Restoring Model T wheels

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2012: Restoring Model T wheels
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Joe on Saturday, May 12, 2012 - 02:31 am:

I'm planning on getting my T wheels restored and wanted to know how the demountable rim was restored. I recently read of someone having them cadmium plated. what was original for the T silver paint or plated?? As usual I am very thankful for everyone's knowledge and enthusiasm.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve in Tennessee on Saturday, May 12, 2012 - 03:23 am:

Joe - originally they were cad plated. Over time this faded and there are records of dealers being encouraged to paint them with silver paint.

I painted mine silver. Some powder coat, some cad plate, and you will find all manner of opinions of what is the best approach.

Steve


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Jelf, Parkerfield KS on Saturday, May 12, 2012 - 06:55 am:

I've been gathering a set of Hayes rims plus a spare and a couple for a trailer. Rather than cadmium, I'm going with hot dip galvanizing. They'll last longer than I will.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Royce in Dallas TX on Saturday, May 12, 2012 - 07:18 am:

I believe the demountable rims were zinc plated originally. The ones on my '17 runabout's Hayes wheels were cad plated about 50 years ago. They still look great.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By William L Vanderburg on Saturday, May 12, 2012 - 07:37 am:

Mine are "Oklahoma Chrome" lol


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Allan Richard Bennett on Saturday, May 12, 2012 - 07:57 am:

Joe, I believe the original plating was electro zinc plating. This looks like silver cad plating. It greys with age and does not last as long as hot dip galvanising. However, it is smoother than galvanising. I have seen some originals which were galvanised. If you go this route, I would advise heavily grit/shot blasting to get rid of ALL rust before plating, and then be prepared to file off any little sharp dags and runs in the hot dip galvanising. This will be the longest lasting, but will need some tidying up before you mount tyres on the rims.

Hope this helps.

Allan from down under.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dave Huson, Berthoud, Co. on Saturday, May 12, 2012 - 08:38 am:

I quit painting long ago because every time I used anything to clean the white wall the paint ran. I take all my rims to a powder coater and have what he call chrome put on. After a month or so running I doubt that many could tell the difference between the chrome powder coating and the original zinc after you have run them for awhile. The powder coating is tough and does not scar or mark when you mount tires.

A944

A945


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Joe on Saturday, May 12, 2012 - 09:23 am:

thanks to all for your advice. Has anyone experienced maybe to thick of a powder coat to where it would inhibit the mounting of the tire?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dan Treace, North FL on Saturday, May 12, 2012 - 09:35 am:

Joe

The powder coaters know their job, no issues with too thick.

The results are best with a very nice rim without rust pits, as the powder coat won't fill.

Last ones done where two stage, a color coat of silver, then a top coat of matt clear to lower the shine to look like zinc. By the way, the tires go over that powder coat, and unlike paint, you don't have scratches, and unlike paint, dust and dirt won't cling to powder coat.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jim Patrick on Saturday, May 12, 2012 - 09:58 am:

The most durable, brightest, most silver looking paint I have found to paint my rims with, is a paint called "Silver Brite", manufactured by Sherwin Williams. It was developed to be used on coating metal roofs, and I discovered it when my metal shingled roof needed to be painted.

As soon as I began brushing it on my roof and saw how nice it went on and how bright and reflective it was, I immediately thought about using it on the rims of my T.

It is thick with silver pigments, several times more than in typical silver paint and the paint needs to be constantly stirred to keep the pigments suspended. It brushes on nice and smooth and stroke free and, though it goes on splotchy, due to the excessive amount of pigment, it dries to a beautiful, flawless, hard, durable, bright silver finish.

My roof has been painted now for over 10 years exposed to the bright Florida sun and hot summer weather and daily summer rains and the roof is still a nice bright silver, so it is very tough and stands up to UV like nothing I have ever seen. It is also great for bumpers. Jim Patrick


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike Walker, NW AR on Saturday, May 12, 2012 - 10:50 am:

These are powder-coated. They don't get scratched up like paint when mounting the tires. Zinc galvanizing would be 100% correct, but I don't know of anyone around here who does that anymore.

rim


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve in Tennessee on Saturday, May 12, 2012 - 02:19 pm:

It was zinc. Sorry for that. That's what I get for posting at 2 AM when I can't sleep.


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