146 replies to this topic

[ste88]

they look really good! i have a set in the garage that i am planning on using, i might have a go at refurbing them first after seeing this thread

[new_zealand _minis]

does anyone know where i can get the little weller stickers for the side of the rim . like the ones on here . i want to re do my ones but i want the stickers ?????,, mini spares have new center caps for these and cool stickers on ebay

[maggies_minder]

cheers ste88 im glad your liking the skills on show although i dont really no what im doing.
like i said in the very first post there is a place in brum (so id imagine there are similar places nationally) who will powderblast, then powdercoat each wheel for £15 a pop but you can get all the stuff you need for less than£40 if you bet steal and borrow.


new_zealand _minis, id contact "roofless" on here, hes like the sticker king and will no doubt be able to help.
you could always paint a pinstipr on rather than you the stick??

im not sure yet if im going to both running the centre caps as that means id have to buy them

[miniallsort]

great job buddy

[TopCatCustom]

Bit late now but the etch primer layer doesn't need to be thick in the slightest- it just provides a key for the normal primer to stick to, at work we give little more than a dust over, then get a good layer of primer on top.

[h4wx1e]

you done yet?

[maggies_minder]

heres a bit more of an update with a couple of questions.

question first,

as C4NNON pointed out the etch primer is quite thick, partly because i wasnt entirely sure how thick it should be and thought that slightly too much would be better than not enough, my general rule in life lol. Its only really on 2 of the wheels (the first 2 i did) as i hadnt "prefected" a technique which worked well.
In this weather its difficult to do more than one layer as it takes a while to dry, on the whole the wheels are dry but there are a couple of patches where its thicker than it should be and isnt drying its still "tacky" to touch what should i do?? i cant really prime over the top with the layer below still wet, should i use some thinners to remove where its thicker then give it a really light coat after??

anybody have any ideas what steps i should take??


a few pics now of how they are looking now the backs are done since they were generally dry enough to turn over.


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another pic this time including my efforts to warm the place up a bit,
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and a close up of one of the wheels, theres no point in 5 pic which look the same.
 100_0583.JPG   1MB   14 downloads

hopefully by the end of this week they will all have had a few layers of primer but in this weather progress is slow as its taking a whole heap longer to dry.

[TopCatCustom]

I would say put them by a heater but looks like you already thought of that

Don't try and wipe thick bits off with thinner, it ends up messy and a poor finish unless you take it all off. Waiting is unfortunately the best way with paint, especially in the cold. Thinner coats are ok if you put a couple on, but the last coat wants to be thick enough to get a good shine, without runs, which will be very hard around the edge where you have the vally :S

[maggies_minder]

well that little heater is only in there to aim at myself as its pretty difficult to warm the garage.

it really is only a couple of patches, the plan now is to bring them into the house and stick them under the radiator over night.
hopefully that'll do it,
thanks bud.

[TopCatCustom]

On top of the radiator! Heat goes up remember!

Yeah painting in this weather sucks.

[maggies_minder]

well i meant next to but put under. its much warmer in there and i reckon by morning they should be ok.

[maggies_minder]

update from today, got down 4 coats of primer on the fronts of all five wheels, i then came home for food and my moms other half is going to do the backs with the same number of coats when he gets in from work.

then the plan is to bring them in the house over night again so they can warm up nicely, when they are sat by the radiator the "chill" in the metal goes and they sit at room temperature which should help everything settle down.

anyway pics of progress i no its what you all want.
 100_0589.JPG   805.95K   14 downloads

this one was taken after the first coat, all the wheels except the one on the bottom right had been done, i took this one just to show the difference between the etch primer coat which was grey, and the normal primer coat which was white.
you should be able to make it out (just) the light through the window doesnt help.

heres a picture up close of one of the wellers with 2 coats of primer.
 100_0592.JPG   707.32K   11 downloads

ive got loads of pictures which all show pretty much the same thing so im just sticking up the main ones.
so now we have 3 coats followed by 4 coats.
 100_0593.JPG   889.98K   7 downloads
 100_0594.JPG   1.01MB   10 downloads

both me and the "stevo" (me moms chap) think they are coming on really well definately looking 100% better than they started.
i dont expect the finish to be perfect but it was well worth giving it a try in my eyes, certainly a learning experience.

so the next step is to rub them back with wet and dry and its paint.

quick question though what should the process of "rubbing back/down" involve??

let us know what you think... until next time.

[ste88]

looking good! keep up the good work!

[maggies_minder]

cheers, i do plan to get them looking somewhat repectable even with my limited skills.

[maggies_minder]

can anyone tell me what i should be aiming to do when rubbing back the primer.

is it just wet, wet and dry quite fine 600/800 so theres as few imperfections as possible.
followed by cleaning them off,
then paint with as many coat as necessary?

any guidance appreciated i dont want it to go tits up after all this effort.