How You Can Easily And Inexpensively Remove Curb Marks From Your Car's Alloy Wheels
Curb marks, the scuffs and cuts made in alloy wheels when parking too close to a curb, are maddening to car owners, especially those who keep their cars in otherwise pristine condition. Fortunately, they can be repaired using a few simple tools and relatively inexpensive materials. Below is how you eliminate curb marks, so that no one can tell they were ever there:
Remove curb marks from alloy wheels - What you will need
- Epoxy putty stick
- Rubbing alcohol
- Empty spray bottle
- Liquid dish soap
- Clean rags
- Alloy wheel brush
- 600-grit sandpaper
- 1200-grit sandpaper
- Tack cloth
- Masking tape
- Newspaper
- Craft knife
- Needle file set
- Alloy wheel paint in matching color
- Alloy wheel clear coat
- Rubber gloves
Remove curb marks from alloy wheels - Step-by-step procedure
1. Thoroughly clean your wheel – for proper adhesion of the epoxy and paint, you need to clean the surface of the wheel where the curb marks lie. The surface should be free of all waxes, road tar, brake dust, oil, mud and other contaminants.
To clean, use an alloy wheel brush dipped in a solution of warm water and a grease-cutting liquid dish soap. Thoroughly scrub to ensure that you remove as much residue as possible. After scrubbing, rinse the area with clean water to remove soap and grime; allow it to air dry completely.
Next, spray a liberal amount of rubbing alcohol on the surface of the wheel. Allow it to soak for a few seconds, then wipe the area clean with a clean rag. Spray the alcohol again, and repeat the process of wiping. Continue until you are satisfied that the wheel's surface is completely clear.
2. File down burs and rough spots – using the needle files, remove burs, ridges and other rough areas within the curb mark. Try to smooth the surface as much as possible, but don't worry if you can't make it completely smooth since the repair will hide it. Use a tack cloth to remove metal filings, and spray the area with rubbing alcohol. Allow the alcohol to dry, and apply a layer of masking tape around the curb mark to protect the wheel surface from damage in the upcoming steps.
3. Prepare, apply and shape the epoxy – open your epoxy putty package and pinch-off small sections at a time. The putty becomes extremely sticky, so wear rubber gloves to keep it from sticking to your skin. Mix and blend the two sections of the putty together with your fingertips until it is completely blended.
Next, form a thin piece of putty in the same shape and size of the curb mark. It doesn't need to be exactly the same size at this point, but be sure it's at least a bit larger than the mark. Fill in the curb mark with the putty, and shape it so that it fits firmly in the void. Carefully remove as much excess putty as possible with a craft knife blade, and allow the putty to dry completely.
4. Sand the dried epoxy – once the epoxy has dried, use 600 grit sandpaper to remove excess hardened epoxy. Shape the epoxy so it conforms to the area around the repair site, and be careful not to scratch the wheel surface.
Once you have sanded to the point where the epoxy is nearly flush with the wheel surface, wet a piece of 1200 grit sandpaper, and sand with it until the repair is blended. Apply the tack cloth again to remove residue, and spray the repair site and wheel with rubbing alcohol.
5. Paint and clear coat the repair – use masking tape and newspaper to cover all areas of the wheel and tire, with the exception of the repair site. Next, following the manufacturer's directions, apply several light coats of wheel paint. Avoid spraying too much paint to prevent dripping or runs. Allow the paint to dry completely before moving to the next step.
Once the paint has dried, apply a couple of thin coats of clear coat finish to the repair. Once it has dried, remove your paper and masking tape. For more information on auto body repair, check out sites like http://alloutcustomsandcollision.com/.
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