Bob98SR5
10-28-2012, 11:02 AM
Guys,
Couldn't stand looking at my cracked and faded wheel caps any longer, so I tried out 3 different shades of silver before finding a pretty close match. Pic attached.
We'll see if I did it right, but read a few posts all over the internets and this is the basic steps you need to take:
1) Clean with some kind of degreaser. I used Simple Green to start and also with an aerosol Wax & Grease remover (pictured)
2) If you have cracks or areas where paint has clearly fallen off, sand down the areas where the remaining paint and the faded areas meet (ridges). This is purely optional, I didn't do this step.
3) Spray with any kind of plastic primer or primer specially made for plastic adhesion. Light coats. I did 3 light coats
4) 3 light coats of paint
5) 3 light coats of clear coat
A note on spray painting: I've learned over the years how important it is to stick with the mfg's recommendations for paint curing. Follow them, esp advice on timing in between the coats. On clear coats: lighter coats, the better. And follow the time limits on 2nd and 3rd coats.
I'll post pics later, but its a pretty close match. I couldn't find a perfect match, but then again, the wheel paint on the wheel itself I'm sure has faded a bit too.
Bob
Couldn't stand looking at my cracked and faded wheel caps any longer, so I tried out 3 different shades of silver before finding a pretty close match. Pic attached.
We'll see if I did it right, but read a few posts all over the internets and this is the basic steps you need to take:
1) Clean with some kind of degreaser. I used Simple Green to start and also with an aerosol Wax & Grease remover (pictured)
2) If you have cracks or areas where paint has clearly fallen off, sand down the areas where the remaining paint and the faded areas meet (ridges). This is purely optional, I didn't do this step.
3) Spray with any kind of plastic primer or primer specially made for plastic adhesion. Light coats. I did 3 light coats
4) 3 light coats of paint
5) 3 light coats of clear coat
A note on spray painting: I've learned over the years how important it is to stick with the mfg's recommendations for paint curing. Follow them, esp advice on timing in between the coats. On clear coats: lighter coats, the better. And follow the time limits on 2nd and 3rd coats.
I'll post pics later, but its a pretty close match. I couldn't find a perfect match, but then again, the wheel paint on the wheel itself I'm sure has faded a bit too.
Bob