more of a dull aluminium finish?
Tim

The E-TECH metallic silver I used is not at all like a chrome finish, I wouldn't term it as dull either, it has a bit of a sparkle to it, quite a nice finish really.

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by 827Roverman

The E-TECH metallic silver I used is not at all like a chrome finish, I wouldn't term it as dull either, it has a bit of a sparkle to it, quite a nice finish really.

A better finish than the alleged chrome-like finish mine was meant to have! Mine also looked "powdery" as well as can be seen in the first photo of it.