Tis the season

BillM · Nov 9, 2024

Every year I struggle with ugly winter rims....and with a blended family, there's plenty of cars that come here for service!

It's not likely a new idea, but I used a couple of pieces of aluminum flashing as masking (have you ever tried to mask rubber?) I've read about guys using playing cards, but I never understood how that could work. This worked like a dream. A few minutes with a wire brush in my drill, I stuck the flashing in the groove between the tire and the rim, a quick spray and they look like new.

soltz · Nov 9, 2024

Yep, that’s the I’ve done for some time now. I’ve used sheet metals, card board, poster, or any thing laying around.
Yours looks great!

redidbull · Nov 9, 2024

Love the flashing idea. Need to do some rims and I've been trying to figure the best way. You got it. Thanks. Jim

Old Iron · Nov 10, 2024

Right on, I'm stealing this from you

gene49 · Nov 11, 2024

My buddy uses the playing card trick, he has good luck (I think he lets the air out of the tire before he shoves the cards in between the wheel and the tire).
I was not impressed the couple times i tried it, but then painting isn't my strong suit to start with, could have been an operator error.
I still do it the old fashioned way, I break the beads down, cover the tires, and paint the wheel.

smallfoot · Nov 12, 2024

I saw a short vid on youtube the other day that showed a guy using a plastic garbage bag. Started with a new bag unfolded from the box and laid flat where the square corner could be accessed. He held the corner in the center of the wheel opening, , stretched the bag out to the edge of the rim and cut diagonally across that part that crossed the rim. When he took the cut corner away it left the rest of the bag with a hole that looked pretty round. He took the time to deflate so he could slide the edge in close. Seemed to work real good for him. The last wheels I painted was done with tires off so I could paint the entire wheel. I made my own tire machine so it was just a little extra work...