Over time, car speed, a vehicle's workload, and road conditions all cause wheel rims to experience stress, resulting in scratches, bends, dents, and cracks. You can repair your own wheels at home, using a few products that you can order online. Welding aluminum rims is a fairly simple process, but it requires concentration at all times. Furthermore, both the MAPP gas torch and stainless steel grinding wheel can cause serious harm if used incorrectly; consult a car mechanic if you are unfamiliar with the operations of either.
Clean your rims, using a metal brush to remove surface debris and degreasers to remove oils.
Heat the surface of your aluminum rim at the point where it needs repair, using the MAPP gas torch. Be sure not to make the metal glow, as this will cause the rims to deform.
Add the low-temperature welding product to the damaged surface of your rim. Add it in several coats, and in between each coat, scrape it with the metal grater, which the manufacturer of the welding product should have supplied. The grater breaks the aluminum oxide layer formed between the welding product and the wheel, facilitating a strong bond between the two.
Allow the metal and welding product several minutes to cool. Set the drill to its fastest setting, and connect it to the abrasive grinding wheel. Use the grinding wheel to smooth out the surface that you just repaired, making it uniform with the surrounding surfaces.
