230 hubcaps

[James]

Hi all,
I Have some 230 SL hubcaps which are completely sprayed over.
I wish to refurbish them to the original colour with the chrome star an circle.
If I wish to remove the paint will I see chrome or bare metal?
I have read the  technical section re painting hubcaps but am still  unsure .
Also what should I do re the inside of the hubcaps to preserve them for posterity..as I think this is our responsibility with these cars.?
Thanks James

[114015]

Paint remover, James.
 
That should work fine. Then the full chrome remains - if it was not gound away in past years by the preowner.
I use thin household plastic wrap foil to cover the areas where I use paint remover.
As such, it will work more efficiently.

The inside of the hubcaps is - in the same way as the bumpers - sprayed with DB 158.
Not glossy, a bit more flat to be correct.

Good luck

Achim
(hubcap collector)

[James]

Thanks Achim,
I will let you know how it goes.
I was concerned I would remove the  chrome
James

[enochbell]

James,

I have a MB hubcap mask, never been used, yours for the price of postage.  The only requirement is that you keep it available and pass it on the next full member who needs it, with the further requirement that he/she does the same!

g

[Garry]

James,

If you want I will share the cost of potage and will do up a couple of spare hub caps I have.  

Any other Aussies interested whilst we have the stencil down under?  NZ?

Garry

[andyburns]

Am happy to chip in as well Gary.  I am still needing to paint my caps after obtaining the wrong mask tool.  I would be interested to see a photo of the early tool.

The one I have is a two piece setup designed for the latter caps.

[66andBlue]

Andy,
amazing that you have the original M-B stencil set, it is now extremely rare and when it shows up on eBay VERY expensive. Don't loose it!
The paint shop we use around here lost the center piece when an employee drove over it.     Now they are very unhappy because the newer silicone masks are not as easy to use.
You should be able to use at least the center piece covers the star for your single hub cap.

[andyburns]

Alfred, the center mask for the latter one piece is larger than the one piece.   Definitely cant be used.  First thing I tried.  Was quite gutted when it arrived.  Just added it to the pile of things that havn't gone my way.  You just start getting used to it, even expecting it when restoring these little 'darlings'.

I am thinking I will just mask them by hand with very fine tape.  I have done everything else the hard way so why stop 

[James]

Hi Enoch,
Thank you for your kind offer.
I will accept with thanks.
When I bought my 1965 SL 230 I did not know it had the 280 hub caps on it..( it really is amazing what you learn along the way!)
I am trying to bring the car back to its original wheels.
I will happily pass the tool on to Gary and Andy
Please let me know how to proceed from here.
James

[Garry]

James,

Let me now when you get the stencil and I will chip in for cost but would like to meet up as I would like to see how you go doing your caps.  My number is 0418394984.

I can then use them and work out something with Andy Burns and on forward it to New Zealand.

Cheers Garry

[enochbell]

James,

I will be back home on Thursday and can post the stencil then.  Please give me your address and I will send it off.  If you have a suggestion about the best way (DHL, Fedex, UPS, USPS?) that would be great.  The box weighs about a pound.
gbellware@gmail.com
greg

[James]

Hi Greg,
Thank you.
I will email you my postal address .

Re payment.
I have a  Pay Pal account and I believe I can use that to refund  the postage to you.
Perhaps someone else on the Forum knows what to do .
Once I have done my wheels I will forward it on to the others.
James

[enochbell]

Thanks James, just send me your contact information.  Please use my email address as well as the PM on the Forum to make sure it gets through

Best,
gbellware@gmail.com

[scoot]

Just from my own observations I have two comments:

1.  Paint stripper, at least that which can be purchased in Califorina, is sometimes less than 100% effective on some of the hubcap paint.  It's a pain.

2.  I have heard poor reviews of the stencil from some users.  My body shop guy masked them with small tape and they look great.  It is time-consuming and much faster for someone who has done a lot of tiny masking.  You may want to take your hubcaps to a paint shop for masking to save time and have probably a better masking job...

[BaronYoungman]

I have tried other stencils in the past and the lines were not acceptable... thin blue body shop tape is the way to go then follow with wide tape ...BUT OMG IT TAKES FOREVER.
Bob

[scoot]

I have tried other stencils in the past and the lines were not acceptable... thin blue body shop tape is the way to go then follow with wide tape ...BUT OMG IT TAKES FOREVER.
Bob

That's why I was suggesting you have a paint shop do the masking.  They are faster at it...

[KevinC]

Since he "doesn't believe in stencils", here's how the shop-owner that painted my car handled the task last year...

[scoot]

Looks good to me.  It's the star part that I think is more tedious.

[KevinC]

All accomplished with a roll of regular masking tape and a razor and a lot of skill. You should have seen his face when I showed up sometime later with four ADDITIONAL hubcaps I bought in stainless...wanting to use those on the car instead!

[James]

Hi all,
I wish to thank Greg for his generosity and patience.
I am quite  overwhelmed by the hubcap project.
The hub caps have not cleaned up as I had hoped . They look quite derelict .
I considered taking  them back to bare metal but I would have lost the shiny star and circle.
Could I then chrome them and paint over the top using Greg's stencil ?
Any ideas.?
James

[scoot]

James, when you say that they have not cleaned up well, are you saying that the paint stripper either did not remove the paint or that the chrome under the paint looks lousy?  Perhaps this is why they were painted over to begin with...

I have not heard of people re-chroming hubcaps but I suppose it would work.  Yes, you can paint over chrome.  Is it not possible find nice used chrome hubcaps?

[Jonny B]

Years ago, I did a couple of sets of hubcaps using the masking tape method. It took me about 30 minutes for each hubcap to put the masking tape on. I used self etching primer as the first coat, then several thin coats of the finish color. I also remember not letting the paint set too long (not exactly sure how long that was though) before removing the tape, so I could get a cleaner (non cracked off) edge.

[DickLewis]

Just to chime in here.  I am, as we speak, having my hubcaps painted.  I have 2 sets, one set that will match the hardtop color and a second set that will match the exterior when the top is off.  I took all the old paint off myself with stripper.  But it took a lot of work, patience, and time.  I had to do it a couple of times to get to my clean desired state.  I also personally spray painted the inside the original color after cleaning and sanding the inside.  The insides look perfect.

Then the question of masking.  My local paint guy is a perfectionist and will not use the masking stencil any longer since he claims the finished product is not just a straight line.  He is going to use the automotive fine line masking tape ( a couple different widths are available).  He claims that this 3M tape stretches a little and works very well.  He asked me to sand the areas to be painted which I did with 900 paper.   I am taking them to him tomorrow to start the job.  I will let you know the results.

[Jonny B]

Excellent point about the stretchy 3M tape. That is what I used for the thin band around the star. The tape (¼ inch I think) was just the right size for that raised ring. You can work it around but stretching it slightly to fit the curvature of the circle.