Wheel Restoration And Painting

[Old Falcon Lad]

All

I have a set of old Bear Hawk speed disks, that are a bit scratched and nibbled around the rims. As part of my restoration / rebuild, I've an idea to spray them black, but I have couple of Qs.

Firstly, would the rims respond to some form of sanding? If so, what - fine grained sand paper? wet and dry?

Also, would I use a standard Halfords spray paint to spray up the wheels? And when doing so, would it make sense to put the old bearings in (to be replaced with ball races) during the task to make sure the apertures don't get full of paint?

Sorry for all the dumb questions again!

Paul

[taliesin]

An emery board will smooth those edges right up and if you gently scuff them with some Scotch-Brite [or some such light abrasive pad] before painting the paint should stick just fine.

Everybody should have a few plastic bushings laying around just for the purpose you suggest. Good thought. Just make sure not to goober the paint on so thick it all peels off when removing the bushings!

[mosiac]

When I cleaned up a set for my drifter I got an old axle and used a couple of washers to pack it out and put it in a drill on slow speed and basically used it like a mini lathe.

DISCLAIMER:

Don't use any form of blade or sharp object, cost me another pair of wheels and some skin when mine bit in and gouged 1 wheel and 2 fingers, could have been an eye. You have been warned.

If you use sandpaper though it seems to work good as gold.

Good luck

[Mouton]

Do not paint the wheels as the paint will chip once you drive it. Use textile dye and boild them in (black) textile dye instead. This way the paint will never chip and boiling the plastic will also make it more flexible.

This is what racers have done since The Dark Ages to get their prefered colour.

[Gruntfuggly]

I usually clean mine up with wire wool...

[Old Falcon Lad]

Do not paint the wheels as the paint will chip once you drive it. Use textile dye and boild them in (black) textile dye instead. This way the paint will never chip and boiling the plastic will also make it more flexible.

This is what racers have done since The Dark Ages to get their prefered colour.

That sounds like a great idea! Any brand preferences, and thanks for the tip!

Paul

[Shanks]

Why not try to get a set of some Madcap wheels they are the same as Bearhawk ones but black, Just checked Ebay & a front set will set you back about the same as it would cost to buy some Ritedye to colour the Bearhawk ones you have. Ebay has front & Rear Madcap wheels on or perhaps someone on TC can help you out with some.