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Author Topic: DIY Alloy Refurb  (Read 816 times)

AusAbarth

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DIY Alloy Refurb
« on: November 27, 2011, 02:40:49 PM »
It was inevitable I suppose but as much as I was careful  I dived in to a all too rare parking spot  only to kiss the kerb  :-[ .  It was at very low speed and the P-Zero's have quite a protection lip but being so low profile there was some scratching to be had   >:(

Was not toooo fussed as  I have another set of Alloys ready for Ruby and these alloys were sacrificial in one sense (especially when the young'un starts to learn to drive)  - but I did bug me

I recall reading sometime on the Italian Abarth Forum about a guy who refurbished his heavily scarred wheel himself with very good results - so I gave it a burl & here are the results

Before


After


Well chuffed  :)

Anybody Interested and I will post up the method
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barwell1992

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Re: DIY Alloy Refurb
« Reply #1 on: November 27, 2011, 03:25:25 PM »
go on then how did you do it ?
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cliff

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Re: DIY Alloy Refurb
« Reply #2 on: November 27, 2011, 05:20:42 PM »
Good DIY job   :thumb:  so how'd you do it?
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Merlot

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Re: DIY Alloy Refurb
« Reply #3 on: November 27, 2011, 05:26:44 PM »
Looks Tidy. Very Interested, post away :thumb:
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Exoticaholic

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Re: DIY Alloy Refurb
« Reply #4 on: November 27, 2011, 05:27:47 PM »
* pulls up chair and await long and detailed instructions *
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Salvos_White_Abarth

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Re: DIY Alloy Refurb
« Reply #5 on: November 27, 2011, 06:05:11 PM »
Nicely done :) . how did you do that? :)
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mickym

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Re: DIY Alloy Refurb
« Reply #6 on: November 27, 2011, 06:18:44 PM »
Wow, please tell me how you did that ?   ;D
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Nibor

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Re: DIY Alloy Refurb
« Reply #7 on: November 27, 2011, 07:00:55 PM »
We're gonna have to wait till ozz hits its internet evening zombie time, give it another 9 hours until that happens :P
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Trooper

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Re: DIY Alloy Refurb
« Reply #8 on: November 27, 2011, 07:51:06 PM »
Some very fine sandpaper will usually do the trick  :thumb:

Will depend on how bad the damage is though  ;)

I sealed mine up when done with some clear varnish  :thumb:
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AusAbarth

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Re: DIY Alloy Refurb
« Reply #9 on: November 28, 2011, 12:27:54 AM »
Quite Right Tropper

This was derived from an entry on the Italian Abarth forum and from further research from some DIY US sites

1.   Clean the area with warm water and some detergent to get the scratch clean – use a brush as necaessay

2.   Tape off the section pretty tight using gaffer tape

3.   Start with 360 (ish) grit sandpaper and gently rub away at the scratch using strokes along the scratch.  The first thing you will notice is the top coat turning white and dusty.  Keep going until you hit the metal (the sandpaper will turn grey)

4.   Keep rubbing focussing on the scratch – flattening the rises with small circular movements and getting into the crevices by folding the sandpaper and using the leading edge.   Try to keep the sanding focused on the scratch and avoid sanding the adjacent clean faces too much.   Continue until most of the flaws have been smoothed out, thought I would expect to get it 100% smooth.

5.   Wipe clean with a damp cloth.  Change to a 400 grit sandpaper and “buff” your previous work.  Again concentrate on the repaired area and avoid the adjacent alloy.

6.   Wipe clean and repeat the previous step using 800 grit wet and dry sandpaper. 

7.   Repeat using 1200 grit to finish.  You may notice a white hazed area adjacent the repair, this most likely being sanded top coat. 

8.   Remove tape.  The instructions said to use a metal polish to finish off.  So after checking with my local detail shop they suggested Purple Polish.   Awesome stuff (the Ilve looks like new !!!!) it took care of the hazing however the repair is now so bright and shiny.  I aim to leave it exposed for a while until it dulls up a bit (unless some knows of a way to artificially dull it up) and then apply some rim wax like the rest of the wheel

I would stress that this worked well in the case as I have diamond cut alloys (no paint on the scratched area).  Not convinced it would work that well on painted alloys – although maybe on silver it could work OK.   Have read since on eHow ppl who go to Step 5 and then apply 4 coats of paint – sounds feasible
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Nibor

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Re: DIY Alloy Refurb
« Reply #10 on: November 28, 2011, 01:52:06 PM »
Would probably work well on some black rims, where it wont be difficult to colour match to the rest of the alloy, considering the colour black is generally the same colour everywhere :P Might try this on mine, mine are black and since I bought them they have had some bad pebble dashes round one entire rim from being gravelled, not my fault, my dad had an off in my car onto a gravel trap on track, the only time we went, and his only turn round the track, I touched it up using black paint and it looks okay but its not smooth
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Abarth 500 Esseesse
Funk White with Green Mirrors and Stickers
12-spoke 17" Black Team Dynamic Rims
GTT Cold Ram Induction Kit and TMC Tuning Box
Koni Rears
Magneti Marelli Street-Race backbox due in June

Merlot

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Re: DIY Alloy Refurb
« Reply #11 on: November 28, 2011, 07:40:27 PM »
Was going to visit my local wheel specialist but may try this. Doesn't work I can still go to them  :thumb:
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cab

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Re: DIY Alloy Refurb
« Reply #12 on: November 28, 2011, 07:58:48 PM »
Or save some time and start with a dremel with a grinding attachment, then move onto the high grit papers ~1200 etc to finish.
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Nibor

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Re: DIY Alloy Refurb
« Reply #13 on: November 28, 2011, 09:57:40 PM »
Quote from: Merlot on November 28, 2011, 07:40:27 PM
Was going to visit my local wheel specialist but may try this. Doesn't work I can still go to them  :thumb:

Yeah it seems like a good idea, if you dont try, you pay the full price, if you do try and it fails, you'll pay the full price anyway, but if it turns out good, then you're saving money :P

Was thinking of repainting my allows red myself, its £300 to get it done proffessionally or about £30 for the spray paint, primer, colour, gloss laquer, so I figure I might aswell give it a shot and if it turns out nice then I've saved £270, if not then I'll be paying £30 more, but worth a go
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Abarth 500 Esseesse
Funk White with Green Mirrors and Stickers
12-spoke 17" Black Team Dynamic Rims
GTT Cold Ram Induction Kit and TMC Tuning Box
Koni Rears
Magneti Marelli Street-Race backbox due in June

lloyd

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Re: DIY Alloy Refurb
« Reply #14 on: November 28, 2011, 10:00:16 PM »
just a thought, if you sand the damage down to the metal then its going to need lacquer on it. just polish and wax won't be enough to stop the metal oxidizing when the winter salt gets at it :thumb:
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