Do you need paint for alloy wheel repairs?

[curiousgeorge]

I've got a scrape at the rim of my wheel. I was thinking of smoothing it down with some wet/dry and just leaving it.

Do I need to paint/spray it? I think if I try it would look far worse. And it's right on the rim near the tyre.

[VW_UK]

You'll find if the paint/ lacquer has broken it won't be long before the paint starts to lift.

There isn't a quick touch up which will look good. But alot of people do their own refurbs.

[curiousgeorge]

Thanks. I guess some lacquer to seal the repair should suffice then (less chance of it looking bad than using paint).

[JimC64]

Hey curiousgeorge.....seee my how to refurb alloys post and see if that may help

http://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=66233


good luck

Jim

[curiousgeorge]

Thanks Jim. I appreciate the proper way to do it is to use spray paint, but the scratched area on my wheel is small, and I won't be removing the tyre, so I wanted a quick and cheap way to improve the appearance, with no filler.

[dubbed_up_daz]

I've got a scrape at the rim of my wheel. I was thinking of smoothing it down with some wet/dry and just leaving it.

Do I need to paint/spray it? I think if I try it would look far worse. And it's right on the rim near the tyre.
have you got a pic off the damage?

[curiousgeorge]

have you got a pic off the damage?

Here it is:

http://www.georgeandreou.net/storage/IMG_3655.JPG

[curiousgeorge]

OK, I answered my own question after I sanded down the scrape. The answer is you do need paint, I didn't realise it would become grey after sanding it.

Looks like I have to buy some spray, but a 400ml can seems excessive for such a small repair, plus another can for the lacquer.

Do I really need the lacquer for this repair??

[JimC64]

Hey George, you could always check out this alloy repair kit on Ebay......I'm not sure how the colour match is or how effective it is, but at £8.99 maybe worth a try? In answer to your question - If you do a good repair and want it to stay lookin that way then yes you need lacquer!
audi-alloy-repair-kit (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/AUDI-Alloy-Wheel-Paint-Rim-Repair-Kit-ALL-MODELS_W0QQitemZ350206027773QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_ CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item5189e7e7fd&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1683%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C 240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50)

I'm not sure where you are, haven't had time to check, but if you're anywhere near the Glasgow area I have some of the Wurth origianl paint and lacquer left from my last refurb and could help to do the job if you like?


Either way please keep us updated....good luck

Jim

[curiousgeorge]

Thanks for that. Looks like that kit is brush paint rather than spray, so I don't think the finish will be as good. Plus I'd prefer the Wurth paint.

I'm in London, so can't take you up on your offer, thanks anyway. I'll let you know how it goes.

[curiousgeorge]

I got the Wurth paint and Halfords clear lacquer.

The paint seemed to be a good match. I did a couple fo coats of that, then sanded the top coat down lightly before applying the lacquer (as recommended). However this made it lighter and it no longer matched. So I reapplied the paint and lacquered without sanding. I applied two coats of lacquer.

It looks OK, but where the spray meets the old paint you can see the transition if you look closely.

In hindsight I should have sprayed from further away and done it in the garage, because even a light breeze and the srpay goes everywhere.

One strange thing - some lacquer had run onto the unsprayed part and when I tried to wipe it off with a rag it took off some of the existing paint underneath.

[JimC64]

Hey George, I used the Wurth paint AND the Wurth lacquer. After a couple of coats of paint and a light sanding down I'm sure I painted another coat, left to dry and then used the Wurth lacquer ( again 2-3 coats )
I did my refurb indoors as you'd never get a calm enough day otherwise and or foreign objects landing on it. I agree that you really have to try n blend it in, using even a little t cut or similar to remove any harshness. I found with a little work that mine was barely noticeable, even close up.

On yours, if you have to look closely as you say, it must be a pretty good repair? The only way to overcome this would be to respray the whole wheel I guess. Are you satisfied with the match to the other wheels?
How about some pics George?

Jim

[curiousgeorge]

Sure, here you go.

http://www.georgeandreou.net/storage/IMG_3658a.JPG

It's hard to see from the photo but there is a slight difference in shade between the new and the old. And I didn't use filler so you can see where the scrape was at the edge of the rim.

Still I think it's OK for a first DIY attempt. It's protected and not visible from a distance.

[JimC64]

Hey George, as you say, looks pretty good for a first time DIY effort and about a 100% better than it was for sure.
Considering it was done with the tyre in situ and no filler you must be pleased.

Jim

[curiousgeorge]

Cheers, and thanks for your help!

[maceire]

How it going everyone,

I have a set off genuine VW Indianapolis alloys on my Mk 5 Golf. Bought one of those alloy repair kits in Halfords but I dont trust the can of spray paint alloy paint that comes with it. Does anyone know the paint code for those Indianapolis alloys. Or would I get it in the service book. I know the Chassis paint code will be there but will the alloy one be there