Three of my 4 alloy wheels suffer from a significant amount of curb rash. I've read about making repairs with "knifing putty" - looks like a combination of bondo and JB Weld. sanding smooth and painting. Has anyone tried this stuff? I'd figure a whole wheel would need to be painted to get the color right, right? and what about stripping off the clear coat prior to painting? Seems like the first time a tire machine goes over it,the putty would be gone.

Or this just a big (to quote my father-in-law) "make work" project? Dave

 

It's an easy DIY job. Your results will however reflect the amount of patience and or time you take doing it. If you are going to attempt it don't use some hillbilly brew of half JB Weld and half bondo. Get this, or some other good metal filler. And it won't chip off when the tire guy gets his mits on it.

http://www.permatex.com/products/aut...tal_Filler.htm

You need to file down all the rash, clean the wheel, , add the filler, sand it down, (steadily increasing grits) And then repaint/reclear them. (keep in mind your finish will only be as good as the paint you use.) That goes for the durability of the paint too. After all that work, you don't want the paint to chip or crack either.

 

ovlov- thanks for the note, I might give it a try. I wasnt planning on mixing JB and bondo, just thought that knifing putty stuff (that some Brit suggested) looked like that. Wonder if I could get rattle can Volvo wheel paint then clear coat the whole wheel? color might be right that way. Like to avoid having to paint the plastic caps. Each of the 4 wheels has a variety of scuffs and marks where old wheel weights used to be. Dave