I've cleaned up my steel wheels and would like to paint them (with the tires on). What can I use to mask the tires? Nothing I have seems to stick to the tires.
Grease ?
It is hard to do a good job spray painting wheels with the tires on. On method is to cut a cardboard disc just a bit larger than the rim and use it as a mask. With care you can get to the edge of the wheel with minimal paint on the tire. A painted line on the tire close to the rim won't do any harm.
You could try a McDonalds Chocolate Shake.
When my kids were little we found out the those shakes were just about the best glue ever invented.
I even think you could glue air to water with that stuff.
The only problem I see is getting it off after your done painting.
Seriously though, you could use a coat of some kind of tire shine or mineral oil.... the paint won't stick and what is overspray will wash off pretty easily.
Dallas
I grew up with old Mack trucks hauling coal and cowfeed. We all wanted to look cool like the Peterbilt guys with the polished Alcoas, but nobody had any money. I was 23 years old before I realized that an 11.00R20 truck tire would roll properly without a ghost of metallic silver overspray right around the bead.
We'd make a "stencil" of cardboard from the back of a logbook with a curve cut to (roughly) match the curve of the rim - and hold the "stencil" against the tire with one hand and spraybomb with the other.
Some guys would just spray it, but we thought they were losers with no class,,, :-)
It was a simpler time.
Casper
I have several different size corrugated pipe couplings that I use for different size wheels. You can tighten or lossen for a little variation in size up to a coupl of inches.
Jim,
If you go to my photo web site there is pictures I took of my painting my steel rims for my S&S and how I did it. I used good "Removable" tan masking take, (2" width") I purchased from a auto body Paint supplier and also the paper to wrap my S&S and Tires in when I painted. Note: You do not have to use the auto body paper, you may use what ever you wish but if you use newspaper, you will get print all over you buy the time you are done. The masking tape from the Auto body supplier is much different than regular masking tape. Use the stuff the professionals use to minimize frustration to us amateurs. You have to apply the tape about 6 inches in length at a time carefully shaping it up under the lip of the rim as you do and keep overlapping each previous piece at a time to the entire inside diameter of the tire/rim first, then add the paper with more tape to overlap the fist layer. Trying to add the paper first will not work, do the entire inside diameter with the tape and then add the paper. You can then fold the paper any way you wish to make applying the paper as easy as you can as you apply it and protect your tires from overspray. This job like any means you cannot rush it, take your time, the tape will bond unless wheels are covered in grease / oil from the DD, if you run it in reverse!! This tape intended for auto taping is the best, it will not leave residue or stick to your tires and you can leave it on for hours before removing.
The site to go to is:
http://community.webshots.com/user/converter101
Go to the following location to find the photo's I am talking about.
Album #12
Photo's #17a, #17b, #17c.
I will attempt to copy those photo's on this post, I need the practice, that way also you will not have to go try to find those photo's out of over 600 posted. I hope I can do it, did one photo earlier, now really brave, trying 2!!
I hope this helps. Keep in touch when you can.
Gary
Like Gary, I used painter's masking tape (blue kind) to mask of the one wheel I painted. I made a cardboard shield that I held in place as I painte and moved it along with the spray can. It worked well, after I realized how much paint was ending up on my tires. I washed the tires well and most of the paint came off.
David
Thanks for all the info. The tan/blue tape seems the way to go! But I am in Old Town FL, I think the nearest autobody supply is an hour away, so will go with the cardboard template.
Blue masking tape is available at every hardware store I believe.
Richard
Thanks Richard, you have cut my travel time down to 30 min!!!!
Jim,
you may have a problem with the tape sticking due to the protectent you put on your tires. The good news is that a heavy coat of the protectant applied immediately before painting might prevent th paint from sticking to the tires. Jack (Dad)
Yea, but make sure you do not get any on the rims, or the paint will not stick. LOL
Richard
Quote from: JackConrad on October 27, 2006, 06:37:58 PM
Jim,
you may have a problem with the tape sticking due to the protectent you put on your tires. The good news is that a heavy coat of the protectant applied immediately before painting might prevent th paint from sticking to the tires. Jack (Dad)
growing up in a family with a charter operation I have my fair share of wheel painting experience.
any masking tape will work as your not worried about lifing any finish
is 3/4" masking tape in short pieces 5-6" long and overlap them while goping around the wheel lip.
The tap should easily slide down well inside the lip
Then tap a piece of newspaper over the wheel so maybe a 1/8th of the circumfrance is coverd.
use a scewdriver or sissors and cut out the arc of the wheel
this will be outside the weeh arc.
the tape the arc in the newspaper to the tape you put on first.
Should be able to dio it with 6 sheets of newspaper.
Paint
Jim
Sneak in kitchen and take a bottle of your wifes liquid soap and a 2 in foam brush and lay tire and wheel down flat and squirt some soap on tire and work it around wheel with the brush let dry and turn over and repeat and let dry paint away till your happy and let paint dry over night at least and take tire and wheel outside and turn on water hose with nozzle and wash paint off tire and mount on bus and admire your work. quick and cheap unless you get caught then price of din din out probably still time and money ahead LOL enjoy
LarryH
Ok I tried the blue painters tape, won't stick. Maybe Jack is on to something I wonder if it is the tire protectrant? I did scrub the tires and wheel with soap and water befor I started. I did get the front tires painted useing a cardboard template.
I had a roll of 12" aluminum flashing. I cut a piece a few inches longer than the circumference of the wheel and then using duct tape made a circle exactly the circumference of the wheel. It works great for spray painting the wheels; you can hold it in place with your leg and one hand and spray with the other hand. I have kept it in my basement for 10 years and use it every couple of years.
blue tape is low take.....ment just to stick enough on the surface it was disigned to.
Use regular old masking tape.
I have probably painted 100 wheels like the method I posted earlier.
Have yet to get paint on a tire