I have a set of chromed wheels that I want to refinish.


I tho't about having them rechromed, but I really don't want chrome.


Powder coating is something I've had done before, but not with chromed wheels, altho ... I think it can be done with some prepping. Worked out well.


But, I came across hydrographic coating (dipping) of some guns and auto parts that I tho't was pretty kewl. Seems very durable.


Anyone have any experience with this process on automotive parts?

 

No experience with hydrocoating. Have you looked into platidip? I don't consider it a proper finish for a permanent application, but plenty of shops will coat the entire wheel for a very cheap price. They offer new finishes (matte, semi-gloss, gloss) that you may like.

 

Also known as Water Transfer Printing. No experience with parts like wheels, but have done some small projects like bats and other relatively "simple" smooth surfaces. Does work great in those cases, and the graphics you can use are just insane if you really want to go different.

If you haven't already, do a search on YouTube and you'll find a number of examples where wheels are dipped. Here's one that covers a bunch of wheels and other parts....


The problem I see with getting a good finish on wheels that are spoked is getting the image you are dipping the wheel into to wrap all the way around the spokes and through the barrel of the wheel. Essentially when you have a very thin transfer image floating on the surface of the dipping solution, which wraps "onto" the surface of the object you are dipping. When you have 5-8 or more different surfaces getting the image to wrap in any consistent manner from surface-to-surface will be difficult.... not that it can't be done, but I would expect that an amateur at this would have to waste a lot of images practicing to get it right -- and you have to do it consistently at least 4 times! ;-)

Have you considered plastidipping as an alternative. Much much easier to control, an amateur can make it look professional, and you have a rainbow of colors to choose from -- whatever you don't like, you just peel off!

Search this forum for plastidipping -- some of us have coated various parts on our 991's and even wheels.

Good luck, and post the results of whatever you do! Thanks!

 

Thanx for the responses.


I actually have HRE wheels on my '09 Turbo. Satin black on a midnight blue cab. I like them a great deal. Think they are 43s.


I was thinking about doing this on a set of wheels for my Ram truck. I have an extra set of chrome wheels from another truck that I would like to fool around with.


Hydrographics is really neat, and seems quite durable used on guns of all sorts, and other automotive / motorcycle parts.


Yeah, the patterns are crazy ! I was think about "Real Tree Camo", "Heavy Metal", "Carbon Fiber", or "Skulls" !




Check this vid out. Kewl stuff !