How to prevent underspray when using a circle template....

QUOTE: maybe using rubber cement or some such thing on the very edges of the circle template to offer a better seal

I'm not sure if anybody suggested this or if it would even work. It's just a thought though.
Maybe you could try some white glue. I use it sometimes for painting to hold hatches open etc...

QUOTE: Some people just spray as you are doing and then spin the wheel in a drill motor or something and use either an airbrush or a paintbrush to paint the tire while it's moving.

I've heard that to, but it just seems to me the flex in the paintbrush itself would be enough to cause problems. I might chuck one in my little lathe next time I run into that and give it a try though.

Some people just spray as you are doing and then spin the wheel in a drill motor or something and use either an airbrush or a paintbrush to paint the tire while it's moving.
Another possibility is to cut a mask out of masking tape using that circle template as a guide and then sticking it around the wheel.
Maybe use two thicknesses of tape to keep is a little stiffer.

Mike

No, it's a little difficult to explain, but I'm using the circle that is the very closest to what the hub actually is on the parts. I'm just not getting a decent seal. I've given some thought to how I might do this in the future...maybe using rubber cement or some such thing on the very edges of the circle template to offer a better seal there and just a little stickiness to help hold it fluch against the template.

I'm not certain though if this would have a negative effect on the tire color paint already layed down before. Hmmmmmmm...

Bri~

Brian,

Would the next smaller size on the circle template work better?

Mike

QUOTE: Anyhoo...I was thinking I'd try and come up with some form of circular mask and have ago at repainting the tire color *very* gently in the spots that got white with an extremely low air pressure - maybe 3-5 p.s.i.

Pretty good idea. You can cut a mask from a Post-It note page. That will give you a little bit of tack to work with and the paint shouldn't go through it. Just cut a rounded piece out, paint a little, and move it around the wheel to get the whole thing.

Right - the paint is getting under the template and getting onto the tire portion. I've tried taping the thing down from every conceivable angle but I still got some paint where it doesn't belong. VERY NAUGHTY! :)

Anyhoo...I was thinking I'd try and come up with some form of circular mask and have ago at repainting the tire color *very* gently in the spots that got white with an extremely low air pressure - maybe 3-5 p.s.i.

Bri~

I could be wrong, Mike, but I think what he meant is that since the circle template is so large and the wheel is sunk down into the tire, that there is a space between template and wheel that allows paint to get under the template.

If that's the case, about all I can think of is as J-Hulk said. Mash it down as flat as you can and spray straight down or angled in toward the center of the wheel. Also use the lowest air pressure you can get by with.

What do you mean by "underspray?"
Are you saying that the paint is going beyond the area you want painted white and getting on the tire area?

Mike

Just keep the template as tight to the wheel as possible and spray at a 90 degree angle. That should do it!