five Ways To Repair Your Chrome Rims

A shiny set of chrome wheels volition turn heads on the street, only information technology comes with a drawback: chrome rims are difficult and expensive to repair. Unfortunately, because chrome rims are plated rather than painted, repairs are expensive and complex. Oft times, it's cheaper to supersede a damaged chrome rim than it is to effort and refinish and re-plate it.

Still, if y'all take a chrome rim that's been curbed, there are some things y'all can try. (And if you don't have chrome rims, check out this post that covers all kinds of rim repair.)

i. Utilise A Chrome Wheel Repair Kit

There is such a affair as a chrome bike repair kit, but fundamentally information technology doesn't 'repair' annihilation. Instead, chrome cycle repair kits just help y'all smooth out pocket-size damage and apply pigment.

These kits are relatively affordable ($l-75), and if the damage is really minor, a little bit of chrome paint tin can work. Just be sure to follow the instructions, and don't exist surprised if the fix looks information technology was just $50.

Note: There are generic "wheel rim repair kits" that say they work on chrome wheels…don't buy these kits for a chrome cycle. Instead, get a kit that's specifically for chrome rims, or just buy the chrome paint and other pieces i at a fourth dimension.

2. Refinish With Epoxy And Apply Chrome Paint

The process goes like this:

  1. Fill up all the scratches and holes with hard epoxy resin.
  2. Buff the hardened epoxy to polish it out with the rest of the rim.
  3. Sand the epoxy with fine-grade sandpaper or steel wool to arrive gritty plenty to cling to the spray paint.
  4. Spray the entire rim with chrome spray pigment.
  5. Buff the rim with a buffer or a soft buffing cloth.

This solution works on all levels of damage. Withal, this is a job best suited for an experienced person. Epoxy resin tin can be a messy disaster to work with, and the end result may not exist as smooth equally expected.

iii. Sandblast The Chrome Abroad And Paint The Bike Underneath

This solution is viable only if you're OK with giving upward the chrome look.

By doing this, you'll:

  • Save a lot of money
  • Give your rims a new life
  • Alter the expect of your car without having to buy new rims

Chrome rims are plated over alloy wheels. Sandblasting the entire rim volition remove all the chrome plating and expose the blend wheel underneath. You lot then may coat the alloy wheels with powder coating (or any other type of paint you'd like).

4. Re-Chrome

If you lot want to remove the entire chrome plating and withal keep the chrome expect, exit it to a professional person. The re-chroming procedure involves stripping the rim and then re-plating it with copper, zinc, and chrome.

FYI, you may end up paying more for re-plating than you would buying a new wheel.

The chrome refinishing procedure produces some toxic waste, so you lot'll have to find a professional to re-chrome your rims. You might even need to mail your rims to another land to take it done. The costs may add upward quickly.

5. Supplant The Rim

Chrome rims cooper cobra

Unless you're trying to preserve a rim for some reason, replacement is probably your best pick. Most of the other options either cost more than or look worse.

Or, Cover Upward The Impairment With RimBlades

If replacing a damaged chrome rim is out of the question, and the repair options are all either likewise expensive or not satisfactory, nosotros take another selection for you: Apply RimBlades (or RIMSavers) to your chrome wheels. This will cover up most types of curb rash and give your vehicle a nice look.

RimBlades prevent further damage, too. Win-win.

To shop RimBlades, RimSavers, and our products, check out our products here.