Magic Dust

The wheel hangs from a grounding hook ready for its application of powder. The Koseis, like many cast wheels, wear a protective clear coating, which Andrews had chemically stripped. The process also etches the aluminum surface to provide a better adhesion for the powder/pigment medium. After chemical etching, the wheels are sandblasted to remove surface irregularities and pre-baked in the oven to relieve the cast-aluminum of trapped gases.

Few esthetic modifications yield more visual gratification than a set of custom wheels. The problem, though, is that the lightweight, retina-seizing wheels we yearn for can get pretty expensive. However, the powdercoating process offers a budget alternative. To show you how it’s done, we plucked some Kosei K-1s ($159 each at 16x7.5 inches) from a catalog. These cast- aluminum, Japanese wheels have been touted for their light weight and low price, but keep in mind that our makeover can be easily replicated with used or repaired wheels, which you can fetch at an even tastier price. Our goal was to play fairy godmother and make a Cinderella out of these wheels—ending up with a unique looking wheel set at a fraction of the cost of sexier wheels.

Doubtless, you’ve heard of people brightening their underhood components with this “magic dust.” Powdercoating is a dry, electrostatic process that uses finely ground particles of pigments and resins combined with heat to form a bond with a metal’s surface. Unlike painting, powdercoating does not involve moisture, much pressure, or petroleum distillates. A negatively-grounded metal surface is sprayed with a positively-charged powder, causing the particles to cling to the metal piece like the socks that cling to your pants after coming out of the dryer. The electrical charge is employed as the glue to keep the powder from falling off the metal surface. The dry-coated piece is then put into an oven at a temperature and duration relative to the particular metal surface. The resultant coating is harder and more resistant to scratches, fading, moisture, and many chemicals. In addition, the powdercoating process is available in a wide band of colors and textures. Just about any surface that can withstand the 400-degree curing temperature can be powdercoated.

Our guide for this article came from Andrews Powder Coating, of Chatsworth, California. But there are many companies nationwide that specialize in automotive applications. Browsing your area’s Yellow Pages and searching the Internet will point you in the right direction.