Step by step wheel restoration. How to restore shine to aluminum wheels?
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Aluminum rim repair - new life for rims
Surely you have seen old cars more than once that did not stand out for anything special, except for amazing rims. Such vehicles are often given a new lease of life and customers looking for used vehicles can pay more with these rims. If you see that your discs are not in the best condition, you can try to restore them to a shine. However, remanufacturing aluminum rims is expensive. Which? And what is better to do: give it to a professional workshop or repair it yourself? we offer!
Recycling aluminum rims - when to choose a workshop?
When does it make sense to repair rims in a workshop? Especially when you have unusual, expensive wheels. Discs with a unique pattern and a large number of grooves require the use of professional equipment for cleaning and polishing, as well as machine varnishing. Of course, you can do the job yourself, but if you don't have a lot of experience and access to the right wheel painting equipment, you could be doing more harm than good.
Self-repair of steel rims - is it possible?
The same applies to bent steel discs. The material from which they are made is very difficult to work with. Repairing steel rims goes far beyond the home. If you are only interested in painting them, you can do it yourself. However, any other work is best left to professionals.
Do-it-yourself aluminum rim regeneration
If your aluminum rims are simple and only need refurbishment and cavity filling, you can do this repair yourself for a low cost. You will need some free space, protected from wind and other adverse weather conditions. Wheel repair is not a very difficult task. The scale of complexity increases with the uniqueness of the pattern and the number of cavities needed to remove it. However, to a large extent, you can repair aluminum and other rims yourself.
Do-it-yourself disk repair - what do you need?
Before you start repairing aluminum rims, you should equip yourself with the appropriate rim repair supplies. It's all about:
- sandpaper or sponge grit 150, 220 and 320;
- optional abrasive non-woven material;
- putty on aluminum with a spatula;
- masking tape (preferably non-staining and sticks well to rubber);
- degreaser;
- aerosol acrylic primer;
- aerosol paint;
- spray paint,
Washing discs before repair
This stage should not be skipped, it is crucial for the quality of the work done. Painting discs and their earlier regeneration will not give a good result without a thorough washing of the disc and tire. Take your time to do this and dry the parts to ensure good adhesion.
Time to protect the tire
You will need masking tape and some old newspapers. Gently glue the tire to the rim, carefully sticking the tape to the edge of the rim. In the next step, try using a spatula to push the protruding tape between the tire and rim. The retreading of aluminum rims requires the protection of the entire tire along with the tread. For this purpose, you can use newspapers or painting material.
Paper cleaning and matting
When sanding a rim, use the thickest paper first. Next, try to evenly matt all surfaces, paying special attention to the places where you will apply putty. Focus on the recesses and gently wipe the center holes and mounting screw locations.
Filling and processing
Before applying putty, degrease the surface with a special preparation. Then follow the aluminum putty manufacturer's instructions. Remember that once mixed with a hardener, it can only be used for a few minutes. So measure out the right amount. Repair of rims requires the application of several thin layers of putty and its thorough grinding. Remember that aluminum is soft and excessive lapping force can damage the material. Use a paper grit that is compatible with the initial sanding of the discs.
Experienced craftswomen know that applying one thick layer does not give the desired results. You will have to put in a lot of effort to properly remove the surface to make it smooth and close to factory condition. It's best to wait about a dozen minutes each time you apply a thin coat and sand down any imperfections. Repeat this process until you get the desired result.
Priming, base and painting of alloy wheels
The last stages crown all the efforts spent on the restoration of aluminum wheels. If any stage of work prior to applying the spray layers was done carelessly, you will not be able to remove it with varnish or paint. First, carefully clean the rim of dust. You can now prime the discs, remembering to do so according to the manufacturer's instructions. Focus on curves and holes first, then flat surfaces. Apply in thin layers in the amount of 2 or 3.
Before painting alloy wheels, the surface must be matt, degreased and free of dust. The process itself resembles a primer and is done in a similar way. You can choose a silver color, and if you do not want to spend money on chrome rims, use the appropriate paints that give this effect.
Just a few minutes after painting the alloy wheels, you can start painting. Follow this process in the same way as the previous work, keeping in mind very thin layers. Thanks to this application, you will avoid the formation of unpleasant stains. After the process is complete, leave the wheels to dry completely. Make sure that they do not come into contact with dust, because then all the work will be in vain.
Now you know how to update alloy wheels yourself. In addition to the corresponding effect and satisfaction from the work done, this method of repair will save a lot of money. Therefore, if you have jam and the right place, we recommend that you try this method.
