Hubcap Remanufacture
Author
Discussion

George 500

Original Poster:

649 posts

240 months

Tuesday 19th February 2013
quotequote all
Quick question for the restorers out there- we've got a 1933 Railton (a straight 8 pre-war tourer) at home but have managed to lose a couple of hubcaps.

Clearly these are not the kind of thing that one picks up on Ebay and I would like to get some remanufactured. A few in the club are keen as well so we could probably break the cost down between four or five of us but even after some time on the internet I am no clearer on who could actually do this for us.

Does anyone know who does extremely limited run pressings of this nature?

Any help very gratefully received as I am now totally stuck on this one!!

NigelStn

267 posts

189 months

Tuesday 19th February 2013
quotequote all
Not sure what your hub caps look like, but for a limited production run spin forming them could be an option and the tooling would be much cheaper

George 500

Original Poster:

649 posts

240 months

Tuesday 19th February 2013
quotequote all
Thanks Nigel- I wasn't aware of spin forming

The bubcaps sort of look as follows (this is the best picture I could find on the internet of a hubcap- I have no pictures of the actual car with me)



In actual fact this hubcap lacks a little detailing in terms of circular lines running around the circumference- the picture below is not at the right angle so it is hard to see but you can just about make out the greater level of detail



Is this something that could be spin formed? And if so would you happen to know anyone? It is hard on the internet to sift out which suppliers are happy to take on bespoke limited runs and which ones are CAD/CAM specialists only interested in manufacturing pieces by the 1,000!

NigelStn

267 posts

189 months

Tuesday 19th February 2013
quotequote all
George
Fabulous looking car.
I assume that the hub cab is mild steel, which can be spun form and for a limited run I suspect that a hardwood former could be used, which would keep the cost down. Though you would need to check with a local spin forming company as I'm no expert.
Though you would need a metal male female die I suspect to emboss the logo in the centre of the hub cap before it was chrome plated
Spin forming is a bit of a 'black art', but there must be quite a few small companies around doing it

NigelStn

267 posts

189 months

Tuesday 19th February 2013
quotequote all
George
This video will give you an idea of the process
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43N44ICyuEU

Nigel

G600

1,479 posts

209 months

Tuesday 19th February 2013
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A guy at work had a part for his steam engine spin formed recently, I'll find out who he used.

George 500

Original Poster:

649 posts

240 months

Wednesday 20th February 2013
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Huge thanks guys this is really helpful!

G600

1,479 posts

209 months

Wednesday 20th February 2013
quotequote all
G A Hopkins & sons metal spinners
01509 646 615
Hathern way
Industrial estate
Rempstone road
Loughborough
LE12 5EH

NigelStn

267 posts

189 months

Wednesday 20th February 2013
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That's only 5miles from where I live!