October 2016 - Diamond Alloys

car-detail-dressing-tyres While you can just have a go at cleaning your wheels with whatever you’ve got lying around in the shed, if you want to establish a good cleaning regime you might as well go the whole hog and stock up on a proper kit. Here’s everything you need to ensure you can keep your alloys in tip-top condition.

Wheel and Tire Cleaner
The main thing to look for when selecting a cleaner is that it’s safe for your type of wheels. Beyond that, it’s a good idea to find a de-greaser that’s specifically designed for detailing – remember that it’s always better to buy two specific products than one catch-all, as all-in-one products can include harmful chemicals or produce less-than-perfect effects.

Wheel and Tire Brushes
Alloys can be very susceptible to scratches, meaning that it’s imperative that you find a soft brush that won’t damage your wheels. For tyre brushes, look for the opposite: a firm brush that’s flexible enough to contour to the tyre wall. This will save your wrists aching as you scrub the tyre surface, and make the job quicker. Whatever you do, DON’T use a tyre brush on the wheel, as you could cause serious damage.

Wheel Detailing Clay
Detailing clay is amazing stuff that can remove the stuck-on contaminants that are present even after regular washing. It’s worth having some of this in your washing arsenal for those moments where you despair at ever getting the wheels clean – this will cheer you up in an instant!

Buckets
It may sound obvious, but you’ll need somewhere to put the water! You’ll need at least two – one for clean water, one for dirty.

We’ll show you how to put these tools to good use in the next blog.

shadow-chrome-alloys Stuck for a kick-ass new look for your alloys? If none of the standard finishes float your boat, but you’d really like to update your aesthetic, then why not consider a shadow chrome effect?

To the untrained eye the shadow effect looks quite similar to that on other alloys, but it actually requires a substantial amount of skill to achieve. The effect was created in Italy and first used on high-end marques in the early 1990s, which is why people instinctively associate it with luxury and quality today.

Of course, because the high end cars had shadow effect alloys, the other car manufacturers wanted to introduce them too. Now it’s possible to see shadow effects on any car, but most of the time this will still only be on those where the car’s owner or manufacturer have taken the time to create a high quality appearance.

A shadow chrome effect, unlike the traditional silver paint, produces a gun metal finish that is darker and more refined in appearance. To create a true shadow effect you need expert technicians, such as the ones we have here, who can coat the alloys with a powder layer before applying heat – something that allows the powder to melt and coat the alloy like a second skin. Once the powder is cured the alloy is sprayed with a specialist shadow chrome paint, then varnished with a thin coat of clear lacquer to ensure that it’s protected from the elements.

A shadow chrome effect gives your alloys a striking finish, giving them a three-dimensional, nuanced look that’s impossible to achieve through other methods. Diamond Alloys can apply the shadow effect when repairing your wheels, or simply update your aesthetic if you feel like you’re in need of a new look – this is particularly useful if you’re about to put your car on the market for sale.

Monthly Archives: October 2016

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