Using Filler When Refurbing Wheels

[stuttgartmetal]

A friend of mine is having the wheels refurbed on one of his Cosworth Mercedes. He insists its normal practice to use filler to rfurb.
How can that be ?
Id never put filler on a wheel, I'd much prefer it diamond cut, or binned.
I tried to explain that because of the heat generated when driving fast, and the massive difference in expansion rates between aluminium and body filler, the process is not suitable.
Its a bit Liberace isn't it.
One of his mercs is a garage queen I suppose, and won't be driven hard, so for him its probably okay.

Whats the ph view.

[Mc Lovin]

yep, standard procedure is to use a resin filler. unless your doing a bare metal finish, in which case its welded then polished or diamond cut

[photo_ed]

Not something I've heard of before, I wouldn't have thought it was a particularly good idea??

[wildoliver]

Provided he is using it to fill surface imperfections it is fine.

If he's using it to fill chunks that are missing it isn't structural.

[imnomugme]

Using filler is really just cosmetic. It covers the imperfections, but as you say, has different expansion rates, so if driven hard the wheel cracks.

There's no real substitute for using metal to repair, and a diamond cut.

[King Herald]

stuttgartmetal said:

A friend of mine is having the wheels refurbed on one of his Cosworth Mercedes. He insists its normal practice to use filler to rfurb.
How can that be ?
Id never put filler on a wheel, I'd much prefer it diamond cut, or binned.
I tried to explain that because of the heat generated when driving fast, and the massive difference in expansion rates between aluminium and body filler, the process is not suitable.
Its a bit Liberace isn't it.
One of his mercs is a garage queen I suppose, and won't be driven hard, so for him its probably okay.

Whats the ph view.

Modern body filler is incredible stuff. I used it on my last hot rod, and even lumps that fell onto the dusty floor stuck like poo to a blanket. I had to use a chisel to get the dried remians of my scraper. It ain't going to fall off a wheel in a hurry, regardless of a little expansion or vibration..

[Davi]

he could mean a metal based epoxy filler. If it can work in engine repairs, I don't see why it couldn't work with minor imperfections in wheels...

[Anatol]

As said above, for structural damage, only a weld should be used. For cosmetic stuff, a high-metal content filler is fine, or for very minor chunks, the majority of alloy refurbers will use a cyanoacrylate filler gel - the same stuff superglue is made from.

Tol

[k_jessop]

I've used filler numerous times and never had any problems