Touching up hairline scratch on alloy wheel?

[Birdster]

Hi,

Bit of a fail on my part. Was cleaning the car today and scratched my alloy wheel. The brush exposed the metal used to hold the fibres in. Not sure if it was me brushing too hard, or if the brush failed, but it's never done that before, so I'm putting it down to my own carelessness when using the back of the brush to wash. I must have pushed it too hard. I will seek out a brush that's made of mircrofibre, it should avoid this problem. Unless anyone can recommend one? I use microfibres, two buckets, detailing spray etc to dry off. All well and good for the past year so a bit peed off with myself.

I've used polish and scratch remover on the smaller bits and they appear okay. The bits in the pictures I fear may need a wheel refurb.





Can the touch up kit help here?

http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/FORD-RADO-GREY-ALLOY-WHEEL...

[Quattromaster]

You will always struggle to get a good finish using a brush, as the paint will not sit right, and even more so on a dark colour such as Ford Rado grey, or Volvo 932, it's the same colour.

[Birdster]

Is a refurb the only way to go?

I'm concerned with preventing further damage from the elements and at least making it less noticeable as you walk past.

Thanks

[WJNB]

Part of that scratch can be likened to a bad swirl mark so try a slightly abrasive polish on that section. The VERY carefully apply masking tape around the deeper scratch sections, this requires patience & a good eye because you are leaving a microscopic gap in which is going to be filled in with paint. Several layers in fact. Remove masking tape and using that abrasive polish work over the paint. You will never make the scratches invisible just camouflage them. Wheels are so exposed that they will always pick up marks & scratches in the daily run of things so unless you only use the car rarely to show in concours competitions or the like it's best to learn to tolerate this sort of imperfection.