Painting hubcaps - lets hear some input

[littlehandegan]

Anyone have any tips?


I stripped the paint, taped off with green 3m auto tape. Did 2 coats of etching primer, 4 coats of paint, and 2 coats of clear

After all of this work, and immediately after the last coat of clear I pulled up the tape. Well damn if it did not pull up the edges of the paint

What did I do wrong? What techniques have y'all used?

[kylegregg]

When i paint anything, i always use the blue painters tape. i dont have any experience with the green auto tape but i never had a problem with the blue stuff.

also, remove tape at a 90 degree angle at a moderate speed. this helps create a sharp line. you might want to go over the edge with a razor next time to eliminate this problem completely.

[Stevo]

I have painted several sets and what I do is after you apply the wide tape, go over the creases with a ball point pen. This presses in the tape and also gives a crisp line to cut with the razor knife. No paint gets under the tape that way.

[bricktron]

i agree about pulling the tape away at a sharp angle. another trick you can use is to slice the paint with a sharp blade along the edge of the tape before pulling it off.

all that said, i am considering using a brush to do my next one.

[Mark DiSilvestro]

Should replacement hubcaps that have never been painted, be treated or 'roughed-up' in any way before painting? Reason I ask is, I had an Ivory 240D and I suspect one of the hubcaps had been replaced and repainted. Well, the first time I washed the car, I hit the hubcaps with the hose-spray and it flaked all the paint off that one hubcap!

Happy Motoring, Mark

[littlehandegan]

Mark, I am not sure.

I just went out and did one.

I did 2 quick coats of paint only that insured full coverage and IMMEDIATELY peeled the tape. Came out quite nice.

I will look for some sandpaper and maybe rough up the others.

[The Gears]

You have to pull the tape before the paint forms a skin. Kind of hard to do with several coats built up. I use clear packaging tape for this type of paint job. Seems to lift of with a cleaner edge.

[layback40]

I once needed a replacement & got one that was the wrong color. Didnt have any stripper so I used brake fluid. When I then painted the cap, the paint lasted about a week. Thought it must be something to do with the BF so I left it out in the weather for a year with no paint. I then painted it & the paint has stuck.

[littlehandegan]

Ok. Well tonight I taped her off, alchol wipe, and put 2 quick coats on.

Came out good, we will see how it holds up.

Pictures of the nautical blue - Going to try and polish them up some more after a few days.

[97 SL320]

Originally Posted by Stevo

I have painted several sets and what I do is after you apply the wide tape, go over the creases with a ball point pen. This presses in the tape and also gives a crisp line to cut with the razor knife. No paint gets under the tape that way.

Masking tape has wrinkles so it can be bent around a radius, aumotive two tone tape is smooth and will seal the surface.

The other trick is to pull away from the paint and not towards or along the paint.

[Stevo]

Originally Posted by 97 SL320

Masking tape has wrinkles so it can be bent around a radius, automotive two tone tape is smooth and will seal the surface.

The other trick is to pull away from the paint and not towards or along the paint.

I've never had a problem and always get a nice crisp paint line using the ball point pen method. I'll try some of that automotive two tone tape tho, thanks.

[Equestrian]

What Type of Paint?

[Stevo]

Originally Posted by Equestrian

What Type of Paint?

Touch Up Paint from PaintScratch.com just look up your paint code, I use a rattle can, of the proper color. The wheel covers (MB speak for hubcaps) on my 79 still looks good after ten years.

[Mark DiSilvestro]

Though I did find a perfect spray-paint match at Walmart (ColorPlace Almond #20016) for the Ivory color on my W123s, it has now (of course) been discontinued!
With all the pitfalls, I don't have the patience to respray these hubcaps, and now look for decent ones at flea-markets or Pick-N-Pull instead.

Happy Motoring, Mark

[Stevo]

My local Napa carries the touch up paint, "Shadow Blue", which I needed last time.