How to Repair Chrome Wheel Scratches
Scratches on your chrome wheels are part of the normal wear and tear on your vehicle. As you drive, dirt, rocks and other road debris fly into your wheels and leave scratches behind. After a few months of this, it is not surprising that your chrome wheels lose their luster. You may think that the only way to remedy this situation is to replate or replace the wheels. However, a good cleaning and a little chrome paint often restores their shine and is much more cost effective.
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Things You'll Need
- Rough rag (mechanic's rag)
- Rubbing alcohol
- Hard epoxy
- Buffing cloth
- Microfiber cloth
- Chrome paint
- Paintbrush
Instructions
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1
Clean loose dirt from the wheels with a rough rag, such as a mechanic's rag. Remove any large particles or rust from the wheels so that you can clean them more effectively.
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Clean wheels thoroughly with rubbing alcohol, using a soft microfiber cloth. If there are any patches of rust still present, just keep applying the rubbing alcohol until it is removed. You want the surface as clean and smooth as possible so that you can identify scratches easier.
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3
Apply hard epoxy to any deep cuts or pits in the chrome. If you can feel pitted areas when you run your hand over them, fill them in before painting. Fill in these areas with epoxy and smooth it out with a buffing cloth.
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4
Use a paintbrush to apply chrome wheel paint. Paint over small scratches and areas where epoxy was used. The paint does not fully restore your wheels to their original finish. However, it does camouflage scratches and cuts to make your wheels look newer.
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Tips & Warnings
Sometimes, people mistake polished aluminum for chrome. If your wheels are tarnished, it means they are polished aluminum. Use a tarnish remover on these types of wheels.
If your wheels are covered with deep scratches and pits, they may need to be replated. This type of repair requires a professional.
Chrome scratches easily. Do not use steel wool or sandpaper to clean or remove rust.
References
- Photo Credit wheel image by apeschi from Fotolia.com
