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On the straight and narrow

Ever wonder how we straighten your bent alloy wheels? Or perhaps you’re a budding alloy technician? Either way our short clip is for you. This film, shot in our workshop very recently, shows a technician straightening an alloy wheel using high precision equipment.

The aim of the process is of course to restore the wheel to a perfect circle, and to do so without causing a wheel crack which can often happen in these circumstances. In the film you can see the immense care and precision taken over the repair, and it’s worth remembering that this is just a small segment of a very lengthy process!

We’d be happy to answer any questions you have about how we straighten alloy wheels, just give us a call on 0845 370 8881 and ask to speak to one of our experts.

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Precision is Everything

diamondcut-alloy-wheelHave you ever seen an alloy wheel that’s almost impossibly shiny? If you’ve jealously wondered how your alloys can achieve the same look then read on: our diamond cutting service is all you need.

Diamond cutting is a very simple process to understand, but one that takes years for technicians to perfect. At the heart of the process is the act of putting a painted wheel on a lathe and machining off a minuscule part to leave a shiny finish. The only way to achieve this is by using a diamond drill, which is hard and sharp enough to achieve such a precise finish. To put it simply, without the diamonds the finish cannot be achieved.

Although the cutting part of the process is complex, the true finish can only be achieved by painstakingly following a series of steps both before and afterwards.

At Diamond Alloys we start by removing the wheel and aqua blasting it, something which removes all the layers of paint to be replaced along with any corrosion and detrimental brake dust. Once this is done our technicians examine the wheel to check for any damage that needs to be removed, and perform and repairs or further cleaning processes necessary. This is just one of the many times throughout the process that the wheel is examined in detail – by the end we know the wheel better than you do!

diamond-cutting-alloysFrom here the wheel is painted, diamond cut and then covered in a state of the art scratch proof laquer. Because we aquablasted at the start, the layers of paint and laquer stick perfectly to the wheel, giving you a perfectly smooth finish. The wheel is then baked in an oven to set the lacquer before, you guessed it, more inspections and a final refit.

We believe that diamond cutting offers a truly premium finish, and as it can be done in 48 hours there’s really no excuse not to upgrade your look this summer! Prices start from £55, please call us on 0845 370 8881 for details.

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We can repair your split rims

IMG_4584-2Split rim alloys, where the wheel is comprised of separate parts of aluminium, are often a thing of beauty. Despite liking their look, however, many people are put off adding split rims to their car because the complexity of the wheel means they are difficult to repair.

Here at Diamond Alloys we have many experts who are practiced in working on split rims, and would like to reassure you that repairs are in fact possible. We use high precision techniques such as diamond cutting to effect substantive repairs without any aesthetic change to the wheel, in a process that delicately and meticulously takes care of all the different parts of your alloy.

Particularly in the case of split rims, repairs are cheaper than the cost of replacements and deliver equally good results, often in a matter of just 48 hours. If you’re thinking of buying split rims and want advice, or need to know what services we can offer for damaged existing wheels, then simply call us today on 0845 370 8881 or get a quick quote on-line.

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How we check for buckles in your alloys

IMG_2249-2If you’re unlucky enough to have had a buckle in your alloy wheel, you’ll know that it’s an indentation in the metal that can cause serious side effects to how your car performs. Buckled wheels can, for example, cause vibration in the steering at higher speeds, and can also cause problems in your tyres and even your suspension.

Buckles come in all shapes and sizes, meaning that sometimes they’re not very easy to spot. If you think you have a buckle in your alloy, perhaps because you notice that your car is behaving differently than normal, then it is highly recommended that you get them checked. Fixing a buckle is much cheaper and easier than dealing with the problems it may cause your car or your passengers later.

Our experts have a very practiced eye when it comes for checking for buckles, but there’s more to the process than just taking a peek. If you’re curious as to how we inspect a wheel for buckles, then why not watch our short clip which outlines the process?

We hope you find it as fascinating as we do!

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Why should you customise your alloys?

custom_alloy_wheel_refurbishment (4)Do you remember the time you took to choose your car? Whether or not it was a snap decision or you spent weeks agonising over brochures and visiting dealers, it’s highly likely that the car’s aesthetics played a part – consciously or not. We all want to have a car that makes us happy and fits in with our self image – and it’s not just vanity: psychologists suggest that those who pay attention to these details have happier, more content lives.

motor-bike-alloys-custom-refurbishmentIf you’ve already made your car choice, it’s worth remembering that you can always upgrade or change your aesthetic by altering your alloys. At Diamond Alloys, we work with you to make your new vision a reality – no matter how ambitious it may be.

Our experts use a range of customising techniques to create unique alloy wheels which are guaranteed to be the envy of all your friends. We can do colour matching to your car’s paint job, or contrasting rim details to highlight a secondary tone – perhaps one to match an interior feature such as the seat stitching. If you’re after something bolder, we also offer unique colours – our gold paint is particularly popular – or even special finishes such as glitter or metal flakes, guaranteed to catch the eye.

custom-alloy-wheel-paintIt’s not just the colour that we can change. If you want a completely bespoke look you can combine a colour upgrade with our diamond cutting service, which uses an ultra fine cut to create a unique pattern on your alloys.

Whether you have a concrete vision or want to discuss ideas with our experts, who love designing new looks for alloys, please get in touch on 0845 370 8881. We look forward to helping you design a new aesthetic for your alloys and your car.

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Calling all Automotive Magpies – Check Out the Incredible Fnish on this Alloy

We’re often talking about the beautiful finish that you can achieve on your alloys by powder coating them – in fact we will passionately argue that powder coating delivers the best possible finish on alloy wheels.

Seeing is believing, however, and if you’d like to take a look at just how special the powder coating finish is then check out our very short YouTube film (11 seconds to be exact):

Here you can see up close just how shiny and smooth the powder coat finish is, and how it looks exactly like a brand new wheel, with no trace of damage or denting.

If you’d like your wheels to look just as splendid, regardless of what state they’re in at present, then please get in touch with our experts today.  You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel to ensure you don’t miss out on future alloy-related videos and other exclusive content.

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Why do Diamond Alloys use Powder Coating?

refurbished-range-rover-wheelsRegular readers of our blog might have noticed that we mention powder coating a lot. But what is this process, and why do we use it so often at Diamond Alloys? Read on to find out:

What is powder coating?
Take a look at these photographs – they show the wheels from a Range Rover Sport, which we recently refurbished for Pendragon Premier. These alloys have just been powder coated, and are now ready to be Diamond Cut.

Powder coating is a protective layer that is applied after the wheel has been stripped back, cleaned, checked and filled, and then been baked to remove any air. The heating also helps achieve an even coating of powder, as it adheres better to a warm surface.

The powder coat is sprayed on, ensuring an even finish, and then baked again to help it set. After this, specialist procedures such as diamond cutting can be carried out, before the wheel is lacquered.

range-rover-alloy-wheelsWhat are the advantages of powder coating?
Power coating has myriad advantages – simply put it will make your wheels look better and last longer! This is because powder coating achieves a thicker, more even and more robust finish than liquid paints can. We absolutely love the finish that powder coating achieves: it creates a stunning, high quality appearance that’s perfect both for professional vehicles and those which just strive for a certain chic.

It’s also far more environmentally friendly – unlike liquid finishes the powder contains no volatile organic compounds, pollutants which cause much environmental damage when they are released into the air.

How do I find out more?
Simples! Just give us a call on 0845 370 8881 or send us an email through the Diamond Alloys site. Our experts will be very happy to discuss the details of your particular alloys and explain how powder coating – alongside our other specialist techniques – can bring your wheels back to life for an affordable price.

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Sporting a Bit of Damage and Staying en Vogue

range-rover-rimsBritain’s bad roads have struck again, this time on a Range Rover. This car sustained kerb damage to its wheels that not only caused unsightly marks, but also put them at risk from corrosion and further damage.

This is the kind of thing we deal with every day at Diamond Alloys, and our experts could probably repair kerb damage in their sleep! In all seriousness, however, just because it is a common process does not mean that we take a laid-back approach. Instead, we scrutinise and test at every step of the process to ensure that the repair and new finish meets our strict quality standards.
alloy-wheel-repairOn these wheels we used our diamond cutting technique, pictured above a set of Range Rover wheels after painting and before the cut is applied, and below another set after the cut have been applied. This starts with a thorough clean of the alloys, using a specialist aqua jet machine. This ensures all dirt, even the hard-to-remove brake dust, is removed from the alloys. After this, our experts examine the wheel to determine exactly what repair processes are needed, before powder coating the alloy in preparation for the cutting.

range-rover-alloysDiamond cutting uses a high-strength precision tool that allows us to make smaller and more frequent cuts than any other method – ensuring the cleanest repair and the highest quality finish. After the wheel is repaired, we coat it with a scratch proof lacquer and bake it in our alloy oven.

Following this all that’s needed is one final quality inspection before the wheels are refitted and the tyres are inflated to the correct pressure and re-balanced. We hope these pictures of the finished wheels will reassure you that, should Britain’s bad roads strike, there is a quick and cost-effective solution at hand!

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Think SMART When it Comes to Kerb Damage and Scratches

Smart-fortwo-alloy-wheel-refurbishmentBuying new alloys can get expensive, fast. It’s this thought that often compels owners to leave their damaged alloys on their car far longer than they should, allowing what can start off as minor damage or scratches to become large areas of corrosion. This is because damage to the surface of the alloy allows corrosive material such as brake dust to penetrate the protective layers, causing more damage that  can’t be seen by the naked eye until it’s too late.

Rather than worry about costs, or keep putting off a vital change, why not simply get your alloys repaired? This is a cost-effective option that allows you to get alloys that look brand new without the corresponding expense. It also allows you to update your look, something that’s perfect for cars which are used for customer hire or business purposes – where looking smart and up to date is key.

Smart-fortwo-alloy-wheel-repairThe wheels pictured are from one of our trade partners, Veetec Hayes, who do top quality servicing of their clients’ cars. The car these alloys belong to is a Smart FORTWO car, which had obviously had a bit of a rough time as the wheels came to us with kerb damage and scratches in the centre.

Our technicians set to work and did a full refurbishment of the wheels, ensuring that all the damage and corrosion was completely removed. After this the wheels were powder coated and given a wonderful graphite colour finish, which looks very Smart now they’re back on the car.

We promise that our alloy repairs are better than our puns – why not give us a call on 0845 370 8881 to find out what we can do for your wheels?

A Happy Repeat Customer

porsche-alloy-wheel-repairWe have a mixed feeling about repeat customers – we’re very happy that they’ve chosen to come back to Diamond Alloys, and we love seeing them again, but we’re always a little sad that their alloys have taken another bashing!

That said, we know that it’s rarely the owners’ fault – driving on our ill-maintained UK roads is a challenge for even the best of drivers! The good news is that, regardless of how often they get damaged, alloy-wheel-repairrepair work is still the cheapest and most efficient way of getting your alloys back to tip-top condition.

Take these wheels, for example, which are from a beautiful Porsche Cayenne. Our client had previously had all four wheels refurbished, but this time only one wheel needed attention. This wheel had both a buckle and a crack.
Buckle is a term commonly used to describe flat spots in your alloys, which have been caused by impacts with the kerb or potholes. As well as spotting them with your eyes, you might also notice that you have a alloy=repairbuckle when the steering wheel starts to shake or the car starts to vibrate.

Cracks are also caused by impact, usually potholes but also occasionally things such as speed bumps. Both buckles and cracks can be easily repaired. The buckle, for example, is heated and put between a hydraulic press that straightens it out, before the wheel is tested to ensure it’s perfectly back in alignment.

As you can see from the pictures of the finished, semi matt black wheel, it’s impossible to tell that the alloy has been anywhere near a pothole!

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