A few months ago, I painted the bare metal spokes of a late-model TR6
steering wheel. The flat black paint would match my '72 wheel and give me a
slightly smaller (later) wheel. I sanded the bare metal with 400, then 600,
and finally 800 grit, then cleaned with lacquer thinner. I sprayed on the
gray primer. Then I sprayed the black top coat. I allowed the wheel to dry
for several days. When I tightened the bolts to put the wheel back onto the
hub, the paint---or rather the primer---immediately lifted off around the
bolts. These bolts, of course, get covered by the circular rubber trim
piece that surrounds the horn push, so I didn't worry about it. I just
figured the pressure of tightening the bolts was too much for the paint to
handle.
Now, however, a couple of very small chips have come off on the visible
spoke edges---and again, it appears as if the primer didn't adhere well to
the metal. I'm guessing I'll have to do the whole thing over again. But
what did I do wrong in the first place?
--Phil Haldeman
haldeman@accessone.com
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