vtechnique

hey guys, i found a set of ap1 oem rims that are colored that im buying from someone. The seller is not too sure whether or not the wheels have been painted or powdercoated (he bought it for his rsx), so I want to find out how I can figure out if they are or not.

Does anyone have any experience with powdercoated rims, and if there are telltale ways to differentiate a painted rim from a powdercoated one?

The seller lives a bit far, so I don't really want to drive all the way over only to find that they were painted. Any help will do, so I can ask the seller to look for powdercoated signs.

vtechnique

i can post pics of the rims too, if that at all helps anyone

i</3speedbumps.

post the pic.

vtechnique

here are the pics! this is the biggest pic the guy sent me, so maybe that will help.











thanks guys for your help.

i</3speedbumps.

my guess would be painted. any pix of the rear side of the rims?

AP1NYT

Looks powdercoated to me. Looks good

Cyberous

With out seeing the wheels in person it's nearly impossible to know for sure.

Only thing I can add is:
1. Are there any runs? Power does not run (well I sure some one in the world has made powder run, but is not typical).
2. From the picture it looks like is a small ding probably from a rock, the paint is chipped off at the impact point but where the aluminum flowed the paint is still adhered to the wheel, usually powdered paint will stick where wet paint will chip/flake off.

That

WashabiS2K

are you buying from a guy named danny? i know someone that has painted gold AP1 rims

vtechnique

from the email, the guy's name is Emanuel. But, he bought them off somebody else, perhaps your friend danny? Unless danny owns his own set of gold ap1s and still has em...

cyberous - thanks for the help and input. i initially thought it looked like it was sprayed, but then again, i cant really tell from the pictures. i guess the only way ill find out is by actually seeing them in person.

[edit] you mentioned that the chip shows the aluminum, im assuming from the first picture of the wheel by itself. Powdercoated wheels don't show aluminum from rock chipping, or they do? I got confused from what you said for 2.

Cyberous

Power and wet will both chip on impact,.. but when the metal bends wet will usually bubble and flake,.. where powder will not.

I can't tell if the aluminum is deformed by the impact or if its a shadow?

I'm in no way an expert,.. just some basics I've learned by asking lots of questions (we have a powder coater and oven at our shop)

Don