Wire wheel paint

[Legal Bill]

Merry Christmas and Happy New Years, one and all.

I'm cleaning up one of my original wire wheels to use as a spare. I'll be sandblasting and re-painting the wheel (I know to mask off the splines and seats from sandblasting, thanks for thinking of me). I was going to buy a can of the Moss silver grey wheel paint, but thought I'd ask if people think the Moss color is correct.

 

[HealeyRick]

Used it on my Bugeye wires, looks spot-on to me.

Happy Healeydays,

 

[Keoke]

"thought I'd ask if people think the Moss color is correct."

---YEP: Moss Silver Grey wheel Paint is Just about spot on---Keoke

 

[Legal Bill]

Thanks guys. When i see it on wheels that others have sprayed, it looks a bit dark and dull to me. With the tire off, the inside of my wheel is so bright and shiny (as compared to the outside that has seen 45 years and 63,000 miles) that I questioned the Moss product. I'll give it a try. What's the worst that can happen?

 

[BoyRacer]

Hey there Legal Bill, Marry Christmas.
Just a thought about your wheel. Sandblasting might be a little too aggressive. It can pit the metal and the new paint wont hide it. I suppose it also depends on the size of grit you use.
I am assuming you have the tire off the wheel. If so, your wheel should fit inside a blast cabinet where you could glass bead it. You will be much happier with the results.
One last thought. Glass beads get into everything. Afterwards, put your wheel into a tub of hot soapy water and slosh it around vigorously. That will wash away the glass beads.

 

[Patrick67BJ8]

Merry Christmas and Happy New Years, one and all.

I'm cleaning up one of my original wire wheels to use as a spare. I'll be sandblasting and re-painting the wheel (I know to mask off the splines and seats from sandblasting, thanks for thinking of me). I was going to buy a can of the Moss silver grey wheel paint, but thought I'd ask if people think the Moss color is correct.

I use the wire wheel paint from Eastwood and it is supposed to be "correct". In the past I removed the tires from the rims and power washed the wheels and then glass beaded them. Before painting I stuck one wheel at a time in the dishwasher on "pot scrubber cycle" when my wife wasn't at home. Wheels loked great and wife happy and Healey happy too!
Patrick

 

[Cottontop]

Afterwards, put your wheel into a tub of hot soapy water and slosh it around vigorously. That will wash away the glass beads.

Sorry, Richard.

I have to disagree. Either hard media or glass bead blasting will expose virgin metal which if dunked in water, especially with a wetting agent, will rust within seconds of withdrawing.

Personally, I used Aircraft Paint Stripper and washed them with a power washer (50 cent car wash). No new or unplated metal was exposed and they didn't rust.

I didn't care how authentic the paint color was, so I used NAPA chrome, then coated with Plasticote clear.

I think that they looked GREAT until I got real chrome plated wheels.

Tim

 

[Keoke]

Merry Christmas and Happy New Years, one and all.

I'm cleaning up one of my original wire wheels to use as a spare. I'll be sandblasting and re-painting the wheel (I know to mask off the splines and seats from sandblasting, thanks for thinking of me). I was going to buy a can of the Moss silver grey wheel paint, but thought I'd ask if people think the Moss color is correct.

I use the wire wheel paint from Eastwood and it is supposed to be "correct". In the past I removed the tires from the rims and power washed the wheels and then glass beaded them. Before painting I stuck one wheel at a time in the dishwasher on "pot scrubber cycle" when my wife wasn't at home. Wheels loked great and wife happy and Healey happy too!
Patrick

Yep I did mine on my Daimler Saloon pretty much the same way and had no problems what so ever.--Fwiw--Keoke

 

[Johnny]

For what it's worth the color is supposed to be a 'warm silver' whatever that means. I would think bright and shiny doesn't fit.

I've used a chemical stripper followed by a good washing before, and then sprayed a good auto primer before painting with Moss silver I liked the results.

 

[Jim_Newman]

Anybody else try powder coating their wire wheels?

 

[dancrim]

A Cougar wheel paint around 1965 is a perfect match. I you use childs play sand when you sandblast the metal is not pitted and your job will come out great,

 

[Keoke]

Anybody else try powder coating their wire wheels?



Yep!!!! The previous owner of one of my cars spent $320.00 doing just that and guess what!!- every time you need to adjust a spoke or one over flexes it will crack.---Fwiw-Keoke- :frown:

 

[Legal Bill]

For what it's worth the color is supposed to be a 'warm silver' whatever that means. I would think bright and shiny doesn't fit.

....

Maybe warm silver is right. I really don't know. I do know that the inside (part hidden by the tire and the rubbery band covering the spoke nipples) of my original 60 spoke painted wheels are bright and shiny compared to the outside that has seen 45 years of wear. Unless they painted the exposed surface of the wheel a different color (which would seem odd) the original color was a lot shinier and brighter than what I have now. If the Moss stuff doesn't match the inside of my wheel, I'll just shop around and find something that does.

I wish it was easier to post pictures on here. I'd take picks of the wheel and post them up.

 

[Legal Bill]

A Cougar wheel paint around 1965 is a perfect match. I you use childs play sand when you sandblast the metal is not pitted and your job will come out great,

That is exactly the media I use for just about everything. One bag of play sand and my cheap craftsman sand blaster work very well for cleaning hundreds of parts and the play sand leaves an excellent surface for painting.

I wish I had a blast cabinet, but I don't and I'm not sure I'm going to buy one for this project; although I might if I decide to do all five wheels.

 

[57_BN4]

Not wanting to sound like one of those safety nuts but... re the use of regular sand for blasting- are you guys aware of silicosis? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicosis

Silicosis is a lung disease caused by breathing in fine silica dust and is not curable or treatable. This is why sandblasting is banned in NZ. Garnet, steel grits or glass are used instead.