DIY refurb on a diamond cut alloy wheel

[glitchtheory]

As a professional mobile wheel refurb guy I got a couple of tips for you,

1, the clear coat you are using wont last it will quickly start to corrode under the clear coat probably before the end of the year I have seen this happen with stronger normal 2k clear coat.
1K clear coats are very bad for doing wheels its the worst clear coat for a good finish and its weak too, use 2k spraymax aerosols instead its so much stronger than any 1k clear coat and has a superior gloss,
But even spraymax will still corrode on the metal surface as what you need for a bare metal surface is DTM " direct to metal " 2k clear coat which doesn't come in aerosols.

2, for cutting the surface of the diamond cut I go 120, 180, 320, 500, 800, 1000, 1500, 2000, then use red scotchbrite by hand and work it round the wheel to replicate the diamond cut lines on the wheel believe me it looks 1000 times better than the way you done it there bud.

3, before clearing any wheel run a tack rag over it so you dont have dusty speckles under the clear coat as it sticks out a mile at 13:45 in the video on the left side wheel insert.

4, for clear coating dont wave the spray directly over the top as you miss the tight parts of the sides of the spokes,
Start with the part of the wheel where the air valve is and spray working your way around the insert then do a up and down pass on the face of the spoke then work your way around the next wheel insert then do a up and down pass on the next spoke face and continue to do this until you are back at the air valve.

Not trying to knock you bud as you had a good first attempt but there is a lot to improve upon, A good channel for you to watch is CVR POV on youtube you might get some good tips there as well for the next time you decide to have a go at your wheels bud :)

Its a pity I cant post pictures here in the comments as I done that exact same wheel and painted the inserts with a blue to purple flip paint and then cut the surface and 2k DTM cleared coated the wheel and it looked biblical

[alanhindmarch]

I’m about to have a go on my wheels in the next few weeks. Thanks for the advice its given me more courage to have a go.

[jollyroger]

Well done, I've got the confidence to tackle my diamond cut volvo wheels now.
Thank you

[danielleanca]

Just got a set of vw minneapolis alloys and will be following your steps to refurb them. Great job!

[jamesj]

I'm in the middle of my own Diamond Cut DIY refurb. I find it better to use the grey Scotch Pad with only Rotary tool (Even Drill is fine) and ONLY apply it at an ANGLE so that only 1 side of the pad makes contact. That way all the fine texture goes on in ONE direction only and not in both or all directions of the circular spin. Preferable, you want the texture to appear ONLY perpendicular to the spoke, so it gives the effect of large circular lines that run around the whole wheel (if that makes sense, hard to explain without visual aid).

[LexTNeville]

I've got 8 diamond cut alloys with this problem, and I do not like the look either - 4 had good tyres on them, 4 had good tyres and a great car on them. I'm going to scuff them up bad :D thanks for the kind advice.

[perryhenderson]

Genuinely so amazed by the video and simple instructions! I will be doing this in the next week! Never ever wrote a YouTube comment but feel you saving me £440 on the alloy refurb I’m been quoted all week by companies, it’s the least I can do.

[agrs]

Forget all the negative comments. Great effort and they look brilliant

[chrisburn]

Doing this today on a set on Volvo Spider wheels, on the coldest day of the year in a muddy farm yard haha! Going ok, but the middle of the wheel is too recessed to get the disc in without marring the other spokes so I'm doing it by hand. Should look ok. Thanks for the video 👍

[jim-wtxb]

You can tell a guy really loves his tools when he gives them a coat of lacquer too 😅 Nice job!

[syedammarkhalid]

I reeeaaaally want to do this to my dad's car, I love that car so much genuinely want to make it one of those classic cars in the future when I grow up

[lweleven]

Very helpful thanks, I’m thinking of trying to leave my black alone and sanding the facia diamond cut and painting it steal grey so this gave me plenty of tips 👍

[fivedotsdave]

Rick, that is a great video, I picked some very useful tips and I have to agree it's a far better look than diamond cut.

[fiestaturbo]

Great job! Saved yourself anywhere from £80 - £120 on a refurb! Hate doing wheels myself and would never attempt a diamond cut. Little tip though..take the valve core out and break the tyre bead and mask further in. 1 - its easier to mask the tyre and 2 - you can sand the lip of the face of the wheel too. That way when you paint/laquer you're getting a full coat all the way round the bend of the lip. If you just do the face with the tyre inflated then the paint/laquer will form an edge at the tyre and will chip easier thus letting in water and sending you back to square one. Also more prone to chipping when the tyre gets changed.

[martynm.]

My 10p worth.... if you wear an automatic (self winding) watch, take it off before using a hand sander. I magnetised my watch after having it so close to the motor. It then started gaining 30 seconds a day. I had to then get a demagnetiser and demagnetise it.

[andriusGNR]

Good job, i did my wheels similar, i did it completely polished aluminium, shiny like a mirror. On a sanded aluminum surface, drill with a wool attachment and a metal polishing paste made look like a mirror.
Only sad thing right after this refurbishment couple days later i was being clumsy and at the roundabout went too close to the kerb and heard that kerbing noise that nobody wants to hear🤦‍♂️ both wheels were kerbed again .
Will do it again lol

[johnoneill]

An excellent encouraging tutorial that really simplifies a diy job, that I plan to do, many thanks

[alvindanica]

Wow.. Now i know what to do with my rim full of scratches.. Since it is diamond cut, scratches are visible... Now im confident i can restore it.. Lol thanks a lot

[TheAmbassadorOfQuan]

I have the exact same problem with my sportarge wheels. I will definitely be giving this a try

[rogerborg]

Good job, ignore the fantasists who tell you what they would have done better, except they really wouldn't.