Best way to refinish hubcaps?
 

My 1972 250C project is humming along quite nicely. I started looking at the hub caps today - what is the best way to mask off the star in the center to repaint them?

unless you can find the very very rare tool they used to cover the star then massive amounts of blue or the new green painters tape will do.

Three things.

Tape.
Newspaper.
razor blade.

Take your time and trim the tape back with the razor blade.
remove the tape while paint is still tacky.

Jim

I have done this many times now, Jim is right, I will add a few tips
Use fine steel wool to clean the paint to remove any real imperfections, rust ect. Use a good cleaner after that to remove any traces of oil or old wax. I use Kleenze, aproduct to use prior to painting a car.
I then apply green auto tape and use an exacto blade to trim to the star.
the rest is simple. It is a tedious process but can make a world of diffrence.
A picture attached prior to painting. Newspaper not applied to ouside of rim yet

Thanks guys - that's kind of what I thought. For a while I was on the fence between the hubcaps or putting on a set of Bundts, but I think the hubcaps are the way to go.

I know of a guy in California who sells stencils for repainting our hub caps....He sells them occasionally on Ebay but could be contacted directly if anyone is interested.....?

I read in an early star magazine that using a airbrush gun give a better unform finish and has little over spray. I do not know for sure if this is correct but my hub caps were taped and painted and looking closely you can still see overspray on the star and edges.

Time and patience, like making fine wine or pot roast both go good together.

Bob Geco
my 2 cents