Painting center caps

[octanejunkie]

After 17 years of tire shops mishandling our center caps, mine are almost completely devoid of silver paint

Is it just as easy to pull and clean well then re-shoot with silver wheel paint (after primer) or is there another preferred method?

NB, after I refurb mine I will pull them myself before going to the tire shop coz those guys just don't care about yo center caps.

 

[ShannanC]

I got tired of mine looking like crap and them off and sprayed with Rustoleum high heat silver #270201 (because that's what I had on the shelf) and they came out remarkably well. The wheels are dirty but the color is quite close. Paint is cheap also.

 

[ShannanC]

Btw, I'm sorry that the pics are SO DAMN BIG! I don't know how to change that.

 

[OleMissRunner]

I painted my center caps when I painted my wheels a while back. Scuff them up well with either a red scotchbrite pad or sandpaper and then sand smooth; use a good primer (I used a plastics-specific one, but you can use whatever you want), and then on top of it use the closest paint match you can. I just used the same wheel paint I used on my rims and then used two coats of clear; AutoZone sells a brand of paint called VHT that has wheel specific spray paint in a silver color that would match pretty well. It's held up very well after about a year and a half.

 

[Nervo19]

The regular Rustoleum silver metallic is tom me an exact match. You can take the caps off by popping them off with a flat head screwdriver. There's a little slit on the caps. (In case you didn't know). I painted the ones from my 2000 4Runner about three years ago and they could use a repaint now. The paint lasted a long time. I simply washed them in Dawn dish soap and painted.

 

[euser]

I repainted my millenium silver bumper and used the excess paint to finish the hub caps. I just lightly sanded, primed, and painted it. They look great and it has held up for the last month they've been on.

 

[redneckj]

The regular Rustoleum silver metallic is tom me an exact match. You can take the caps off by popping them off with a flat head screwdriver. There's a little slit on the caps. (In case you didn't know). I painted the ones from my 2000 4Runner about three years ago and they could use a repaint now. The paint lasted a long time. I simply washed them in Dawn dish soap and painted.

I agree 100%. The regular Rustoleum silver metallic is a great match. You would be hard to tell it over the factory color. shoot the center caps with some Bulldog adhesive promoter and then the Rustoleum.

 

[octanejunkie]

I agree 100%. The regular Rustoleum silver metallic is a great match. You would be hard to tell it over the factory color. shoot the center caps with some Bulldog adhesive promoter and then the Rustoleum.

Like this one?
Rust-Oleum 7271830 Metallic Spray, Silver, 11-Ounce
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0019K1YD2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_qfTNxb1CXRCBC

Or this?
Rust-Oleum 1915830 Metallic Spray, Silver, 11-Ounce
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000PQGE2M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_djTNxbRS0M9R2

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[BoomSticks]

Like this one?
Rust-Oleum 7271830 Metallic Spray, Silver, 11-Ounce
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0019K1YD2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_qfTNxb1CXRCBC

Or this?
Rust-Oleum 1915830 Metallic Spray, Silver, 11-Ounce
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000PQGE2M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_djTNxbRS0M9R2

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[You ninja edited and fixed the link while I was posting!]

I would guess the first one is the right one. The second is more of a shiny mirror chrome.

Might be good to touch up my chrome rear bumper though.

 

[BoomSticks]

And don't forget to save some to spray in your mouth so you may be witnessed and reach Valhalla.

 

[octanejunkie]

And don't forget to save some to spray in your mouth so you may be witnessed and reach Valhalla.

Amazon customers ask the important questions, which is why I stay

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[octanejunkie]

Ordered paints, my center caps and I will be in Valhalla by Wednesday

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[octanejunkie]

First try, did ok

I pulled the center caps and washed them inside and out with dish soap and warm water this past Friday.

After they air dried over night (yes I drove around without center caps) I hit them with acetone to loosen any remaining paint - there wasn't much, but the acetone didn't do squat.

So I hit them with some 2K steel wool and got a bit more paint to flake off and figured that was it. Cleaned with isopropyl alcohol and let air dry once again. Yep, still driving around with naked centers :

I made up a painting jig using a lazy-susan type rotating spice caddy covered in paper with an empty cream cheese jug taped on top, so I can rotate the center caps while painting. Placed that on a small bucket and went to work.

I hit each cap 3 times with the adhesion promoter then three coats of the silver metallic paint (all per instructions on the cans). I noticed some of the old paint starting to bubble up under the new paint but was like F-it and kept going, figuring I would have to redo this at some point anyhow.

Here is how the caps look on the car after letting them air dry over night.

I plan to paint the Toyota logo centers with a brush and some dark grey paint someday

 

[BrianSD_42]

400 Grit sandpaper is always a good idea if you want the Uniform paint look.

 

[octanejunkie]

400 Grit sandpaper is always a good idea if you want the Uniform paint look.

I was impetuous and and over zealous; the shame is overwhelming.

Do you think I can spot sand the offending areas and reshoot, or should I strip completely and start over?

 

[Nervo19]

They look fine to me. I might have to break out the lazy susan next time I paint mine. I have one from Goodwill holding chemicals in the garage. You must be an engineer.

 

[octanejunkie]

They look fine to me. I might have to break out the lazy susan next time I paint mine. I have one from Goodwill holding chemicals in the garage. You must be an engineer.

Thanks
Hahaha, engineer no, I'm just a lazy yutz always looking for the easy way out

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[Scramble]

I was impetuous and and over zealous; the shame is overwhelming.

Do you think I can spot sand the offending areas and reshoot, or should I strip completely and start over?

Just rough it up with sand paper, clean with mineral spirits. Hit it once with primer & another coat of paint.

I put mine in the dish washer to get all of the dirt off & then lightly sanded. Acetone is for metal not plastic.

 

[BoomSticks]

Yep, hit the high spots with sandpaper so it feels smooth to the touch, a coat of primer, and another coat of paint.

 

[octanejunkie]

Just rough it up with sand paper, clean with mineral spirits. Hit it once with primer & another coat of paint.

Yep, hit the high spots with sandpaper so it feels smooth to the touch, a coat of primer, and another coat of paint.

Won't all the paint pucker-up if I hit the caps with primer after sanding?