Colour code wood wheel rims

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Vbl
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Colour code wood wheel rims

Post by Vbl » Mon Mar 04, 2019 1:09 pm

Anyone have the colour code on the wood wheel rims 1926 model?
Preferably in RAL code. They're supposed to be silver coloured aren't they?
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My main forum thread: viewtopic.php?t=541

Restoring my great grand fathers 1926 Model T touring
Restoring my fathers 1985 VW Transporter T3/T25
1973 Mini project
1993 BMW E34 520iAT

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Humblej
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Re: Colour code wood wheel rims

Post by Humblej » Mon Mar 04, 2019 1:31 pm

The demountable wheel rims are cadmium plated, not painted silver. If painting is your only option, any silver paint will do.

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DanTreace
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Re: Colour code wood wheel rims

Post by DanTreace » Mon Mar 04, 2019 1:45 pm

The silver color is from galvanized finish on demoutable rims in the T age. Cadmium plating was developed much later in the 1930’s

A good substitute is spray can finish using ‘cold galvanize’ paint popular for touch up on piers, docks, and chain link fences and posts.
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Topic author
Vbl
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Re: Colour code wood wheel rims

Post by Vbl » Mon Mar 04, 2019 2:11 pm

Thanks guys.

I forgot to say that it was 21" demountable rims.

They have to be sandblasted and painted, så then it's probably good old RAL 9006 then. I'll check with the workshop that's doing the job.
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My main forum thread: viewtopic.php?t=541

Restoring my great grand fathers 1926 Model T touring
Restoring my fathers 1985 VW Transporter T3/T25
1973 Mini project
1993 BMW E34 520iAT

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Humblej
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Re: Colour code wood wheel rims

Post by Humblej » Mon Mar 04, 2019 2:37 pm

Acording to the Les Henry Model T Restoration Handbook, 1919-25 demountable rims were zinc plated, 1925-27 split rims were cadmium plated.


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Re: Colour code wood wheel rims

Post by Allan » Mon Mar 04, 2019 5:15 pm

As far as I know, the rims were neither cadmium plated or galvanised. They were electro-plated zinc. It has smooth finish, unlike hot dip galvanising, but it is not as durable as galvanising. The finish quite quickly turned a darker grey. Fresh electro plated zinc colour can be closely replicated with brush on aluminised paint. 'Silva-frost' is the brand I use, even on previously plated rims, to bring older examples back to matching newly plated rims.

Allan from down under.

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Re: Colour code wood wheel rims

Post by Mark Gregush » Mon Mar 04, 2019 6:01 pm

A good substitute is spray can finish using ‘cold galvanize’ paint popular for touch up on piers, docks, and chain link fences and posts.

That's what I use. Works and lasts.
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Topic author
Vbl
Posts: 24
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First Name: Vidar
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Re: Colour code wood wheel rims

Post by Vbl » Thu Mar 07, 2019 12:38 pm

Thanks guys.

I'll check with the paint shop to what would resemble cadmium plated surface.
Vidar Blikø

My main forum thread: viewtopic.php?t=541

Restoring my great grand fathers 1926 Model T touring
Restoring my fathers 1985 VW Transporter T3/T25
1973 Mini project
1993 BMW E34 520iAT

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Re: Colour code wood wheel rims

Post by George Mills » Thu Mar 07, 2019 9:29 pm

Cars that I did in the 80’s were done in ‘aluminum’ silver and it always made the tires seem bigger...

Over the years as I’d buy up rims I’d take some originals, rub them out with mineral oil...and decided that the color was a gray base, and not a silver base color.

Fast forward over a bunch of years now decades long with many rims on more than a few cars, and I did a set in 2018 and decided to go 2 coats of Rustoleum Smoke and was very pleased with the results.

The closest RAL equivalent to that would be 7040 or 7042.
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Re: Colour code wood wheel rims

Post by Steve Jelf » Thu Mar 07, 2019 10:35 pm

Every time this subject comes up, confusion walks upon the scene. Consulting the dictionary: galvanize coat (iron or steel) with a protective layer of zinc : an old galvanized bucket.

There are two methods of galvanizing, electroplate and hot dip. The hot dip method is preferable because it applies a thicker coat of zinc. That's why I buy old hot dipped nails at auctions. New electroplated nails you now get at the hardware store are so thinly electroplated that they turn to rust spots in a few years.


IMG_3820 copy 2.JPG
Rims galvanized with the hot dip method.

The Model T Encyclopedia says demountable rims were zinc plated (galvanized). It says nothing of cadmium, which came into use for plating on an industrial scale in the thirties and forties.

As the picture shows, I have my rims galvanized. If I were painting them I'd use silver (aluminum) Rustoleum, also known as Oklahoma chrome.
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