Painting faded script on vintage hubcaps

[trickydicky43richard]

Gidday All, Anybody got any tips on re painting the worn off  red "Chrysler" script on my tarnished old chrome 1939 Hubcaps.

Thanks

[Friartuck]

Consider using sign painters enamel such as 1 Shot: http://www.1shot.com/One-Shot/Products.aspx

 

Sign painters enamel is formulated to flow out even and blend the brush marks. Takes a steady hand and consider starting with 2 fingers of your favorite scotch blend. 

[Harold]

I've wiped Vaseline on the hubcap, being certain to keep it out of the recessed areas, then sprayed paint from a can.  Once the paint dried, I wiped the Vaseline off the hubcap so only the recessed areas held the paint.

[edinmass]

Nail polish works great. Try it.

[Paul Dobbin]

With the lettering recessed by stamping it into the steel, it makes it easier.

Carefully paint the depressed area with 1 Shot, then wipe the excess off the edges

of your lettering with your finger inside a thinner soaked piece of an old t-shirt.

Very forgiving and fun project for a rainy day.

[Guest Skyking]

I spray paint the right color then wipe the edges with lacquer thinner on a cloth held tight to my fingers.

[jpage]

When painting on a new chrome surface do you have to do any prep work to the area being painted to get better adhesion or do you just paint over the chrome?

[Guest Skyking]

When painting on a new chrome surface do you have to do any prep work to the area being painted to get better adhesion or do you just paint over the chrome?

 

I clean the area with lacquer thinner first.  Some of my hubcaps have been painted 11 years without any issues.

[trickydicky43richard]

Thanks all your suggestions, I decided to give Edenmass's suggestion of using nail polish. So I raided my wife's make up cupboard ( when she was at work of course) and found a plethera of choices.

Sure enough there was a "red" that matched the original "Chrysler" script on my 1939 Hubcaps, but I made sure it was the type using acetone clean up for better durability.

I just gave my hubcape a wipe over with general acrylic thinners and away I went, but I was undecided if I should take the car for a run and properly dry them in the breeze out the car window, He He !!

They turned out great with easy acetone cleanup and a sharp "Stanley" box cutter blade to carefully scrape off any mistakes.

I expect they will be quite durable, but I could always re do them every time before I go out again,he He !!

Women, Luv em,

Rich

Edited June 30, 2015 by trickydicky43richard (see edit history)

[Restorer32]

Finger nail polish is lacquer.

[trickydicky43richard]

Well it works great, nail polish comes with it's on little brush too. Yet to test durability, anyhow easy to fix. I wonder if a clear coat over would be good insurance ?/