No, you can periodically rinse them with water to get rid of brake dust and road salt residue, then polish them with metal polish.

Yes, the best way is to have the wheels re-chromed. If this isn’t possible, you can DIY by using steel wool to remove the damaged paint, then cleaning the affected area, re-painting it, and finally, sealing it with silicone.

Painting over chrome is difficult, but possible. You’ll need to carefully prepare and prime the surface first to ensure that the paint can stick properly.

Chroming car and motorbike wheels starts at $250.

When they are maintained properly, chrome wheels can last between 10-20 years.

Yes, you can spray it directly onto chrome, leave it to sit for a few minutes, then buff it gently with a soft cloth.

While they have been less popular in recent years, with the trend towards darker rims, for many chrome rims are still a much-loved classic!

Buffing is a process that uses a soft cloth to clean, whereas polishing uses a more abrasive method.

No, it does not cause any structural damage to alloy wheels as the ceramic media is not vibrated strongly enough to cause a large impact.

The small vibrating ceramic particles are able to penetrate and deep-clean small crevices which may be missed with other ways of cleaning.

It costs approximately $190 to ceramic polish all four wheels in a regular car.

Yes, the abrasive nature of the vibrating ceramic particles will damage painted surfaces, so we do not recommend using it on painted wheels.

Using a specialised paint stripper, you can safely remove paint off alloy wheels without causing damage to the wheel itself. You may need to gently sand the surface first to allow the chemicals to penetrate, then scrape or sand the remaining paint off afterwards.

At Black Heaven, we can strip paint from wheels and small parts within a day. At most other places, it can take up to a week.

If paint stripping is done by a professional, you can rest assured that your wheels are safe. However, if you are doing it yourself at home, you will need to take more time and extra precautions to avoid causing irreversible damage to your wheels.

Our wheel and small part paint stripping service starts at $120.

Yes, the best way to remove paint from alloy wheels is to use a special paint stripper that is strong enough to penetrate through the layers of paint, and yet does not cause damage to the metal.

Powder coating and painting are both widely used techniques, with painting leaving the wheels smoother and powder coating leaving a slightly textured finish. In addition, painting offers greater protection to the wheels. Powder coatings tend to flake off more easily and any damage looks more obvious.

Matte paint is a type of finish for your wheel with a low degree of shine. It does not contain waxes, silicones or fillers that can contribute to the shine effect.

Yes, just make sure to use an acid and silicone-free cleaner as this can damage the surface.

The average cost is around $700 to have all four wheels painted on a standard car.

Yes, if you are working on robust metal objects such as pipes and furniture. However, for softer or thinner metal objects, there is a higher risk of damage.

A matte sheen absorbs light, so it reflects less light. Its smooth appearance works best for areas and surfaces that are less likely to attract dirt. It can also better conceal imperfections and damaged areas.

Yes, as long as you properly prepare the chrome surface first and use a suitable type of paint.

Powder coat paints have no solvent to hold them in a liquid form, so they consist of small particles which are sprayed onto wheels which clump together and bind to the surface using an electrostatic charge.

It can last between 15-20 years, depending on consistent use and environmental conditions such as UV light exposure and the weather.

Yes, it is more cost effective and dries faster than painting. It is also more environmentally friendly and durable because the coating is thicker than paint.

Yes, as long as the material can hold an electrostatic charge, then powder coating is possible. This includes both steel and stainless steel.

It costs between $400 to $1200 to powder coat four wheels on a regular car.

Any chips in a powder coating can cause more obvious flaking, requires more specialised equipment and is limited to materials that can hold an electrostatic charge.

Yes, you can use thermal or chemical stripping or abrasive blasting to remove a powder coating.

Yes, this is a very effective way to improve the strength, durability and appearance of your allow wheels.

Yes, however it needs to be done by a professional as it involves disassembling the rim and spokes first and treating each individual component.

Yes, it can withstand temperatures up to 500 degrees Celsius.