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Best Way to Repaint Hub Caps?

PurpleBeeper

PurpleBeeper

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I've got a set of 70 Plymouth "dog dish" hub caps I'd like to install. The paint is mostly gone, but I can tell that they were painted black inside the "PLYMOUTH" lettering + inside the "grooves" around the edge. What's the easiest way to repaint these & what type of paint do you recommend? THANK YOU!

s-l1600.jpg
 
Good question. I've used acrylic enamels for stuff like this in the past. You can reduce it a let float into the nooks and crannies. The little cans that sign painters use works pretty well. I forget what it's called, one shot.

I'm anxious to see what others use for detailing.
 
im hoping some experts chime in, i too want to paint the black inserts on my 67 caps....type of paint ? primer ? how to prep the area...
 
Spray it the black, satin or semi-gloss enamel. Then, wipe the raised areas carefully with a cloth damp with mineral spirits. On one job, I wrapped the cloth around a popsicle stick and rubbed off the overspray.
 
Good approach and i have also used sem trim black it has very good adhesion. Did grill and consoles that way also. Takes time and patience.
 
WileERobby said:
Spray it the black, satin or semi-gloss enamel. Then, wipe the raised areas carefully with a cloth damp with mineral spirits. On one job, I wrapped the cloth around a popsicle stick and rubbed off the overspray.
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That's a reasonable approach. I'm assuming you're not saying to just spray the ENTIRE hubcap black & I should at least tape of the large areas that don't get painted at all, right?

What about the "PLYMOUTH" letters? Paint brush? One of those tiny little toothpick brushes with the mini-cotton balls at the end?
 
PurpleBeeper said:
That's a reasonable approach. I'm assuming you're not saying to just spray the ENTIRE hubcap black & I should at least tape of the large areas that don't get painted at all, right?

What about the "PLYMOUTH" letters? Paint brush? One of those tiny little toothpick brushes with the mini-cotton balls at the end?
Click to expand...
You can, or, spray and wipe the edges.
 
PurpleBeeper said:
What about the "PLYMOUTH" letters? Paint brush? One of those tiny little toothpick brushes with the mini-cotton balls at the end?
Click to expand...

I painted my bro's hood lettering, I just used a fine brush and got it as close as possible. When dry, I used a loupe and a exact-o knife and scraped a paint close to the stock location. Tedious and time consuming? Oh hell yes! Unless it really looks like crap, no one will really pay attention if you do even a fair job. I mean, how many people go stuffin their nose's into a hub cap and look at the paint lines? And even after some road wear on the paint, who cares! Good Luck
 
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I masked the letters with 1/16” tape.
Lots of time and patience. I tried the spray and wipe but my letters weren’t deep enough.
I like the 2 part paints for durability.
 
The best and easiest way is to this. Take a picture of the cap, wipe it down with acetone to get rid of dirt, paint etc., polish the cap, wipe again with acetone. Now here’s the fun/tedious part. Go to your local hobby store and get the Testors model paint in gloss black enamel along with a **** load of the model “sponge paint sticks”. Dip the sponge head into your paint and then paint the areas that require it. The paint will “flow” off the sponge tip and will look like crap if you don’t get enough paint to start with. Don’t worry about masking off anything, when you done, take a q-tip dipped in acetone, shake it, now go around any areas that got paint outside of where it should be.
 
I cleaned mine with baking soda , then dishsoap and finaly acetone . Let them dry overnight .
I taped them with a tape a friend gave me that bends its from Automotive assembly plants used for tight paint lines .
I think 3M makes it , I can take pictures of the roll and if you really need it I'll send you a roll .

Pete
PurpleBeeper said:
I've got a set of 70 Plymouth "dog dish" hub caps I'd like to install. The paint is mostly gone, but I can tell that they were painted black inside the "PLYMOUTH" lettering + inside the "grooves" around the edge. What's the easiest way to repaint these & what type of paint do you recommend? THANK YOU!

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Click to expand...

IMG_0342.JPG IMG_0343.JPG IMG_0346.JPG IMG_0348.JPG IMG_0349.JPG IMG_0351.JPG
 
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