Method Center Caps DIY

Well when i first received my Method Roost Bronze, I loved them but the center caps came in silver which I did not like at all. I didn't believe that Method would send the rings in silver and the center plastic caps in black. I so wanted them in black and Method actually sells them in all black but i didn't want to shell out 35 bucks each so I decided to paint them and add a little bronze highlight myself to make them stand out.

First off ... I just want to say that I am in no way a car professional painter (I am a professional fine art painter ironically) so I only researched online and did what I thought was necessary and it was a FUN project. FUN being the operative word. So here is what the wheels looked like when i first mounted them.



I really did not like them at all so after researching, I got all my materials purchased:

• Gold Sharpie highlight pen
• 120 Grit Sandpaper
• Self Etching Primer
• Flat Black Spray paint
• Matte Clear Enamel Spray paint

I started by removing the caps and then sanding down the aluminum center rings with the 120 grit sandpaper. I researched and it was stated that it would help the self-etching primer adhere much better than the smooth surface of the aluminum. So i surface sanded lightly on all surface areas I could reach. Here it is after sanding:



After sanding all the aluminum rings, I started with the Bronze highlights. I popped the plastic center caps out and knew with a steady hand, I could brush the surface of each raised letter just to highlight the "METHOD" logo. The smaller type below was so minimally raised from the background surface that i knew it would be too hard to highlight. I've actually seen how machines paint these small type and its with a precision stamp that is calibrated just to the correct specific height as not to imprint the background surface. Using the gold Sharpie paint pen, I slightly brushed each surface edge of each letter and filled in carefully. Since I am much pretty well versed with painting, having an art degree LOL, it was pretty easy but I was not happy with how the gold paint layered and did not evenly smooth out with overlaying coats. But then i thought ... "Come on Tin ... its on a frickin wheel ... Who the hell cares?!" so I did my best and this is how it came out:



So now it was time to prime, paint, and matte clear coat. I did 2 coats of the primer with 5 mins in between:



then 2 coats of flat black with 5 mins in between and 1 coat of matte clear enamel:



I also hit the plastic center caps with the Bronze highlights with once coat of the matte enamel. It did reduced the iridescent sheen you get from gold paint which i liked since the Bronze wheels are a dull-ish gold as well. Then i popped them both together and hit them one more time with the matte enamel. So each piece had two coats of the matte enamel. I hope it holds. I did notice that the matte enamel will start to gray out the surfaces the more coats you put:



I know it certainly not professional but its on the wheels that will see plenty of scum, dirt, and debris so I don't need it to be perfect. Here they are on mounted and I love my wheels even more now:



Well that was fun and now my wife is even more annoyed by me and my tundra.

Cheers

Tin

 

man, looks great!

 

Looks great!

 

honestly the plastic caps always break... i have like 7 or 8 broken laying around... i just said screw it and i dont bother putting them back on LOL

 

looks awesome ! refreshing not to have the faux beadlock style too.

 

can we get side pictures of full truck ?

 

Great job!

 

I didnt know. good to know brother. well if they break then ill just forget about them. thanks for your input and experience.

 

i dont have the roost, so you may be ok... i have the double standards so , you may be ok... i wish they made their caps out of aluminum

 

but... but... that's what all the cool kids are doing. i just wanted to fit in.

 

i know right! too bad there are hardly any choices out there.

 

Looks great!

 

Man that looks FRESH!

 

I'm guilty too

 

Looks good from my house.

 

Here you go brother @TheBeast !!! I know the tires are lame but at this point, my wife has had it with me and the truck so i will have to wear the stock ones down and then I will get the Cooper ST Maxx 295/70/18.

 

looking good ! and yeah with those future 295, it's gonna look like a beast !

 

burn outs. lots of burn outs. 'yea, honey, i dunno. tires are bald already...'

 

I'm gonna say a prayer for you at bible study tomorrow for some new tires!

 

Thanks man.

 

But big ups for running my FAVORITE wheels!

 

aspiring to be like you brother!

 

I do it for the people.....

 

Will def be copying your mod. Thank you.

Have the exact same wheels in matte black. I did 275/70/18 Cooper St Maxx's and I think just as good as 295, but faster and less strain on truck and no cutting required

 

cool man ... would love to see how they come out. please post when you are done. yeah ... i was thinking this mod would look killer on some black wheels.

thanks for the tip about the tires. ill have to think about it seriously ... i did do the bmc ahead of time so i am already set for the 295's

can you please post a pic of your truck with the coopers. i just want to see how bad ass they look.

cheers