NON GS ? about paint

[omaharj]

I have a 2013 Mazda3 I bought new. It has 40K on it. The wheels are steel, painted flat black and have plastic hub caps. Yeah, it's THAT stylish, heheh. The flat black has turned a bit rusty looking. I've taken good care of the car's appearance and this sticks out like a sore thumb and annoys me. I'm about ready to outline the hubcap on cardboard and use the cutout to mask the wheels and have at it with a can of flat black from O'Reilly's. What's to stop me? Can I screw this up? Thanks RJ

[tkent02]

It's hard to screw up flat black. Just don't shoot it so thick it runs.

[GS1150Pilot]

https://www.amazon.com/Rust-Oleum-248928-Automotive-11-Ounce-Performance/dp/B003CT4AQQ

[omaharj]

https://www.amazon.com/Rust-Oleum-24.../dp/B003CT4AQQ

Ordered it!
If I use a sweeping motion and release the spray button before stopping I should minimize the risk of runs. Thanks guys. Sorry, there will be NO pics!

[GS1150Pilot]

It'll work well.

[dorkburger]

Sound easy enough. Years ago I rattle canned a set of steel wheels gloss black. Thousands of miles, then 15 years of sitting outdoors under a carport...... they are still fine- after hosing off the dust- still no rust, and shiny..... and you're not worried about shine.

[BurntKittyForge]

If it was me, I'd forget the cardboard cutout and masking wheels part.
Had good results in past by remove the hubcaps using the flat end of tire iron,
just use a wet rag to wet the rubber tire,careful not the metal.
Then spray the wheel and quickly rub the wet rag/towel over the rubber and the overspray wipes right off if done quick enough anyway.
That's how I'd do it anyhow. Good luck.

[JJ]

If it was me, I'd forget the cardboard cutout and masking wheels part.
Had good results in past by remove the hubcaps using the flat end of tire iron,
just use a wet rag to wet the rubber tire,careful not the metal.
Then spray the wheel and quickly rub the wet rag/towel over the rubber and the overspray wipes right off if done quick enough anyway.
That's how I'd do it anyhow. Good luck.

When I was a teenager, the trick to "masking" the tire off was to rub a thin coat of axle grease onto the rubber. Paint the wheel, and once the paint has cured, you wash the grease off the tire. Same principle, but the grease will last a lot longer than water.

[SVSooke]

If it was me, I'd forget the cardboard cutout and masking wheels part.
Had good results in past by remove the hubcaps using the flat end of tire iron,
just use a wet rag to wet the rubber tire,careful not the metal.
Then spray the wheel and quickly rub the wet rag/towel over the rubber and the overspray wipes right off if done quick enough anyway.
That's how I'd do it anyhow. Good luck.

When I was a teenager, the trick to "masking" the tire off was to rub a thin coat of axle grease onto the rubber. Paint the wheel, and once the paint has cured, you wash the grease off the tire. Same principle, but the grease will last a lot longer than water.

I have used Vaseline instead of grease on the tire,it works great and is less messy than grease would be.

[edgeofvamp]

I just let out a little air and then jam a bunch of waxy playing cards around the edge. Paint it and then while the paint is still wet, pop the cards out and you get a nice clean edge at the back edge of the lip of the rim.
Let it dry and then air up and mount them back up.
Is it a rusty color due to rust or due to brake dust? Make sure to rough up the current paint with scotch brite or the new paint will flake off.