how to remove light scratches from alloy wheels

Every car enthusiast craves for their car to be in a perfect condition, including alloy wheels. However, it's almost impossible to avoid scratches and scuffs on your wheels, and it can be quite frustrating to see your once-perfect wheels, not looking their best. This is where knowing how to remove light scratches from alloy wheels comes in handy. Alloy wheels are crafted from aluminum or magnesium, and they are painted with a clear coat to provide an extra layer of protection. Scratches happen when the wheel's clear coat is penetrated, exposing the wheel to more damage. Leaving scratches on your alloy wheels not only reduces the aesthetic appeal of your car but also exposes the wheels to corrosion and rust, making them deteriorate faster. If you're contemplating how to remove light scratches from alloy wheels, you're in the right place. This article will provide you with information and guides to get your wheels looking their best in no time. 1. Clean Your Wheels Before you get down to removing scratches from your alloy wheels, you'll need to clean them first. This will ensure that there are no debris or contaminants left lingering that could cause more damage. Here's how to go about it: - Hose down your wheels to remove all dirt and grime buildup - Apply a wheel cleaner solution on your wheels and use a wheel brush to scrub the wheels gently - Rinse off the wheel cleaner solution thoroughly with clean water A clean wheel also helps to identify the scratches that need to be removed. 2. Identify The Depth of The Scratch The next step is to determine the depth of the scratches on your wheels. There are two types of scratches; - Surface scratches - Deep scratches Surface scratches are minor scratches that don't affect the integrity of the wheel's structure, while deep scratches extend into the wheel's base. Understanding the scratch depth will guide you in selecting the appropriate removal method. 3. Polish Your Wheels Polishing your wheels is the best way to remove surface scratches. Polishing creams lift the rough edges of the scratches, making them less visible. Here's how to go about it: - Apply a polishing cream on a microfiber towel - Rub the towel in a circular motion on the scratched surface until the polish cream blends into the wheel - Wipe off the excess polish and apply the cream on the other scratches - Use a clean microfiber towel to buff the wheel to a shine 4. Sand Your Wheels If the scratches are too deep for polishing to work, then sanding the wheels could be your best option. Sanding the wheels will help smoothen the abrasions created by the scratch. Here's how to go about it: - Wet sand the scratch using a 2000-grit sandpaper. Ensure to wet the sandpaper before you start sanding - Continue sanding the area with a 3000-grit sandpaper - Wipe down the surface with a clean cloth to remove debris - Apply a rubbing compound to a microfiber towel - Rub the towel in a circular motion over the sanded area, ensuring the compound blends into the surface - Buff your wheel to get it back to its original luster 5. Repaint Your Wheels If the above steps still don't remove the scratches from your alloy wheels, then it's time to repaint your wheels. This is a more complicated and time-consuming process, but it's the only option if the scratches are too deep. Here's how to go about it: - Clean your wheels with warm soapy water and ensure they are dry before painting - Use sandpaper to remove the damaged paint - Apply a primer to the area - Spray your wheel with metallic paint, ensuring the pressure is low and the paint is even - Apply a clear coat to your wheel once the paint dries, and let it dry overnight In conclusion, knowing how to remove light scratches from alloy wheels can come in handy when you want to keep your wheels looking their best. Regular cleaning and maintenance of your wheels can help in preventing scratches. And if you do get scratches on your wheels, it's important to take immediate action to avoid further damage. With the above-discussed methods, you can quickly remove scratches from your alloy wheels and restore them to their original glory.