Metal · 1 min read
Sanding kerb damage on alloy wheels
Remove the burr with P120, feather the edges with P240, key with P400 before painting: this is how the rim edge gets smooth again – and when a wheel belongs in a specialist workshop.
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Check first, then sand
Surface scratches and scuffs on the rim flange can be sanded and painted. Cracks, deformation or deep gouges cannot: they affect the wheel’s strength – a wheel like that needs to be inspected by a specialist workshop.
The sequence
Mask off the tyre and surrounding area. Use P120 to remove the burr and raised material until the edge is round again. Use P180 and P240 to feather the transitions into the intact paint. Fill deeper spots with an aluminium-compatible body filler and sand back to P240.
Before primer and paint, key the whole repair area with P320 to P400, matt down the surrounding paint with a non-woven abrasive, then degrease.
Tips for aluminium
Aluminium is soft and clogs abrasives quickly – change the disc more often rather than pressing harder. For the curves of the rim flange, a foam pad or a soft interface pad works better than a hard backing pad. Prime bare aluminium promptly; it oxidises in air.
FAQ
Can I repair a diamond-cut wheel myself?
Only to a limited extent. The diamond-cut face is produced on a lathe – once sanded and painted, it looks different. Specialist wheel refurbishers handle these.
Terms in this article
All terms in the sanding glossary →The whole sequence at once
5 grits, 1 × smallest pack each: PRO CUT 150 (10 pcs) P120 · P180 · P240 · P320, SOFT FINISH (10 pcs) P400.
incl. VAT, plus shipping
