1971 280Sl Hubcap Star Stencil 14"

[Autobob]

My painter wants to use a stencil, I understand the crispness of masking but he says original not so crisp and wants a stencil.  Anyone have a proper stencil to sell or rent out? Thank you, I am in Wichita, Ks. would need it for a couple weeks most likely if rented.

[1970BMW2002]

Were you successful in getting a stencil?  If so, please advise how I can find one.

[enochbell]

I just sent the stencil to JAMES on this board (James Lynch, he is in Australia).  It is the stencil I bought for members to use and pass along.  If JAMES reads this he can respond as to how to get this (you just pay for postage and promise to forward it to the next person who needs it).  Otherwise you can look him up and PM him.  However, you must be a full member to take advantage of this.

Thanks,
g

[stickandrudderman]

And your painter is correct. the stencil leaves a soft edge which is how it was done at the factory.

[DickLewis]

My local painter does not want to use the stencil for that very reason.  He wants to mask and make it crisp.  I am doing 8 hub caps.  One set to match the exterior when the hardtop is off and the other set to match the hardtop color when it is on since it is a different color.  As an aside I bought the 4 extra hubcaps on Ebay and removed the old paint myself and then repainted the interiors the original color.  Taking off the paint is a very time consuming exdercise.  My local Benz dealer used to have the stencil and they quit using it because they were not satisfied with the results.  I was going to go that route but no longer.

[Cees Klumper]

Can't you take the paint off with regular paint stripper? Seems like that would be fairly quick and easy.

[DickLewis]

You would think so but it was interesting that the original set from the car was much easier than the set I acquired from Ebay.  They were different colors to begin with but it really took a ton of effort to get all the paint out of the tiny crevices to prepare for new paint.  I did use paint stripper but you must really load it on and keep adding to it for at least an hour or so before you begin. And then you need to see if it has "cooked" long enough.   And then since it is a curved surface the stripping of the paint requires a good tool so as to not scratch the metal parts that will not be painted.  THe tool tends to slip and then wham.   I used a plastic gadget used for spackling.   It really took many hours but then I am a perfectionist.

[stickandrudderman]

My local painter does not want to use the stencil for that very reason.  He wants to mask and make it crisp.

Who's car is it?

[andyburns]

I have just stripped four caps.  The trick with paint stripper is to keep on removing it and apply more as it will only penetrate to a certain 'depth' and then its effectiveness sort of wears off.  I have found that 10-15 minutes is the most I leave it on.  Then just jet wash it with your hose, dry and repeat the process.  It took me about 30 minutes with 3 coats to get the cap back to virgin chrome.  Some people try and speed things up by wrapping with cling film.  It actually states this on the can.  I think it might reduce the number of coats from 3 down to 2 but paint stripper is cheap and it really hurts if it get on your skin... especially if your not aware of it and touch other sensitive parts of your body! 

[DickLewis]

Good idea.  I guess I was accomplishing the same thing by coming in and lookin at it, realizing it was not ready and then painting another coat of stripeez.  Your suggestion might be better.  My way is messy as well.  Thanks.

[James]

Hi all,
I am waiting for the hub caps to come back from the factory which is doing the rust removal and ding removal and priming.
It is more time consuming than I had expected but the job progresses.
I will post a note when it is complete and send the stencil on as planned.
Sorry for the delay .
James

[Garry]

When you are done and ready I can come over and collect.  Am away all September at the Euro gathering so maybe not rush.

Garry

[James]

Hi Garry,
My hub caps are still at the factory .
Perhaps you could take responsibility for Greg's stencil and I could retrieve it from you or the next member when I am closer to doing the painting.
Contact me and I'll pass it on , as was the plan.
James

[Garry]

Hi James,

I am not in a great hurry and am happy to wait.  My car is getting its HT painted in Mid blue 350 and hopefully I will get it back in a week or two. The paint shop will give me enough to do my own spraying of the caps.
 The four caps I will do are for use when I have the HT on the car only in mid blue 350 as my car and existing caps are in 334 light blue. Once I get the stencil I still need to get two extra hubcaps to paint and I am away from the end of August until beginning of October. I think I can get the etra caps easily so I am pretty flexible.

I am happy to wait till then or if there was another that wanted it in AUst they could do theirs first. Either way I am fine with what ever you want to do. I will be in Melb several days each week for the next four weeks before departure so let me know what you want to do.

Garry

[James]

Hi Garry,
Send me an email and I can hand the stencil over in person.
I am in Melbourne on  Mondays all day and Wednesday till mid morning, for the next few weeks.
You can tell me how you detailed the engine bay so well too.
James

[Garry]

Stencil has moved on to Tasmania for Aussiebattler to do his hubcaps then will be returned to me. I am currently having a set of hubcaps restored before I then paint them to the hardtop colour.

I anticipate I will be done and finished, after Jack, in early October.  Who is wanting the stencil after that?

Garry

[perry113]

Its much better to use fine line tape. I have a stencil (only 1) which requires that you prime and paint each cap 1 at a time. You can't just prime a cap then take the stencil off so you can put it on another cap to prime then put the stencil back on again later when the primer is dry and then paint color. It will never be 100%.
I work for a bodyshop and know several other shop owners that use fine line.
Just another perspective.
see attached:

[stickandrudderman]

Its much better to use fine line tape

That's a subjective opinion. If by "much better" you mean that the lines are cleaner then you have a point.
If however, you are looking for originality the softer edge offered by use of the stencil is better because that's how they were done originally.
Orsesfacourses.

[Garry]

I agree, taping gives a very sharp line and it is a bit like restoring to 'better than new' so that it no longer looks original.  bit like the paint dribbles on the bonnet and boot.

Colin, you could always put lipstick on the orsofcourse.  Make it look better