Painting Steelies with Tires Still Mounted

Posted By: MuuMuu101

Painting Steelies with Tires Still Mounted - 01/01/13 03:44 AM

Howdy Moparts. I was just wondering if anyone has painted their steelies with their tires mounted? I've got some steel wool (3 - course), sand paper, rattle can primer and satin black paint, and some masking tape and cardboard. My steelies look a little faded and have a little surface rust on them. I'm starting to think I like the black steelies look instead of having my early 70's hubcaps.

Posted By: stumpy

Re: Painting Steelies with Tires Still Mounted - 01/01/13 04:25 AM

Spread a good coat of vaseline on the tire from the rim out past the area you think will get oversprayed. After painting it wipes off and washs away leaving no paint on the tire.

Posted By: RapidRobert

Re: Painting Steelies with Tires Still Mounted - 01/01/13 05:08 AM

Quote:

I was just wondering if anyone has painted their steelies with their tires mounted?

I"m fixing to as soon as the weather warms up. going to glassbead em with a HF $24.99 blast gun/5lbs (or more)of HF beads $7.99 for 5 lb pkg then tape off the tires & spray em. Just not sure which rattle can to use but Rustoleum gets high marks when it's mentioned

Posted By: MuuMuu101

Re: Painting Steelies with Tires Still Mounted - 01/01/13 08:06 AM

Quote:

Spread a good coat of vaseline on the tire from the rim out past the area you think will get oversprayed. After painting it wipes off and washs away leaving no paint on the tire.

That doesn't sound too bad at all. Thanks!

Posted By: 360904

Re: Painting Steelies with Tires Still Mounted - 01/01/13 01:18 PM

I have stuffed 3x7 recipe index cards in around the bead and sprayed rattle can paint

Posted By: Ronnman

Re: Painting Steelies with Tires Still Mounted - 01/01/13 04:55 PM

Get some aluminum 6" wide flashing from the hardware store and form a ring around the outer edge of the rim (like a wall). Spray the rim after prep and the overspray should be kept off the tire.
Ron

Posted By: meep_meep

Re: Painting Steelies with Tires Still Mounted - 01/01/13 05:09 PM

I've always used a deck of playing cards stuck in around the tire bead...

Posted By: B5 Bee

Re: Painting Steelies with Tires Still Mounted - 01/01/13 05:24 PM

I have a cheap ($40 on sale) Harbor Freight tire changer. I break the bead on the front side and stuff rags between the tire and wheel, much easier than masking it off.
Before I had the tire changer, I broke the bead with a bumper jack or by driving on it with another vehicle.

Posted By: rustbuckett68

Re: Painting Steelies with Tires Still Mounted - 01/01/13 06:53 PM

After the paint job, a couple coats of clear makes a huge difference in longevity.

Posted By: BulletBob

Re: Painting Steelies with Tires Still Mounted - 01/01/13 07:49 PM

Quote:

I've always used a deck of playing cards stuck in around the tire bead...

That's how I do it only I let the air out of the tire so the cards will go in further
Run a row of tape close to the rim on the cards & massk out with paper

I've also broke them down on one side with a bumper jack masked them & painted

Posted By: sthemi

Re: Painting Steelies with Tires Still Mounted - 01/02/13 06:33 AM

Did mine with masking tape a couple of years ago, worked out OK...

The masking was A lot of work...

Posted By: jbc426

Re: Painting Steelies with Tires Still Mounted - 01/02/13 12:07 PM

Quote:

Quote:

I was just wondering if anyone has painted their steelies with their tires mounted?

I"m fixing to as soon as the weather warms up. going to glassbead em with a HF $24.99 blast gun/5lbs (or more)of HF beads $7.99 for 5 lb pkg then tape off the tires & spray em. Just not sure which rattle can to use but Rustoleum gets high marks when it's mentioned

They reformulated a lot of the spray bombs again, sometime over a year ago. The Rustoleum paint will soften, wrinkle up and lift when several coats are sprayed over itself. I threw out several cans after a few parts were messed up.

I've quit using Rustoleum and started using Dupli-Color, which I've been getting from O'Rielly's Auto. The paint quality of their entire line is very good, especially the engine paints, which I use whenever I want a color available in it. I'm very impressed with the durability, laydown and even the spray nozzels on their product line.

Posted By: wally426ci

Re: Painting Steelies with Tires Still Mounted - 01/02/13 12:57 PM

I like using Gloss Back Engine enamel simply because it seems pretty hardy. I also see guys using fusion paint.

I'll be in this boat, but it would be so nice to have them powder coated... I may have to get mine taken off, powder coat, and then go get the new tires put on.....

Posted By: RapidRobert

Re: Painting Steelies with Tires Still Mounted - 01/02/13 04:11 PM

Quote:

Quote:

Just not sure which rattle can to use but Rustoleum gets high marks when it's mentioned

They reformulated a lot of the spray bombs again, sometime over a year ago. The Rustoleum paint will soften, wrinkle up and lift when several coats are sprayed over itself. I threw out several cans after a few parts were messed up.

I've quit using Rustoleum and started using Dupli-Color, which I've been getting from O'Rielly's Auto. The paint quality of their entire line is very good, especially the engine paints, which I use whenever I want a color available in it. I'm very impressed with the durability, laydown and even the spray nozzels on their product line.

I will take your advise & get some Dupli color. Thank you! After glassbeading (steelies) should I spray some primer and or sand first or just clean with wax/grease remover then several light coats of Duplicolor? And you soap/water clean if needed then wax/grease remover before initial sanding but does that technique/order still apply when glassbeading instead of hand sanding

Posted By: Pool Fixer

Re: Painting Steelies with Tires Still Mounted - 01/03/13 12:39 AM

Quote:

I have stuffed 3x7 recipe index cards in around the bead and sprayed rattle can paint

this takes all of 30 seconds per wheel and gives perfect results

Posted By: DaytonaTurbo

Re: Painting Steelies with Tires Still Mounted - 01/03/13 12:50 AM

Yes we've all done it. I usually use duplicolor engine enamel, it leaves a decent finish. But if you really want to do a nice job, there's no substitute for taking off the tire to have the rim blasted and powder coated.

Posted By: hp383

Re: Painting Steelies with Tires Still Mounted - 01/03/13 02:28 AM

Quote:

Quote:

Spread a good coat of vaseline on the tire from the rim out past the area you think will get oversprayed. After painting it wipes off and washs away leaving no paint on the tire.

That doesn't sound too bad at all. Thanks!

I do the same sort of thing with tire shine