Painting rims

[jim55]

I'm building a bike from bits IV got however I need to paint the wheels,( they are going satin black- everything is)
They are regular Alu rims with braking track machined and black bladed spokes .
Is it ok to just paint over brake tracks and let the brake blocks rub it off, or would u try and mask off ,if so any tips as masking that off can't be easy

 

[raleighnut]

I'd mask them off.I know of a bike that had painted rims (promo bike for a shop) they squealed like buggery till the paint wore off and it took a while as the bike was only used at events Critical Mass and Ride Leicester etc.)

 

[Deleted member 23692]

Mask them off. It's easy. Frist get some decent masking tape, not some non-brand pound-shop cheapniss.

Then mask the brake track off using numerous overlapping straight pieces and don't try to follow the curve with a singles pieces.

Once done, drop in back in the frame/forks and using a new, sharp stanley blade andthe frame forks to steady the blade, slowly rotate the wheel and you'll cut a perfect concentric circle using the edge of the brake track as a guide. Obviously you'll need to mask all the spokes too.

You can also put the wheels in the frame/forks when you come to spray the rims too. Spin the wheels slowly and hold the spray can stationary and you'll get a good even coat.

Another top tip is to stand the rattle can in hot water for a few minutes to warn up the contents before spraying and it goes on better and dries quicker

These were done using the exact same method...
Before

After

 

[weareHKR]

Then mask the brake track off using numerous overlapping straight pieces and don't try to follow the curve with a singles pieces.

As @Ffoeg has suggested, although I would buy a roll of 4 or 5mm Pinstripe Masking tape which you can easily follow the curve with, then mask newspaper or similar to that.

 

[rogerzilla]

Get disc brakes

 

[FrankCrank]

Could you lay an old tyre over the rim, and spray merrily away, then flip it over and do the same on other side. Not tried it myself, but just thinking aloud.

 

[MichaelW2]

Why woukd you paint a braking surface? Wont this degrade braking.

 

[T4tomo]

Mask them off. It's easy. Frist get some decent masking tape, not some non-brand pound-shop cheapniss.

Then mask the brake track off using numerous overlapping straight pieces and don't try to follow the curve with a singles pieces.

Once done, drop in back in the frame/forks and using a new, sharp stanley blade andthe frame forks to steady the blade, slowly rotate the wheel and you'll cut a perfect concentric circle using the edge of the brake track as a guide. Obviously you'll need to mask all the spokes too.

You can also put the wheels in the frame/forks when you come to spray the rims too. Spin the wheels slowly and hold the spray can stationary and you'll get a good even coat.

Another top tip is to stand the rattle can in hot water for a few minutes to warn up the contents before spraying and it goes on better and dries quicker

These were done using the exact same method...
Before
View attachment 573341
After
View attachment 573343

Good job, You even had the forethought to re-drill the valve holes so they lined up with repainted N logo's!

 

[Deleted member 23692]

Good job, You even had the forethought to re-drill the valve holes so they lined up with repainted N logo's!

It's all in the detail