Maintaining Diamond Cut Wheels

Earlier this month we looked at the benefits of diamond cut alloys, here we want to give you some insight into how you can keep diamond cut alloys well maintained.

Diamond Cut Alloys High Wycombe

During the creation of diamond cut alloys they are first painted the required shade and then baked in an oven. When they are dry the wheel is mounted on a specialist lathe and the alloy is machined to achieve the diamond cut pattern, which is then lacquered to protect and complete the look.

The lacquer does not mean that the diamond cut alloy is protected from all types of damage. If you scuff or dent the wheel it may damage the alloy and if the lacquer is damaged  water may get  under the lacquer and stain the metal, which is hard to repair without stripping off the lacquer and skilled specialist help

Diamond Cut Wheel Maintenance High Wycombe

There is a trend amongst car enthusiasts to clean their wheels with spray solutions. If you do please check the spray first as acids in some of these sprays can weaken the lacquer and increase your chance of corrosion. The safest way to extend the life of your diamond cut wheels is to clean them with a pH neutral wheel cleaner. Avoid cleaning with acid or alkaline based wheel cleaners as these can often cause discolouration or corrosion when used excessively.

The dedicated enthusiasts often to choose to avoid drying with a towel or cloth, as threads can get caught on the alloy, and to use a hair dryer to ensure they are dried completely. In our opinion it’s not an essential step. In reality the key is to dry off any cleaning solution thoroughly and not to leave anything that could potentially react with the lacquer on too long.

For the ultimate protection against corrosion and staining you can make use of ceramic sealants, which can last up to two years. Be mindful however that even these won’t fully protect your diamond cut alloys should you incur damage in the form of stone chips or scuff your wheels against a curb or pothole. Anything that allows salt to find its way under the coating, attaching itself to the bare metal, will then lead to corrosion.

It’s important that if using ceramic sealants you have this professionally applied as it may require careful application and machine polishing to get it right. If an issue with the surface is sustained this can be difficult to treat in the future.

At Auto Medics we recommend the home enthusiast uses a good  wheel wax or  polymer sealant because these require less experience and can be removed so that areas that require maintenance can be accessed easily should you not apply it perfectly first time.

For further information and advice on diamond cut alloys, get in touch with the alloy wheel refurbishment specialists at Auto Medics on 01494 533 534.