Is it possible to fix scratched rims

A great option for metal surfaces is to polish the metal itself. This can be found primarily with aluminum rims due to its natural rust resistance , but can sometimes be found with steel.

This involves sanding the surfaces to a near mirror finish, then adding a protective layer over the top such as a polish or sealant. For deep scratches, you may need to wet sand the area depending the depth of damage. For deep scratches you will often start with an grit wet paper, and finishing with grit or more. If issues are left alone, over time rust and oxidation will cause pitting , which damages the surface of the metal. Pitting is not simply removed, while surface pitting can be reduced, deep pitting can cause risk to the wheels structure.

A popular option for wheels and bumpers for decades has been chroming. To chrome a product, it involves a chemical acid bath and application process creating an extremely hard, resistant surface. While these high gloss surfaces are a great sight, having items chromed is expensive, meaning you should maintain your finish. Polishing is the primary defense with chrome wheels, since the coating is hardened the surfaces are known to get minor scratches. You can use high grit sandpaper lightly with chroming, but with this being a multi-layer process -- sanding too deep could cause damage.

Clean wheels are a great way to let your car truly shine in the sunlight, while dull rims could take away from your clean look. Repairing these scratches can reduce the eyesore, and stop corrosion and rust in their tracks. Repairing scratches can be time consuming or costly.

Loading Facebook Like button Scotchbrite Pad. Clean microfiber cloths. Masking Tape. Aerosol Etching. Primer Aerosol. Silver Chrome. Aerosol Clear Coat. STEP 3 Re sand, smoothing off any rough areas using grit sandpaper. Join our online community and subscribe to our e-newsletter. Powered by. It is much easier and cheaper to fix a scratched rim than most people realize. Wash the entire wheel with dish soap and a sponge.

Remove as much dirt and grease as you can. Rinse the rim with water. Pour paint thinner on one corner of the lint-free cloth. Scrub the scratched area of the rim with the wash cloth and be sure to remove any wax, dirt or anything else that may be on the rim. Wash it a couple times to be safe. Put masking tape directly around the scratched area. If the scratch is along the edge of the rim, make sure the tape is tucked in underneath the rim so you do not damage the tire. Sand the scratched area with the grit sandpaper until there are slight grooves in the entire untaped area.

Apply the Bondo putty to the scratch. Make sure it is completely covered with the putty. Sand the area with the grit sand paper until the rim looks and feels smooth. The putty gets forced down into the scratches which creates a smooth surface.