PO2 hubcap painting

[Gordon P.]

any tips on restoring the black paint around the perimeter of the cap? there are about 80 little strips of chrome or polished stainless about 3/32" wide and 1" long in this area that don't get paint. i don't think it will look correct if i mask these with tape. any help will be apreciated.
thanks

[Mike Z.]

Re: PO2 hubcap painting

Gordon-
I restore Knock-Off wheels and have done hubcaps i.e., 66 models that have paint on sides of a bright surface. An old painter's tip is to paint the entire surface, including the chrome top bright surface, then before the paint has cured (5-10 min after final coat is sprayed), take a clean lent free rag (I use an old white T-shirt) and lightly wet with paint reducer (not lacquer thinner) and wipe off the bright areas, using the rag covered over your index finger. I change my finger position on the rag on every vane, so the rag remains as clean as possible and you don't contaminate the paint reducer. You should have sufficient control to take the paint off of just the bright areas without touching the desired painted areas-remember the tail of the rag, so it does not wipe across other painted areas. There maybe a light "skim" after the reducer wipe, but after it drys complete, you can wipe again and it should come right off. In some instances i.e., when I "air brush" the colors on the center caps of the K-O wheels, I use my finger nail vs. the flat of the finger to make those close sharp cuts-but the rest of the technique is the same. A little practice and you to will be an expert. Good Luck!
Mike Zamora
#12455

[Gordon P.]

Re: PO2 hubcap painting

thanks mike, i tried a test section and wasn't able to wipe the raised area without getting the reducer on the flat area. my finger may be too big. i tried scratching the paint off the raised area with my fingernail before it completely dried and that worked pretty good. i'm going to try more today. i don't know if these PO2's are worth the effort, the cast fins are going to be a bear also.

[Terry B.]

Re: PO2 hubcap painting

Gordon,

Here is what I did to get a set of PO-2 for my '68. I know that PO-2's are not correct for 68's but I like the look and they are not for judging. So I bought a set of 4 PO-2's on ebay thinking it would be simple.. They looked better in the picture than they did in my hands. Some were dented on the outside, some had weathered stainless and chrome. I was able to get a good deal on the first set so I decided I would try to buy another set. After the total hit 12 PO-2's purchased on ebay, I decided I had enough to take them apart and use the best of the parts to make a set of 4. I carefully touched up the black painted problem areas by paint brush and they turned out well I thought. I had to buy 4 new center hubs and ended up spending more money on the center hubs than the 12 hubcaps I purchased off ebay. I now have a set of 4 that I am happy with. Maybe you need to buy some more PO-2's to make it all work for you. Good luck.

Terry

[Gordon P.]

Re: PO2 hubcap painting

thanks terry, that is about where i'm at, i've got a total of 9, some i think from camaros. i finished one today and it's not perfect, but i think it'll do. i like these caps also, they're a little different. i'm on the tail end of this restoration and my standards have come down on the final pieces. i figure i or someone else can always go back and fix these. i've been on this car, off and on for 6 years and i've soured myself on it, trying to get it just right.