painting rims?

i was wondering how to paint the center of my rims while keeping the lip chrome? what do u guys do?

I would coat the lip with liquid mask, wait for it to dry, and then trim the excess area, using a sharp hobby knife. Then paint the spoke and wait for the paint to dry.

Since paint doesn't adhere to chrome very well, I suggest that you cut the paint-film along the border between the colored area and the lip. That way, you won't accidentally peel off the paint on the spokes when you remove the liquid mask. Good luck.

My method is different and perhaps less effective and/or time consuming than some of the other guys in this forum. I'll use a six spoke wheel as an example. I use medium sized tamiya tape. I cut the thickness of the tape depending on how far apart the spokes are from each other. I then place those strips in between the spokes making sure they are long enough to cover the lip, between the spoke and the inner part of the wheel. To make sure the tape holds I cut long pieces and stick them from the outer part of the wheel, bend to cover the lip, then covering in between the spokes and continue to the inner part of the wheel. I repeat this method until all the spaces between the spokes are covered. Then, I cut a few long strips of tape and place them along the lip of the wheel making sure I cover areas that are still exposed and recovering those areas that are already covered. Because the wheel is circular I cut the opposite part of the tape thats covering up the lip and I fold back the cut part of the tape. It (the tape) should fold back easily onto the outer part of the wheel (where the tire rests on the wheel). I then cut a thick piece of tape and cover the outer area of the wheel and do the same with the inner part of the wheel. By then everything except the spoke should be covered. Yeah it involves a lot of cutting tape and is time consuming but its worked for me with like three sets of wheels i've painted, and havent had paint fall off so far. Anyone have an easier and/or quicker way to do it, im all ears.

I just cut a strip of post it note, roll it into the correct circumference and stick the resulting tube onto the rim with masking tape.

Don't cut the post it strip too wide or the tube will be too long. That will make it hard for you to get proper coverage. About a inch or so will suffice.
The masking tape goes around the outside of the tube and the rim, keeping the tube in place and also masking the part that you wanna keep shiny :)

I just free-hand mine with enamel paint. It takes a lot of patients and time.

-Chris

Painting the chrome isn't impossible, you just have to take your time. If I need to keep the wheel lip chrome, I'll use a small piece of sandpaper glued to the end of a pencil eraser and scuff up the spokes and hub as best I can--obviously this is easier or more difficult depending on the shape of the wheel. Then I carefully brush with a few thin coats of paint. Also depends on the colour too of course, a really light colour won't cover nearly as well.

Best to strip the chrome, prime the wheel, paint the spokes and then alcad the rim.

hth,
Bill

I just paint over the chrome (depending on the type of paint) and then take a Q-Tip and spray WD-40 on it before the paint dries. It will remove the paint where you rub it, but will not remove the chrome. Enamel paint seems to work best with the method.

I free hand also, although it takes a bit more time, I find it more satisfying when it is done!!