It's All in the Cards...

[ri702bill 8,319]

This is a follow up to Mike's @sparky - (admin)'s post a week or so, called Rim Painting Day. I commented about using playing cards to mask the tire - some folks were not familiar with it. I took advantage of the good weather yesterday to paint the 4 for the 502. The color I chose was Shell White because it has a Satin finish. Here goes...

This method is simple, and it gives great results, as it allows you to paint the edges of the rim bead area too. I like to prep, prime and paint the backsides of all the rims with no tires on them first, then prep and prime the fronts, but no finish coats of color. Once the rims are dry enough, install new valve stems if you are going the tubeless route, mount your tires from the front and inflate them to 20 PSI to seat the beads. Let them sit for a couple of days, then recheck the tire pressure to verify they hold air as they should. Deflate the tires and force the Playing Cards in under the bead and array them around the rim. I chose plastic coated Jumbo cards, all of a Dollar at one of the Dollar Stores in town. Cover the outer portion of the tire with rags or newspaper (not necessary with the front rims) and paint away. Prior to and between coats, stand the rattle can up in a saucepan or other container that is partially filled with hot tap water. This thins out the paint and raises the internal pressure to give a better spray pattern. Remember to wipe the sides & bottom of the can off before painting! Let them sit a few hours before removing the cards and reinflate the tires to a lower working pressure.

Bill

Edited May 6, 2022 by ri702bill

[Pullstart 62,861]

The can warmer is a great idea!  Like a nitrous blanket!  Zoom zoom paint!

[ri702bill 8,319]

Yup - Kevin - used that for 50 plus years, from the old Model Cars days, working in a 60 degree basement...

[ebinmaine 67,487]

Excellent 👍

[ri702bill 8,319]

2 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

Excellent 👍

@ebinmaine tell Trina to try this method the next time she is painting rims and you are constructively coaching - out of reach, of course. Let me know!!

Bill

[ebinmaine 67,487]

2 minutes ago, ri702bill said:

you are constructively coaching - out of reach, of course

Out of reach??

Well. 

She's half my size and FAR more athletic. 

There IS NO out of reach. 

[ebinmaine 67,487]

For the record she has tried the card method and will likely do so again. 

She prefers a method using a large piece of aluminum to make a tube above the rim but can't always get it to set just right.  

 

[ri702bill 8,319]

No, serious. Let her try this method. As I said, it's all in the cards.... AND they are reusable!!

Edited May 6, 2022 by ri702bill

[ebinmaine 67,487]

23 minutes ago, ri702bill said:

No, serious. Let her try this method. As I said, it's all in the cards.... AND they are reusable!!

Oh she has.

I do actually have a set of 12 inch rims that need her attention...

Maybe a good science project coming up sometime. 

[953 nut 55,226]

10 hours ago, ri702bill said:

I chose plastic coated Jumbo cards, all of a Dollar at one of the Dollar Stores in town.

Don't know about your neck of the woods but where I live you can get enough political cardstock every day to do a set of wheels! 

[EB-80/8inPA 1,641]

9 hours ago, ri702bill said:

Yup - Kevin - used that for 50 plus years, from the old Model Cars days, working in a 60 degree basement...

In the same piece of Revere Ware, maybe?

[EB-80/8inPA 1,641]

10 hours ago, ri702bill said:

I like to prep, prime and paint the backsides of all the rims with no tires on them first,

I don’t understand; why not just paint the whole wheel while the tire is off?  Is this to avoid touch ups to scrapes that happen from mounting the tires?

[SylvanLakeWH 25,557]

I use math flash cards…

 

I hate math and after use I can no longer be expected to know the answers when I can’t read the equation… 

 

 

[ri702bill 8,319]

11 hours ago, 953 nut said:

can get enough political cardstock every day to do a set of wheels! 

But they might have mud on them...

[ri702bill 8,319]

11 hours ago, EB-80/8inPA said:

I don’t understand; why not just paint the whole wheel while the tire is off?  Is this to avoid touch ups to scrapes that happen from mounting the tires?

Yes, it is. I have mounted tires on completely freshly finished rims, with not-so-great results. Getting the last half diameter of the last bead in place sometimes requires a lot of down force on the "zipping" tool and that peels up the fresh paint.

[953 nut 55,226]

23 minutes ago, ri702bill said:

But they might have mud on them...Or at the very least a bunch of B___ S___!                  

 

21 minutes ago, ri702bill said:

Getting the last half diameter of the last bead in place sometimes requires a lot of down force on the "zipping" tool and that peels up the fresh paint.

I have used an old leather glove over the end of the tire mounting bar with good results. I always use hardener in the paint and let it set for several days before mounting the tire so this may contribute to my success.

[ri702bill 8,319]

11 hours ago, EB-80/8inPA said:

In the same piece of Revere Ware, maybe?

No, back 50 years ago I was using Mom's Revere Ware (probably made by Paul himself...)