How to Use an Alloy Wheel Repair Kit at Home

Alloy wheel repair kits contain materials needed to rectify scratched, scraped and curbed alloys. Often they include a filler and a silver coloured paint, as well as tools like sand paper and brushes.

Typically these kits are manufactured to fix light and medium areas like shallow scratches and scuffs on the edges of the wheel. They are not suitable for repairing larger areas of damage or deep scrapes.

In order to know whether or not an alloy wheel repair home kit is right for you, we’ve included the what, why and when of these kits below.

Before You Purchase

After examining the area and determining if a home kit is suitable, you can then purchase a home kit in store or online. However, before you buy the kit, check the paint colour match. Some kits are available in a selection of colours, so pick the colour you think will be the closest match to your wheels.

Home alloy wheel repair kits follow a simple method of filling in the damage to create a more even surface, then repainting the area.

Alloy Wheel Repair Kits: What’s Included

DIY kits can include various tools to aid the process. In a typical kit you are likely to find the following:

An Example of an Alloy Wheel Repair Kit

Filler/primer
Paint (spray or brush-on)
Sandpaper
Lacquer
Protective gloves
Applicator tools, brushes, wipes and sponges

The kit should have a range of sandpapers to use, including a very fine grain such as 600 or 800. Please note, if you use rougher sandpaper you may not get a smooth finish.

How to Use a Home Kit: The Method

Here’s a step-by-step guide to using an alloy wheel repair kit. You should follow the specific instructions that come with your kit very closely, especially regarding drying and curing times.

Clean the wheel with washing up liquid. You need to remove all contaminants before you start to avoid ruining the finish.
Sand down the damaged area to rid the space of protruding sticking up from the alloy.
Select a finer sandpaper and sand over the area again to finish. Use a damp cloth or alcoholic wipe to get rid of dust and allow to dry.
Next fill in the damaged area. For filler putty, mix a small amount and press it deep into the hollows, massaging it to smooth out any lumps. Aim to get it flush with the surrounding area. Filler spray may take several applications and requires you to build up in layers – allow dry time between sprays.
Let the filler set completely – it will set faster in hot, dry conditions than on cool, wet days.
Use the fine sandpaper to smooth out the filler and get it flush with the wheel surface. This is where you need the finish to be as even as possible, so take your time on this step.
Wipe down the area with a damp cloth to remove any dust and allow to dry. Mask off the filled area really well before you paint, especially if the alloy wheel is still in the tyre.
Apply the paint in thin layers, allowing it to dry between coats. Whether you’re using a spray can or a (small) brush, be sure to take care not to leave any drip or brush marks.
Allow the paint to dry entirely.
Lastly, if your alloy wheel repair kit includes a lacquer, apply this last. It will seal the paint, protecting it from damage like flaking. Apply lacquer in a light mist to avoid running, allow it to dry and apply another coat.

These repair kits can take several hours to finish as you need to allow each step in the process to dry and set before moving on. Also be aware that if you make a mistake it can be difficult to rectify, so be thorough and complete each step properly.

Home Kit Quick Tips

While we recommend you carefully follow the steps provided, these tips and tricks should hopefully speed up the process and ensure the best results possible.

Take the wheels off the car and lay them out on a flat surface. This stops the paint running and creating blobs and lumps.
Wet your sandpaper. This softens it, stops it clumping and reduces the risk of scratch marks. Keep rinsing it in more water as you work.
Test the paint on a piece of cardboard or similar before you apply it to your wheels. This will give you an idea of thickness and coverage.
The putty filler can dry and set solid very quickly in hot weather, so mix it in small batches and use immediately.
Get the filler as level as possible to the surface of the alloy when applying it, as it saves time trying to sand it down once it’s hardened.
If you build up the paint layers too high or it clumps, use a piece of kitchen roll or a fine sandpaper to take them back down again.

Home Repair Kits: The Setbacks

A common setback motorists have with alloy wheel repair kits is the finish. Often the damage is still visible close up so if this is likely to bother you, it’s best to let a professional repair your wheels.

Secondly, another setback is that home repair kits are rarely an exact match to the paint. There are plenty of colours and finishes available for alloys and some kits only come with one standard paint colour. In order to get a perfect finish, you must use a colour-matching chromatography machine, which repair technicians like ChipsAway Ireland use.

While alloy wheel repair kits can be cheaper than a professional repair job and could save you money. The key stipulation is that the finish is unlikely to be perfect, meaning they won’t be restored to the original condition. For that, a professional alloy wheel repair specialist will be needed.

If you desire the original finish, we have specialist alloy wheel repair technicians ready to resolve the damage. Simply fill out the ChipsAway enquiry form for a quick quote.