Clear powder coat vs traditional clear coat

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sus195

New member
Hey everyone, I've recently purchased a new set of 5zigen FN01R-C wheels. I'm planning on putting them on for summer tires.



My problem is that it has a polished face but the inside well and sides of the spoke aren't polished, they are textured- slightly rough. I can already imagine the brake dust being a problem unless I somehow religiously apply sealant/wax on them.



What are some of your opinions on clear powder coating vs a clear coat spray on these wheels? What would be the average costs of each? Would it be worth the hassle and would it even help? I'm not going for aesthetics rather an easier method of cleaning and protection for the wheels.



Thanks!



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If you use a clear coating type product (Opti-Cat, Aquartz, etc) you will not alter the asthetics but still have a surface that brake dust can easily be removed from
 
any competent painter working in the automotive field should be able to spray a clear coat on them. powder coating is a not harder but requires heat to cure the finish. powder coating isn't done at most places, you would probably have to send them out for it. with proper maintenance from the beginning i wouldn't think you have any real problems keeping the wheels looking good. i would start off with just regular washings then if that wasn't working i would look in to getting the wheels clear coated.
 
Both above are good answers. The only thing I have to add is that you have great taste in wheels!
 
Thanks for the recommendations, I'll have to look into the costs of each.



If I left them as they are, I know that it would require a significant effort to clean due to the matte-like finish. Even if protected I would only be able to use a spray sealant (like Opti-seal) on them since I wouldn't be able to just wipe off the wax.



and thanks mike- the rims are nice and light cast alu 18x7.5 @ 18.5 lbs! cant wait to put them on
 
sus195- Hey, those *are* nice looking wheels!



As noted, no biggie keepng them nice. I have wheels with texture and it's juts not a big deal unless you *really* neglect them. And if you OptiCoat them, I bet that even pretty awful neglect wouldn't be a much of an issue.



That's what I'd do, hands-down- OptiCoat. Easy to do and you won't believe how they clean up (I was utterly astounded and FWIW, I was prepared/predisposed to think the stuff wasn't all that great).



But get the tires mounted first.
 
wow thats interesting, I have not come across Opticoat before and did not even consider it.



"Optimum Opti-Coat 2.0 is a permanent coating that protects automotive paint over its lifetime! Unlike a wax or sealant, Optimum Opti-Coat 2.0 will not wash or wear off. It acts as a second layer of clear coat which provides increased protection against the elements.



It certainly seems promising...and it might just be the easiest/cost effective route



If I'm considering permanent sealants, what would you think about CarPro Cquartz Ceramic Quartz Paint Protection? I have heard of this product but haven't had any experience with it.
 
sus195 said:
wow thats interesting, I have not come across Opticoat before and did not even consider it.



"Optimum Opti-Coat 2.0 is a permanent coating that protects automotive paint over its lifetime! Unlike a wax or sealant, Optimum Opti-Coat 2.0 will not wash or wear off. It acts as a second layer of clear coat which provides increased protection against the elements.



It certainly seems promising...and it might just be the easiest/cost effective route



If I'm considering permanent sealants, what would you think about CarPro Cquartz Ceramic Quartz Paint Protection? I have heard of this product but haven't had any experience with it.
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OptiCoat will outlast Cquartz............by a lot.
 
As if it needs any more mention, Opti-Coat is the solution to your problem. For the cost of a syringe of OC2.0, you'd save over having someone spray them with a layer of clearcoat plus you'd have enough left over to do another couple sets of wheels or do your vehicle as well.
 
sus195- I'll look forward to your report, especially after you've lived with the coated wheels for a while. For the first few weeks/months I was kinda unimpressed, then I started letting them get really nasty and gee...they cleaned up sooo easily and looked just-done. Finally dawned on me that they looked swell with virtually zero effort on the upkeep.
 
Hello everyone!

So it's been roughly a month since i've purchased the opti-coat 2.0 and applied them to my wheels. In total I've used about 1/4 of the 20ml syringe about (5ml), I applied very thin layers multiple times letting it dry for hours if not a day in between. Application was fairly easy, high spots were immediately leveled off and it didn't show on the texturized surface.



I cleaned the wheels recently and I was impressed. Paired with P21s wheel cleaner and speed brush I don't foresee any challenges ahead. Here are some pics of the application and a video of me washing (check out the beading action!)



Opti-Coat 2.0 on wheel update - YouTube



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sus195- Glad you like it..thought you might, just coated another set of my wheels the other day.



Did you coat 'em before having the tires mounted? Did the mounting damage the coating along the edges of the rims any?
 
Pretty cool - It's always nice to see/hear when everything goes according to plan. I have never used Opti-coat but I am sure it helped prevent quite a bit of dirt and brake dust from sticking onto the wheel in the first place
 
Now I see your reasoning for when you told me to mount them first. I just thought that it would be easier to handle them before they were mounted. Thankfully I have not noticed any damages along the rim or coating.



Typically how many coats would you apply to a brand new set of wheels? How long would you allow each coat to cure?



I'm looking forward to doing this on my paint soon.



Thanks,

Simon
 
sus195 said:
Now I see your reasoning for when you told me to mount them first. I just thought that it would be easier to handle them before they were mounted. Thankfully I have not noticed any damages along the rim or coating. ..
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Hey, lucky you! Seems like even the best guys who do mine are awfully, uhm....heavy handed about it :rolleyes:



Typically how many coats would you apply to a brand new set of wheels? How long would you allow each coat to cure?
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I only used the older version that didn't layer. If I had the new stuff I'd do two coats about a week or two apart.



I'm looking forward to doing this on my paint soon.
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I'm still not ready to do that, but that's just me.
 
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