(Procedure) Repairing scratches on your "Bare Aluminum" Wheels (CCW etc...)
08-19-2012, 12:24 AM
#1
Tech Contributor
Thread Starter
(Procedure) Repairing scratches on your "Bare Aluminum" Wheels (CCW etc...)
Guys:
I have this on my web site also for future referance !
www.ToqueZ06.com
Messing with the car tonight in my garage and thought I would show you all how to do this. Don't be afraid to do this. Its quite easy !
This procedure is designed to remove scratches that polishing alone will not remove.
This procedure is NOT for "clear coated" wheels. You will damage the clear coat on your wheels if you do this.
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I have this on my web site also for future referance !
www.ToqueZ06.com
Messing with the car tonight in my garage and thought I would show you all how to do this. Don't be afraid to do this. Its quite easy !
This procedure is designed to remove scratches that polishing alone will not remove.
This procedure is NOT for "clear coated" wheels. You will damage the clear coat on your wheels if you do this.
.
.
.
Here is what I use to do this:
Adam's Metal Polish
Webril Wipes (8"x8" wipes)
Water spray bottle
3M sandpaper in various grit levels (600, 1000, 1500, 2000, 3000)
Rubber gloves are also something you should use because things get messy... 8-)
Make sure your wheels are clean before sanding.
Locate areas with deep scratches that need sanding.
Your going to start sanding with the roughest grit (600 in this case) first to remove the deep scratch in the aluminum.
Continue to sand with 600 grit until the scratch is gone.
The higher grit sand papers will be used to bring back the mirror shine.
Cut a section of sand paper off. What ever size you feel comfortable with.
Wet the area to be sanded with water, and wet the square piece of sand paper.
Sand the scratch till the scratch is no longer visable.
Cut squares of the next higher grit sand paper.
Wet the area, and the sandpaper and repeat sanding the area.
Your sanding area will increase slightly as you sand to ensure you get the rough area's.
The below pictures demonstrate what it looks like as I moved to higher, and higher grit sand paper ending with 3000.
I like to fold the Webril wipe into 1/4 sections.
Pour some metal polish on the wipe. Don't be shy here...
Polish the area. Its normal for it to turn black as it removes oxidization off the bare aluminum.
Wipe the area off with a clean cloth and inspect your wheel.
Adam's Metal Polish does such a good job I only had to polish the wheel once to get a mirror shine.
Enjoy your repaired wheel !!!
.Adam's Metal Polish
Webril Wipes (8"x8" wipes)
Water spray bottle
3M sandpaper in various grit levels (600, 1000, 1500, 2000, 3000)
Rubber gloves are also something you should use because things get messy... 8-)
Make sure your wheels are clean before sanding.
Locate areas with deep scratches that need sanding.
Your going to start sanding with the roughest grit (600 in this case) first to remove the deep scratch in the aluminum.
Continue to sand with 600 grit until the scratch is gone.
The higher grit sand papers will be used to bring back the mirror shine.
Cut a section of sand paper off. What ever size you feel comfortable with.
Wet the area to be sanded with water, and wet the square piece of sand paper.
Sand the scratch till the scratch is no longer visable.
Cut squares of the next higher grit sand paper.
Wet the area, and the sandpaper and repeat sanding the area.
Your sanding area will increase slightly as you sand to ensure you get the rough area's.
The below pictures demonstrate what it looks like as I moved to higher, and higher grit sand paper ending with 3000.
I like to fold the Webril wipe into 1/4 sections.
Pour some metal polish on the wipe. Don't be shy here...
Polish the area. Its normal for it to turn black as it removes oxidization off the bare aluminum.
Wipe the area off with a clean cloth and inspect your wheel.
Adam's Metal Polish does such a good job I only had to polish the wheel once to get a mirror shine.
Enjoy your repaired wheel !!!
.
.
.
08-19-2012, 09:05 AM
#3
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Great info. Saved this in my files. Thanks.
08-19-2012, 09:40 AM
#5
Le Mans Master
Great information Mark 
Mark leads our Collin County Car Club and I can pretty much speak for all our club members , we turn to him if we have questions that come up we don't know, he is a walking encyclopedia on Vettes
Lee
Mark leads our Collin County Car Club and I can pretty much speak for all our club members , we turn to him if we have questions that come up we don't know, he is a walking encyclopedia on Vettes
Lee
08-19-2012, 11:17 AM
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Great information Mark and thread is now saved.
However, I'll be honest, it's going to take a deep breath and a big leap of faith for me to start wet sanding the new CCWs I just installed. Hopefully I won't need to do it anytime soon.
However, I'll be honest, it's going to take a deep breath and a big leap of faith for me to start wet sanding the new CCWs I just installed. Hopefully I won't need to do it anytime soon.
Last edited by MSG C5; 08-19-2012 at 11:25 AM.
08-19-2012, 11:23 AM
#7
Tech Contributor
Thread Starter
. I was so scared to even touch it. Everything I have learned maintenance wise I learned here. Seeing other people make write up's gave me the courage to do stuff myself. I'm just happy to give back to the forum a little Thanks Jack !
I see CCW's in your avatar. Sounds like you have done this before.
Toque
08-19-2012, 11:26 AM
#8
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Thread Starter
Don't be scared to try this the first time you get a scratch.
Toque
08-19-2012, 01:56 PM
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Great info Toque
08-19-2012, 05:58 PM
#12
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Question--In the first step could you use detail spray instead
of water. I would think it would be" slipper " and not dry out
so fast.
of water. I would think it would be" slipper " and not dry out
so fast.
08-19-2012, 06:21 PM
#13
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haha....Mark, you are not the first. Also, check post #51 in the DIY sticky....from when I ran over a big boulder and thought I ruined my wheel due to deep gouges, but was able to save it.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...y-with-it.html
From this....
To this....in just a few steps.
Also, check post #51 in the DIY sticky....from when I ran over a big boulder and thought I ruined my wheel due to deep gouges, but was able to save it.http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...y-with-it.html
From this....
To this....in just a few steps.
Last edited by $$$frumnuttin'; 08-19-2012 at 06:33 PM.
08-19-2012, 06:33 PM
#14
Tech Contributor
Thread Starter
haha....Mark, you are not the first. Also, check post #51 in the DIY sticky....from when I ran over a big boulder and thought I ruined my wheel due to deep gouges, but was able to save it.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...y-with-it.html
Also, check post #51 in the DIY sticky....from when I ran over a big boulder and thought I ruined my wheel due to deep gouges, but was able to save it.http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...y-with-it.html
. I remember your post about that incident years ago . Try doing that with a clear coated wheel right ? Toque
08-20-2012, 08:55 AM
#17
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Thread Starter
It took longer to prep everything than it did to do the work (jack up my car, remove the wheel, clean wheel, etc....
). I would say once I sat down with everything beside me I spent about 30 minutes on it. I was taking pictures along the way though. If I just did the work it would have taken me maybe 15 mins.
Toque
08-20-2012, 02:50 PM
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08-20-2012, 03:38 PM
#20
Race Director
Hey Mark,
I was just getting ready to send you a PM. Where did you get the Webril wipes? They seem to have a couple different packaging options. Which is the best to buy. I've never heard of them before but the microfibres to leave marks those don't appear to.
Thanks,
Kevin
I was just getting ready to send you a PM. Where did you get the Webril wipes? They seem to have a couple different packaging options. Which is the best to buy. I've never heard of them before but the microfibres to leave marks those don't appear to.
Thanks,
Kevin