Restore Damaged Hubcaps! How to repair hubcaps with curb rash and scratches.
Inspired by Chrisfix His channel offers a wide range of car repair videos that are wonderfully edited and filled with great insights and tips. He has a video for restoring aluminum rims but not one for hubcaps! I decided to make this video because of that. definitely check him out! highly recommended!
Products I used:
3M 320 Grit Sandpaper: www.amazon.com/3M-SandBlaster...
3M 600 Grit Sandpaper: www.amazon.com/3M-Sandpaper-6...
Rust-Olem White Primer: www.amazon.com/Rust-Oleum-280...
Rust-Olem Steel Wheel Paint: www.amazon.com/Rust-Oleum-248...
Rust-Olem Clear Coat: www.amazon.com/Oleum-280702-A...
*If this video was helpful remember to give it a “thumbs up”*
Disclaimer:
Due to factors beyond the control of j whit, I cannot guarantee against improper use or unauthorized modifications of this information. J whit assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. Use this information at your own risk. jwhit recommends safe practices when working on vehicles and or with tools seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of j whit, no information contained in this video shall create any expressed or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage, or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or from the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not j whit.
Great video and step by step guide. It does take a long time to clean, sand, prep the hubcaps. You are right it takes 4 coats of each primer/paint /clear coat to get an excellent finished product. Just a couple of things I found that helped me doing the project. I was refinishing my daughters Toyota hubcaps. You can push out the plastic chrome centre logo pieces, they have little clips that allow you to push them out from the back, so no masking. I used a sanding sponge that made it easier to get into the grooves, side areas. I was spray painting with 50-degree weather, so I placed the spray cans in hot water before spraying. Just make sure you dry the can thoroughly to prevent any water droplets falling on the rims while spraying. Thanks for all your hard work on the video.
THANK YOU. My wheels look like garbage and this was honestly the best step-by-step tutorial of anything I’ve ever KZheadd
Looks great...to much work for me, think I'll just buy some new ones.
50$
I'm doing some work on my car and decided to watch your video for advice. Thanks
Followed your steps. Caps look like new. Thanks.
From New Zealand, I used this video to help me do the curb rashed wheel trims on my Toyota Ractis,and they now look 'as new', so thank you ! One small tip, if a wheel trim is cracked across it's rim area, an extremely strong and permanent repair can be achieved by glueing pieces of plastic from the lid of a ice cream tub, behind and across the split in the trim's rim. I used a two part 'Araldite' type glue. This has made a permanant, strong as original repair. I hope this helps someone, kind regards.
Glad the video was helpful. And that's a great idea for strengthing cracked plastic around the rim, I'm sure some viewers will have that issue as well. A couple of my hubcaps had cracks in the plastic and what i did was use an epoxy putty formulated to bond to plastic. It starts off with the consistency of clay and then dries hard as a rock after a couple hours. I cleaned, sanded, then added this putty and basically built up the missing plastic, let it dry, then sanded and painted it and it came out looking pretty good as well as providing some structural integrity to the hubcap. The putty is called J-B Weld Plastiweld Epoxy Putty if you are interested. Thanks for the comment with the tip, im sure it will be helpful to some viewer and thanks for watching.
That came out better than I thought it would.
This is exciting - I recently sought out some "wrecking yard hub caps". I figured just having hub caps on would be better than not - but this video gives me hope that the wheels can now be the highlight of the car!
hey great job, do more videos your instructions are very clear
Gunshy Habit thank you, I hope my video was helpful.
The weather is a bit too cool to do this at the moment but look forward to trying this on my latest " new to me " car. I bought a used Ford Fusion and the first time I gave it a good wash the finish on the hubcaps just flaked off in pieces. Oddly, you have to be right next to the car to see that the plastic is exposed.
Great video. Thank you man.
Amazing I want to do this on my honda civic reborn
Awesome 👏🏻, thanks for sharing!!
THIS VID JUST HELPED ME A LOT BECUZ I REALIZE MY WHEELS HAS HUBCAPS. I'M TRYING TO PAINT MINES BLACK.
Yoster Amor how they turn out i want to paint my hubcaps black also
@@streetballer9697 they turned out amazing. I ended up sanding the hubcaps(after cleaning them of course), used matte black rustoleum paint, & put clear on top. Came out perfect
Primer also?
@@streetballer9697 The paint ii used had the Primer included as well. Once again it was the Paint+Primer Rustoleum Paint.
Do all Rust-Oleum black paint have primer added? I heard Rust-Oleum is the best brand for hubcaps
Great video! Thanks.
You did an excellent job ❤
Rust oleum 2X metallic Paint and primer and then clear coat. No sanding or extra priming paint required. Rust oleum steel wheel is expensive. Can get the 2X metallic for like $3-4 a can for all four. And another primer can for the same price.
ARE YOU SURE?!! Before I ruin these 8 hubcaps...
@@camilleg1437 no fr 😂
Here in Canada it's like $18.99 per can, but it is worth it.
Rustoleum 2x pretty much sticks on anything. Did I it on mine and it’s still good. They’re $6-7 a can now
Why don't you have more subs? This video was really good and helped me out a lot.
haha im glad the video helped :)
Thanks J Whit!
Très bonne vidéo !!!!!! Petit conseil : pour nettoyer les enjoliveurs sans qu'il reste aucune salté devant et derrière c'est d'utiliser une éponge à vaisselle avec une bosse à dent
A great help many thanks
Thank you for this!
Thanks, appreciated.
Great video! Gonna does do on my civic. Thank you.
Awesome video!
After all that work can you still go through a tunnel wash and gave the wheels hold up or would they ruin them?
Nice video, thank you for sharing, 1 quick question, what color of paint do you recomend to optain the OEM shiny look? I will be going to autozone, thanks alot ..
The clear coat over the silver paint is what will give it the shine. It will also provide UV and scratch protection. As for the silver color, the most popular paints ive seen used are Dupli-Color Silver Wheel Paint, and the one I used, Rust-olem Steel Wheel Paint.
how many cans of each do you need for 4 hubcaps?
What type or kind of paint did you use amigo?
Great video thanks
When the first primer paint was used what colour was it??
how many cans of paint did you use? I am going to do the same thing to my Nissan Sentra
Better than factory quality!
*SOAPY WATER*
Thank you!!
Looked better with the primer, color-wise to me.
Great video, helped a ton! But what is that creature at 0:46 ???🤣💀
How many cans you needed of primer/paint/clear!?
Hey J, could i hydrodip my hubcaps after cleaning, sanding, and wipe down with rubbing alcohol and taping emblem?
honestly brother i have no idea, i mean if the hydrodip paint can stick to the surface of the hubcap (or maybe prime it first) and you can hit it with a protective clear coat, it could work, but honestly I have no clue
Do they come out shiny
How many cans of each did you use for all 4?
pretty much one can of each will get you there, you might start running low at the end, but id start with one can of primer, color coat, and clear coat and see how far it gets you.
For a second you sounded like a btec version of Chris fix 🤣
🤣🤣🤣
Hey mate what’s the colour code for the paint
Can I use this same process if the hubcaps I want to paint black has two colors(gray/black)? If the hubcaps has no scratches, do I still need to sand it? Can I use black paint that already has primer included? If I use black glossy, do I still need to add the clear coat? Thank you!
question #1 Yes, question # 2, no, maybe a light sanding with 620 grit, but you can just do an alcohol wipe and apply the primer, question #3 You can try it, most likely would get the job done, but personally I havent tried it so i cant speak on it, Question #4 no don't need clear coat for aesthetic reasons, but the clear coat provides UV protection and scratch protection, if the Black glossy dries hard and has UV protection you should be good.
What if my hubcaps are plastic but have rashes on them. Do i need to sand or just wash good and hope they turn out fine?
Sand
If my hubcaps are brand new can I go straight to the 620 grit? Or should I still sand with 300 first?
The lower the grit, the rougher the sandpaper. The rougher the sandpaper, the more material it sands off. If you can get through the color coat easily enough with 620 grit, then do it, but if it's tough to sand through it with 620 grit, you will have to drop down to a rougher sandpaper, get through it, then come back with a lighter sandpaper to smooth it out. Thanks for the comment!
wouldn't it give it a better smooth surface if the primer is sanded after the final coat? I finished applying the primer yesterday but it's kind of a porous texture. Thank you.
yes, you can do a light sanding with 600 grit sand paper, then clean the surface with alcohol and a lint free rag and spray the color coat
just be careful not to sand through the primer coat
how did you keep the clear coat from having a reaction to the silver paint? when I tried it with other spray paint it turns it a ugly grey and ruined the whole thing
Hello John, my apologies on not replying, I had missed your comment. As for your comment, I'm curious as to what paint you used, for the color and the clear coat, as well as how you applied both. Perhaps with a look into that, we can figure out what went wrong.
Can I do this with plastic hubcaps where the layer coatings have started to peel due to exposure to the sun?
yes, I'd start by peeling off any of the flakes, then sanding down whatever paint is still stuck on the hubcap, then clean, prime, add a color coat, then a clear coat for protection, thanks!
@@jwhit4075 thanks so much for the tips👍
this might sound dumb but can you do this with colored spray paint? like pink for example hehe
Yes you absolutely can!
how long do you have to wait before you can run your car through the carwash?
Each paint can should have a cure time on the can, once it’s cured it fine
My mum has a Vauxhall Astra and the hubcaps are all beat up so this video helped a lot. People reading this comment, the only paint you definitely don't want to use is *Halfords paint* it's cheap but doesn't look great. I'm from the UK so what paint brand works best?
Mike peugeot rustoleum is real good . Designd to bond to plastic
Moi j'utilise de la peinture professionnelle pour carosier
Do you need to clean and sand them if the hubcaps are brand new
Don't need to clean them with soap and water, You could do a light sanding with 620 grit, but id just give them an alcohol wipe, and start with the priming part of the painting process
Dont use sand paper use soft steel wool... the wool will create much more grip for spray paint....
Good job bro 👌
How many cans of primer, paint and clear coat did you use for all four wheel covers?
I used one can of both the primer and clear coat and it was enough. I also used one can of the metallic silver but it started running low on the last hubcap. the footage in the video was of me panting my last hubcap and you cant really see it due to the video quality but the spray pattern was starting to come out a little more uneven. Also since I was running low I had to spray more conservatively then the primer and clearcoats on this last hubcap. Its just enough so you could do it with one can but if you mess up or do touch ups or anything you might need another one.
Thanks a ton mate!
Just curious how did your paint job hold up after 4 years? Was it worth it??
Depends if he’s a good driver or if he got rid of his car 🤣
I wouldn't even bother using that wheel specific spray paint. The most important factor is your top-coat here. Use industrial grade clears sprays like SprayMax, or Diamond Finish to ensure you have a very hardy surface that can withstand being on the road similar to you cars top coat..
soapy wooder :D
Honestly chris fix was my inspiration for this lol
Where did you buy the spray paint
Does it have to be 4 coats or could I get away with 3?
It depends on how heavy of coats you do, 3 coats could work if you go a little heavier with each coat, not too much so it runs but a little thicker coat is fine. You could try the three coats, wait for it to dry, then look at it in different lighting and if you’re happy with the coverage, go on to the clear coating
i bought my car used, i think a crackhead try to paint the hubcaps black. They missed a lot of spots, it would be cheaper get some walmart caps, but these are factory hubcaps that i want to keep. thanks for the video
These are under-lug hubcaps that will not come off. Aftermarket hubcaps are snap on and you can easily loose one in a pothole.
Yay mine have lug nuts yay
How long did you wait after finishing the clear coat to put back on wheels
I don't remember precisely how long but it was atleast 24 hours.
🤙🏽
Do u really have to use primer paint ??
You don't have to, however, there are benefits to doing so. Priming will help smooth out and fill in scratches on the hubcap. It will also provide a surface for the paint to properly adhere to. Without it, id bet the paint would chip off more easily and the final texture would be rougher.
Buy spray with primer +paint in a can.
how many cans of spray paint did you use for all 4 ?
Allan Ward use two cans of each Primer and paint
You sound like Chris Fix. Lol
If that's acrylic paint. Which it should be for plastic... You need to wait a lot longer before putting on clear coat. At least a few days. I wait a week
But good video
@:50 Hello to Salacious B. Crumb
you know it !
The sound was not great Could no hear the voice?
Great Video. But I rather order them from Amazon. Saves a lot of work and time. For Only $30
Clayrell McKosher only $30? Wow! On amazon, the OEM hubcaps are $39 each.
chris fix? is that you?
im his younger cousin, BobRepairs
I dont know about that. Didnt appear to sand grooves or lug holes or sand primer and too much clear coat will yellow. I dont think these will look good for very long
Hello bliffblam! Thank you for watching the video and taking some time to state concerns you've had about it. I will try to break down your comment to provide you with more information as to why I chose to do somethings, while not doing others. Sanding after you prime can lead to an overall better, smoother finish. The reason why I choose not to do this with my hubcaps was because I felt it to be an unnecessary step, seeing that the difference in finish you'd achieve in sanding vs not sanding the primer is nominal. However if someone wanted to sand after they prime, that's totally fine. As for the lug holes, because of there design, they are less exposed to damaging road debris than other parts of the hubcap. Mine were in good enough condition that sanding them like I did some of the more damaged parts was unnecessary. All they needed was a cleaning, light sanding, and really just a clear coat. Now if there are people who have hubcaps and the lug holes are damaged then perhaps more work needs to be done to them. But also because you can't see the inside surface of the lug holes when it is on your car I Also felt it was unnecessary to work on finishing a surface that won't even be seen. For the clear coat, there are positives and negatives to it. Some positives are the protection it gives to the color coat, the UV protection, and the "Shiny OEM" look it gives the hubcap. A negative is its potential to yellow over time (although the paint I used is non-yellowing, and so far that claim seems to be true) When you're refinishing your hubcaps you need to make a choice, Do you want the protection the clearcoat gives with its potential to yellow, or do you want to leave the color coat exposed to ensure no yellowing. The choice is yours to make. I decided to use a clear coat to protect the color coat, And I would recommend using a clear coat to anyone. For fun, I sanded and painted my iPhone case with just primer and the color coat and after 3 months the color coat was completely destroyed and damaged and it looked horrible, the color coat isn't durable like the clear coat and if your looking to have lasting results the clear coat is needed.
Whether u can see holes or not, or even if it's hard to get to like the grooves it needs to be sanded enough to remove gloss or it will peel. Sanding primer gives better adhesion and smoother finish. I'm not saying dont use clear coat. I'm saying u used too much. #1 cause of yellowing is too many coats. Using rattle cans, 2 coats tops. Then hit them with a protectant everytime u wash, like 303 or something similar If ur gonna do it, might as well do it to last. Just saying
@@bliffblam You're correct, you want to sand down past the clear coat for the entire hubcap for maximum primer adherence. I thought I made that clear in the video but if I didnt, I apologize. You're also correct, Sanding the primer leads to a smoother finish. And if anyone is interested in doing so they may. I feel its not worth the time or effort seeing that the difference in the finish you would achieve by doing this step or not is so small (if there is any visual difference visible) it would only be noticeable upon careful up-close inspection. After all, we are restoring hubcaps, you don't need the care and attention you give to bodywork on a 70s Corvette. As for the clear coat, I don't believe I've used too much. It has been almost two years since the restoration and I've experienced no yellowing. All of my research supports that the amount of clear coat I've applied is fine. The paint I used recommends three coats. I did three light coats and one medium coat with no negative side effects. The issue with clear coat is that if you use too little it will give the piece a bumpy hazy look, and two coats, with the amount I sprayed during each coat, would not have given me the protection and smooth surface I was looking for. And you need to keep the coats light. Perhaps it would be more telling to consider the amount of clear coat I applied to the piece as a whole instead of deciding if I applied too much based on the number of coats I did. You can easily apply more clear coat in two heavy coats than I did in there light ones and one medium one.
@@jwhit4075 just wanted to point some things out that weren't clear for other ppl that might attempt this. Wasnt trying to imply u did a bad job. Just maybe not as thorough as I would do. I'm pretty anal about shit. If I'm going to do something I make damn sure its gonna last. Cheers
@@bliffblam You've made some good points that needed more exploring. And seeing that there is no manual on how to restore hubcaps there are different ways to go about it so the concerns you posted were fair. Some people will recommend two coats, some people three, and some people four. I guess it also depends on the clear coat paint used and the conditions the hubcap is painted in. Plus how much paint to apply during each coat. I've shared my experiences and you have yours and hopefully, some viewers will see this and get some more information. Even though we may disagree, i think if we were to be hired to restore hubcaps, with our combined brain power, we would do a fine job. thanks for this discussion.
Why do have be to jack the car if you need to remove the wheel nuts! As it is just remove the nuts
Kinda sounds like Gabe from the office
tnxs
I've found this 2-step method very useful for painting and making wheel covers look better as well: Step 1: Remove wheel covers Step 2: Throw in trash
rip
Eli S *HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA* 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Eli S :48. hahah
That's assuming the same wheel cover is available. This is a great tutorial, specially if you are looking to conserve old wheel covers, not available in the market.
1:00????
It would be helpful if you would speak up so folks can hear you..
It literally costs like $40 to get a new pair doesnt it?
My Honda Odyssey hubcaps are $70 each. 😞
What on earth is happening from 0:46 ~1.00????!!!!???!!!!
I was wondering if anyone would mention that...
EradifyerAO same
No lie, for $10 more you can buy new stylish hub caps. Sadly my budget for this month only allows $10
Don’t get those! Waste of money, they are weak plastic and will rattle off within months
The same deal with replacement lights, aftermarket are crap and you will keep throwing away your money
@@heavymechanic2 so true. I'm a hubcap collector, and most of what I find are aftermarket wheel covers with broken clips, because the company thinks they can save 💰 and use shitty plastic. most of these hubcaps come from Taiwan, and some companies even put logo stickers meant to look like the actual logo, though this is illegal without a license from the car company. I'm pretty sure somewhere legal, because I've even seen aftermarket hubcaps that had the model number of the real thing stuck to the back with a sticker. but I could tell it was aftermarket because of the shape and type of clips.
These are wheel covers rather than hubcaps...
Are you whispering?
Nice video, but your volume level is waaaaay too low. Crank it up.
u right, this is the first video i ever made so its pretty ass in terms of video and sound quality, i wish i could go in and redo the voice-over but i think id have to upload a new video
No lie 😂bran new hub caps in Walmart $23
bro think he chris fix
Or buy new ones for $25
A set of four OEM hubcaps for 25$ yea right....
For our Accord they are $125 for a refinished set.
No idiot.. These are not like the Wal-Mart brand you buy... These are the originals from mazda and nooooo... Probably $180..
j whit I buy plastic ones a pack of four for 40$ what is the ones you are talking about?
Rebekah Dahl hahaha I know right
Hi think Biden is a fantastic president!
Just to remind you that be authentic is much better than copy Chris Fix. Bye