Page 1 of 3
Dyeing Super Star wheels
Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2021 6:11 pm
by CrazyRC
Has anyone tried dyeing HPI Super Star wheels? I have a set that came with a project car I'm cleaning up, and would like to reuse the wheels. They were originally chrome, but the chrome was rubbing off, and they were looking kind of ratty, so I stripped the chrome, and was wondering if anyone had any experience dyeing these wheels.
Re: Dyeing Super Star wheels
Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2021 7:32 pm
by morrisey0
Not super stars, but here are some cheapy white HPIs that I was experimenting with recently. I would think that if you have the chrome off and down to plain white plastic, they should dye just fine.
Re: Dyeing Super Star wheels
Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2021 9:01 pm
by R6cowboy
Two of my recent project car purchases also came with HPI Super Star wheels, each with different offsets. Loved those wheels back in the '90s. My brother had a set on his Traxxas Hawk 2 back then and thought they were so cool. Both sets that I got still have their chrome on them nice, which I do not prefer. So I'm wanting to know how to remove the chrome so I can dye them.
Re: Dyeing Super Star wheels
Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2021 9:23 pm
by juicedcoupe
R6cowboy wrote: ↑Tue Sep 21, 2021 9:01 pm
Two of my recent project car purchases also came with HPI Super Star wheels, each with different offsets. Loved those wheels back in the '90s. My brother had a set on his Traxxas Hawk 2 back then and thought they were so cool. Both sets that I got still have their chrome on them nice, which I do not prefer. So I'm wanting to know how to remove the chrome so I can dye them.
Not HPI wheels but I have removed the chrome from Traxxas wheels with Easy-Off, as well as acetone.
Re: Dyeing Super Star wheels
Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2021 9:38 pm
by R6cowboy
juicedcoupe wrote: ↑Tue Sep 21, 2021 9:23 pm
Not HPI wheels but I have removed the chrome from Traxxas wheels with Easy-Off, as well as acetone.
No kiddin', and here I never would've thought to use acetone or Easy-Off. Honestly never knew either of those could be used on any plastic. Is it imperative to not have the bare plastic get too much exposure to the acetone or Easy-Off? Or is the harder plastic not that reactive to lightly whipping of those chemicals?
Today my bro tried using Goof Off to remove tape residue from a lexan body. Good thing he used it on a spare scrap piece first, because it instantly ruined the lexan.
Re: Dyeing Super Star wheels
Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2021 9:54 pm
by MarkyDents
From what I remember guys used to let the chromed nylon wheels soak in straight degreaser to remove the chrome.
Yep just watched a vid on YouTube, guy used Super Clean and it works crazy fast too.
Re: Dyeing Super Star wheels
Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2021 10:13 pm
by juicedcoupe
R6cowboy wrote: ↑Tue Sep 21, 2021 9:38 pm
juicedcoupe wrote: ↑Tue Sep 21, 2021 9:23 pm
Not HPI wheels but I have removed the chrome from Traxxas wheels with Easy-Off, as well as acetone.
No kiddin', and here I never would've thought to use acetone or Easy-Off. Honestly never knew either of those could be used on any plastic. Is it imperative to not have the bare plastic get too much exposure to the acetone or Easy-Off? Or is the harder plastic not that reactive to lightly whipping of those chemicals?
Today my bro tried using Goof Off to remove tape residue from a lexan body. Good thing he used it on a spare scrap piece first, because it instantly ruined the lexan.
I didn't have a problem with either. The chrome on Revo wheels is pretty tough, it took a while in acetone.
For removing tape residue, I use lighter fluid. Then clean with plastic lense cleaner.
Re: Dyeing Super Star wheels
Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2021 10:54 pm
by CrazyRC
R6cowboy wrote: ↑Tue Sep 21, 2021 9:01 pm
Two of my recent project car purchases also came with HPI Super Star wheels, each with different offsets. Loved those wheels back in the '90s. My brother had a set on his Traxxas Hawk 2 back then and thought they were so cool. Both sets that I got still have their chrome on them nice, which I do not prefer. So I'm wanting to know how to remove the chrome so I can dye them.
I soak them in straight bleach. Plated chrome comes right off.
Re: Dyeing Super Star wheels
Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2021 11:00 pm
by CrazyRC
These are the wheels. I soaked them in dollar store bleach for a few hours, and gave them a quick wipe down with a rag. No scrubbing involved.
It's an old trick I learned building static model kits.
Re: Dyeing Super Star wheels
Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2021 12:01 am
by R6cowboy
Nice. Here's a set I have, the other set went to my brother (he wants his de-chromed as well). I'll give 'em the ol' bleach bath treatment and see how it works. But I have to assume the bleach the wife gets is likely walmart bleach so I hope it'll perform similar to dollar store bleach. If it were up to me, I'd go for the hardware store bleach
Re: Dyeing Super Star wheels
Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2021 12:11 am
by CrazyRC
I wish I could afford hardware store bleach.
Re: Dyeing Super Star wheels
Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2021 6:46 am
by morrisey0
WalMart usually sells a "Great Value" bleach with an S.H. concentration of 7.5%. I have seen some other cheap brands around 8%. The % of sodium hypochlorite is usually always listed on the bottle. If you get any higher than that, it is usually marketed as pool shock.
Re: Dyeing Super Star wheels
Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2021 7:46 am
by R6cowboy
Acquiring this new information really got me going this morning. It's confirmed the bleach in the homestead is indeed the Great Value brand, and the sodium hypochlorite content is 7.5% as morrisey mentioned. I have absolutely no idea what the heck that means, but hope it's good.
Re: Dyeing Super Star wheels
Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2021 7:49 am
by R6cowboy
CrazyRC wrote: ↑Wed Sep 22, 2021 12:11 am
I wish I could afford hardware store bleach.
It's all about the S.H. concentration...... apparently
Re: Dyeing Super Star wheels
Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2021 8:47 am
by BattleTrak
Drain cleaner works too. From model car experience, there is usually a clear laquer/paint underneath the chrome that needs removed also.