Wheel Repair | Lenco Holdings LLC

Repairing Rims on a Used Car

As more people choose to purchase used cars for their affordability, so more car dealerships need to maintain and repair damage to sell used cars for a profit. The benefit of knowing how to repair rims on a used car means dealerships no longer need to seek the advice of wheel repair specialists, and buyers are more inclined to purchase as there is little repair work for them to outsource after buying the vehicle. This streamlines the process and ensures that your dealership can maximize your return on investment. In this article, we share everything you need to know about repairing rims on a used car and provide guidance on the machinery necessary to help you do so.

Understand the Damage

Dealerships must take stock of damages as they receive used cars to determine how best to repair the rim. Physical damage refers to any rim damage that impacts the performance of the vehicle while cosmetic damage refers to rim damage that affects the car’s aesthetic appeal.

Typical types of physical damage including the following:

Curb rashes: scrapes that occur on the outer rim as a result of bumping up against curbs. These rashes begin as small scratches, however, they can quickly become serious physical damage if left unchecked.
Bends: hitting potholes, road hazards, and curbs can cause bent wheels which greatly impact the performance of the vehicle. Bent wheels can be extremely dangerous if left unrepaired as they impact handling and more.
Cracks: from small and seemingly invisible hairline cracks to larger, more prominent cracks, this type of structural damage may be manageable short term but can become a more serious safety concern if left unrepaired.

Typical types of cosmetic damage include scratches, scrapes, and baked-on dust that form from casual road incidents over time. These are far less threatening from a safety perspective and more damaging to the visual appeal of one’s vehicle. Resolving cosmetic damage can justify a higher selling price.

Source the Appropriate Machinery

Car dealerships would greatly benefit from possessing the appropriate machinery to repair physical and cosmetic damage. There are a few necessary workshop machines that dealerships can source for the best prices from reliable manufacturers such as Lenco Holdings LLC. We outline these machines and what types of damage they help repair below:

CNC Lathe

Computer-operated CNC lathes can help your dealership repair cosmetic damage to alloy rims. This tool is used by professionals to smooth out the rims and remove the presence of scratches, scrapes, and chips. The best CNC lathes on the market come in ranges that offer unique specifications particular to your dealership’s requirements, and you can view the range here.

Wheel Straightener

The name sums up the purpose of this particular piece of machinery. Wheel straighteners remove bends from rims and help maintain a vehicle’s optimal performance. Wheel straighteners are an extremely important addition to your dealership as one cannot drive away with a used car that is affected by bends. This poses a major safety risk and reduces the value that the car can be sold for.

Wheel Polisher

Over and above using a CNC lathe, you can give the used car’s rims a brand new look using a wheel polisher. This specific tool incorporates vibratory technology to take dull-looking aluminum and give it a shiny, new look. With a wheel polisher, you can take old-looking rims and make them look as good as new, raising the potential selling value of the cars in your dealership.

You could also purchase an AC/DC tig welder for more serious jobs, however, these three pieces of machinery are the go-to investments to take your car dealership to the next level. With them, you can quickly and easily repair rims on a used car to sell that car to eager buyers in your area. Having access to these tools means that your dealership can save money traditionally used to seek the assistance of wheel repair specialists. Furthermore, your dealership can offer wheel repairs as a service to improve your portfolio and broaden your consumer base. With a CNC lathe, wheel straightener, and wheel polisher in your arsenal, you will have much better luck finding willing buyers of used cars.

Choosing the Right Machinery for Your Wheel Repair Business

The wheel repair business can be a profitable industry. Everyone with a vehicle will, at some point, require repairs and maintenance, typically for the wheels and rims as these parts of the car are prone to damage from general wear and tear and other road incidents. Anyone with capital and a strong desire to work on automobiles, regardless of whether or not you have a trade diploma, can turn this dream into a reality and reap the financial benefits. That said, not all wheel repair businesses are successful and the quality of one’s machinery plays a crucial role in either contributing to your successes or failures.

In this article, we will explore the reasons you need to purchase exceptional wheel repair machinery from the start as well as guide you towards making the right decisions regarding this equipment.

Why Choosing the Right Machinery is Important?

The right wheel and rim repair machinery can make a huge impact on your business and determine how easy it is for your wheel repair business to turn a profit every month. The reasons for this include the following;

Saving time: no matter the specifics of the job, the right wheel repair machinery will end up saving you time as it contributes to more efficient completion of tasks. This is because quality repair equipment utilizes advanced technology to facilitate streamlined processes as well as a stronger ability to get things done properly the first time.
Less manual labor: the very best wheel repair machinery on the market, through the use of this advanced technology, helps alleviate common and cumbersome tasks that would usually require immense amounts of manual labor. The benefit of reduced manual labor means that you will have more time and energy to focus on other areas of the wheel repair process as well as focus on the success of your business.
Reduced long-term costs: one of the key benefits of choosing the right wheel repair machinery is the reduced long-term costs that your business will face after a couple of months or years in operation. This is because quality equipment requires less maintenance than cheaper models and there is less of a chance that the machinery will break and you will have to purchase a new piece of equipment. While expensive in the short-term, the long-term reduction in costs is well worth it.
Superior service: the success of your wheel repair business will ultimately boil down to the quality of the service you are offering. The more happy your customers are, the more positive reviews they will spread, and the more business you will bring. Happy customers will also become loyal customers, seeking you out whenever they need a job done. This is why providing exceptional service is at the forefront of the industry and you can do so with the assistance of the right machinery.

The 2 Key Machines for Straightening, Diamond Cutting, Remanufacturing, and Restoring

In the wheel repair industry, there are two critical machines that you will need to purchase in order to run a successful wheel repair business. These being, a wheel straightening machine and a CNC lathe.

Wheel Straightening Machine: Rim and Wheel Straightening

One of the most common issues drivers have with damages is bent rims and wheels. The issue, caused by accidents, potholes and other road incidents, results in poorer driving performance and most individuals seek specialists to resolve the problem quickly. A wheel straightening machine is the primary piece of equipment you will need to use to respond to the driver’s problems. When choosing a wheel straightening machine, look for options that are new and updated as they align with modern best practices. They will get the job done faster and more accurately than older models. You will also want to consider models that have a level of customization to them. Whether they include bead breakers or pumps that can be shifted around and mounted onto other sides of the machine, the ability to change things up ensures the machine is tailored to your specifications.

CNC Lathe: Diamond Cutting, Remanufacturing, and Restoring

A CNC lathe is one of the most important wheel repair machines as it will give you customization over alloys as well as allow you to ensure the long-term maintenance of all sorts of rims and wheels. The CNC lathe that you choose should have a cast steel frame and include advanced software to operate its computerized components. Using a durable and high-tech CNC lathe will help you get jobs done quicker and to a much higher quality than ever before.

These are the reasons you need quality wheel repair machinery and some suggestions regarding the two critical pieces of equipment; a wheel straightening machine and a CNC lathe. Using these exceptional tools, you will have your wheel repair business up and running in no time!

Starting Your Own Wheel Repair Business

Rim and wheel repairs are part of vehicle maintenance that most car owners will, at some point or another, need to consider if they wish to keep their car looking fresh and their performance at its best. As such, entering the wheel repair business may be a lucrative option for car enthusiasts, amateur mechanics, or anyone deciding to venture into their own entrepreneurial business. Whether you’re actively pursuing your own wheel repair business or considering the possibility of taking advantage of this service offering, here’s our guide to get you going!

Everyone Will Need Their Wheels Refurbished

As already mentioned, car owners will require rim and wheel repairs sometime after purchasing their vehicles. Because people are constantly purchasing vehicles throughout the year, there is always the possibility of finding work in the wheel refurbishing business as owners search for specialists to repair damages to their rims year in and year out. It doesn’t matter how often an individual cares for their wheels or how intently they practice rim maintenance, there will come a time they will need assistance from wheel repair specialists and you could leverage this need with your own business.

Choose Your Specialisation

There are two primary parts to a wheel repair specialist that you should be aware of before creating your own business; rim repairs focusing on fixing damage that affects car performance and rim repairs that clean up knicks and scratches affecting the appearance of the rims. You can choose to specialize in one or the other or offer both services in a holistic refurbishing package. Cleaning up scratches will require less effort and fewer intensive repair equipment while fixing damages affecting performance will require meticulous attention to detail and high-tech equipment to get the job done properly. It may be wise to start with appearance repairs and build to a point where you can make more of an impact on performance-enhancing repairs.

No Experience? No Worries!

The beauty of working in the wheel repair business is that you do not necessarily need an education in the industry or any experience with a reputable wheel repair specialist. All you will need is the determination, dedication, budget, and business know-how to get the ball rolling. That said, customers may wish to know what projects you have worked on before or require some evidence of professionalism in order to build trust. As a result, beginners will likely need to work with close friends and family to gather great testimonials or hire a young professional who has a small existing clientele to build up a positive reputation.

Source Your Equipment

With your business goals in mind, you can begin gathering the equipment you will need to complete rim and wheel repair jobs. We have listed a few of the most important pieces of equipment below, as well as provided some guidance on whether to operate a fixed or mobile workshop

Rim straightener: a tool used to straighten steel, aluminum, and alloy rims by pushing against damaged parts of the rim
Lathe or CNC lathe: a machine that rotates a workpiece around a fixed axis and cuts, shapes, and removes excess metal to smooth the rim and repair damages

These are the two most prominent pieces of equipment needed to get your business started, however, you should also consider purchasing a welder and polisher for further reparations.

Both a fixed and mobile workshop will require investment, however, a fixed workshop provides the most long-term benefits. While a mobile workshop will allow you to move to where the customer is and offer them this as a convenience, a fixed workshop will provide maximum physical area for expansion and the purchase of new, better machinery. Bear in mind that you will also need to consider office furniture, reception areas, customer seating, and much more as you develop your workshop further.

Branding and Marketing Your Business

The final step to creating your business is finalizing your branding and considering marketing avenues to get your name out there. You may wish to work with a branding specialist to help you craft a logo and a marketing guru to help you develop a business plan. Once you have your logo and business plan, you may consider looking at creating a website and establishing a digital presence through Facebook and other social media platforms which you can advertise on. As your business grows and develops, you can hire more people to help with jobs or invest in CNC equipment to make your operations more efficient.