To nub or not to nub?

[Steve V.]

A friend of mine has located a crimping device built to put the nub in the wheels to retain the wheel covers. This is a very well made long handled device and I have seen the results and they look good. The only drawback is that the area has to be heated to cherry red in order to form the nub.

You only have to heat a small area but I am concerned about what this will do to the wheel. Are there any metalurgical types out there that could shed some light on whether or not this is likely to make the wheel unservicable?

I am wanting to do this to 6" wheels for my '60.

The only other option I am aware of is to mig weld a small area which I can do but it won't look as pretty.

[Robert S.]

Re: To nub or not to nub?

Wish I had that tool. I need some nubs on two 15 x 7 wheels for my 60. The wheels have 3 3/4 backspace and work fine. If you don't race the car, I would not worry.

[Russ S.]

Re: To nub or not to nub?

Heating that small of an area shouldn't cause any problems.

[Steve V.]

Re: To nub or not to nub?

Thanks for the responses. It will be a couple of weeks before I can do the deed but I will report on the results. I have a wheel that I can experiment on first.

Steve