I know that Rays Paints all their wheels, but what process do they use (they do multiple coats?, multiple layers of clear?)? I know their finish isn't the most durable thing in the world, but i think it is better than just a normal paint job.

The reason i ask is because in the future i would like to paint my RE-30's matte black (currently formula silver) and i want to ensure i don't ghetto up a brand new set of wheels.

 

U will ghetto them up! DONT GET MAD AT ME

 

YOU SEE THAT BABY IN YOUR AVATAR! THATS GOING TO BE YOU SUCKA NEXT TIME I SEE YOU!

 

Finishes actually vary through out the wheel line. Not all the wheels have the same type of finish. Rather than painting, you should powder coat your wheels.

 

I was under the impression that powdercoating forged aluminum was a no no. So therefore powdercoating a forged monoblock wheel would equal


Well let me ask this, does anyone know what process they use on the re30's?

 

Why would powder coating a forged monoblock be a no no? We've done, it. As a matter of fact, my friend Eddie @ Mackin drives a E46 M3 with powder coated TE37's.

 

I've heard of some disaster pwdercoating stories...it be interesting to find out more about the thermal limits of the rays process and to see if it actually weakens the metal at all....

 

Powder coating does not compromise the structural integrity on the forged aluminum however chroming will.

 

youtube its on there how they make and finish the wheel.
if you want to change the color just do it right and powder coat it will look like it came that way.

 

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Armx02_R7Y0&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Armx02_R7Y0&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

 

^ Cool...

 

what about their SF series wheels? are they safe to powder coat? I am thinking of powdercoating the face of my sf winnings....

 

I'm not a powdercoater, but I have been gathering alot of information for my own projects from fairly knowledgeable sources that do powdercoating.

Proper powdercoating should not harm a very strong wheel like a LM4GT or LE37. Wheels with smaller spokes, like split spoke design seem to be more sensitive to the process.

The convection ovens used in some shops are prone to 'hot spotting'. Placing your wheels near the blower may expose them to more heat than should be used.

A shop that attempts to use a bake off oven or uses temps near or over 500F (hotspotting) will be too close the temp in which Al anneals. It could cause "over-aging", making a forged wheel more brittle than it should be. it does not weaken the wheel. But rather it may make it more prone to fatigue due to overaging. While I havent the least idea what process Rays is using, some 6061-T6 Al is annealed under 400F during the initial manufacture (like cast wheels).

http://www.steelforge.com/alloys/?alloy=6061
Just saying, temps over 400F+ for an hour is not completely trivial. It's important you pick a good shop. It can be done safely, as alot of people here have done.. dont let some dumbasses overtemp your $$$ wheels or needlessly heat cycle them repeatedly. It's easy for this to happen as they juggle multiple jobs.