Wheel/Rim touch up

Sorry but I posted this in a different thread also but the title was TPMS. Has anyone had good luck touching up their alloy wheels? I had really good luck with the duplicolor silver spray can on the center caps. See photo. Do I need to add clear coat to them? They look great IMO but need to find something to touch up the little chips in the wheel to keep them from rusting and peeling worse. If you zoom in you can see the little chips around the lugs. Any ideas?

 

The Scuffs and chips bug me.

 

Nice job

 

I'd look into powder coating if you want to spend the money.

 

Powder coat the rims? Really just want the chips colored and sealed.

 

If I cleaned them and got the chips cleaned up so there’s no loose pieces and covered in clear coat would that keep it from getting worse?

 

Yes. It will seal it up. But you have to scuff it all up. If you just spray clear coat on a flat surface without scuffing it up, the clear coat will flake off really quickly

 

I'll add that if you want to keep it from getting worse, than whoever rotates the tires needs to stop going ape on them and instead use a little more care when installing/removing the socket from the lug nuts.

 

Scratch up the whole surface? Will it not show thru the clear coat? I hate to do that on the whole wheel since the majority of the issues are around the lugs. And yes I agree it’s probably the tire rotation monkeys. Maybe I need to start doing it myself.

 

Powder coating cost me 90/rim for my set like that, it will last longer than you or unless like me find nicer rims.

 

Well. Maybe I’m not understanding properly.

if you just put clear on, over time, very short amount of time, they clear will start chipping away.

if you sand it with something like 320 grit and clear coat it, yes you will see the scratches from the sandpaper.

If you wet sand it with 600-800 grit, you won’t see the scratches. but, if you are missing paint, that will show.

The best option will be to sand down all the imperfections until they are smooth….like you can’t feel the scratches with your hand. Takes time to do that. Finish with a 600-800 wet sand. Then you apply a couple coats of your choice of paint, couple small layers so you don’t get runs. And then finish it with a clear on top.

Did this multiple times with other cars. That’s for the best outcome.

But if you have monkeys changing your tires. It will chip again if they keep hitting the rims with tools.

 

Look on Craigslist or Marketplace and pick up a set of takeoffs. Those stock wheels are not worth the effort.

 

The rust part.... These are aluminum rims, no rust