FAQs
Our FAQ section is frequently updated, so check back in periodically!
General
How Long Will It Take For My Order To Be Processed?
That depends on how soon you, or your supplier/distributor is able to get your wheels to our facility:
- Once your wheels arrive at our facility, they are entered into our production queue (this timeframe is going to vary from a few days, to a few weeks depending on the workload going through our shop).
- Once your wheels have entered engraving, turnaround can range from 1 to 3 days (depending on wheel dimensions, and whether you are doing simple logo work, or a full wrap design).
- If your order includes any post-process finish work, (ceramic coat, powder coat, etc.) that work is scheduled with our vendors, completed, and packaged for transport.
- If your order does not include any post-process finish work, at this point your order will ship within a couple of days.
- Ceramic coating will have a typical lead time of a day or two.
- Powder coat lead time may be as little as a few days to a couple of weeks (depending on the workload and type of work being done).
- In short, depending on general availability of product and related services, you could be looking at as little as two weeks to as long as a month or two from the time of order to delivery.
Customization takes time!
Do You Offer Powder Coating Services?
Yes, we offer powder coat services, whether you want a custom color scheme, or basic clear coat.
Clear coating is included with every laser engraving service, at no additional charge!
Is Clear Coat Included With Laser Engraving?
Yes, and at no additional charge!
Unless otherwise specified, each wheel that we laser engrave will be clearcoated to maximize protection, and longevity of your investment!
I Already Own A Set Of Wheels That I Love. Can You Engrave My Wheels?
In many cases we should be able to help you out, but there are some limiting factors that could prevent us from being able to laser engrave your wheels.
There will need to be a conversation that would need to happen before we could say for sure, so the best bet is to Contact Us.
If you have steel, or chrome polished wheels, then we will not be able to help you out at this time.
It is something that we are working on developing a process, and workflow for, and announcements will be made on that subject at some point in the future.
Do You Sell Wheels And Tires?
No, not at this time.
Our sole focus is on offering our laser engraving services to manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and end-users.
We may revisit the idea of selling wheels and tires at a future indeterminate time, however, it does not make sense for us to enter into such a competitive market.
Shipping And Logistics
Where Are You Located?
Our base of operations (where we engrave the wheels) is located in Salem, OR, but we do have future plans to open a physical shop and showroom, once it makes sense for us to do so.
How Do I Get My Wheels To You For Processing?
Freight:
Shipping and logistics services are something we can definitely assist you with.
Wheels are very large and heavy, and will typically be best suited for transport on a pallet, using Less Than Load (LTL) freight shipping methods.
For customers who are unfamiliar with LTL freight (typically end-user clients), we will help you through every step of preparing and arranging your wheels for transport, including helping you find a logistics company in your area.
Many LTL logistics companies will also offer shipping preparation services.
Manufacturers, distributors and retailers have the option to use their own shipping and logistics services, or using ours.
Commercial Package Carriers:
Commercial carriers like UPS and FedEx are also suitable options for shipping wheels, however, due to the size and weight, the cost to ship via package carrier services may be costlier options than shipping wheels via LTL.
Are Shipping Costs Included In Your Service Pricing?
Yes, but we offer free shipping on return shipping only*.
Customers are responsible for shipping and logistics to our facility for processing.
Once your order has been processed, we will return your wheels, at no additional charge to you.
*Free return shipping is only available to wholesale and retail customers located in the 48 contiguous United States.
Clients residing in Alaska and Hawaii will be required to incur costs for return freight.
For clients under our Manufacturer Partner Program, please review the information there regarding how shipping and logistics are handled.
What Happens In The Event Of Damage In Transit?
Client-Side Shipping And Logistics:
Clients who opt to use their own preferred shipping and logistics will be fully responsible for insuring their shipments against damage, and theft.
In order to facilitate any damage claim, all shipments (upon delivery) will be photographed at key handling points, from initial receiving to the time the wheels depart our facility.
In the event that the unfortunate does happen, we will be more than happy to cooperate and assist by providing you with any requested information and documentation that is relevant to the shipment where damage had occurred.
Laser My Rims Shipping And Logistics:
Once we receive the shipment containing your wheels at our facility, the liability for your shipment is transferred to us upon signing for it, and that liability is in effect until your completed order reaches your doorstep, or receiving dock.
As this is the case, all shipments that depart our facility, when we are using our own shipping/carrier services, will be fully insured at no additional charge to the client, for the full replacement value of the wheels, plus the cost of customization.
In order to establish a timeline to facilitate any damage claim, all shipments (upon delivery) will be photographed at key handling points, from initial receiving to the time the wheels depart our facility.
In the event that the unfortunate does happen after the wheels have been shipped from our facility, due to the nature of doing custom work, we will require specific information and documentation to be provided to us from the customer, or client in order to process and facilitate any claim for damages.
The requested information must be provided in order to submit the claim for processing.
Due to the nature of this type of custom work, only after a claim for damages has been processed by the insurer, can we then begin work to replace any damaged order.
The primary reason that we require the insurer determination prior to replacement processing is that not all damage claims will be deemed a total loss by the insurer.
Some forms of in-transit damage may require some form of repair, or other simple remediation.
In such instances, we may be able to facilitate that remediation/repair work through our business partners and contacts, without having to replace the wheel, or even shipping the wheel back.
Technical Questions
How Are Laser Engraved Wheels Protected?
After your wheel is laser engraved, (unless otherwise specified) your wheels will be sent to powder coat to receive an application of clearcoat.
This will add an additional layer of protection for your overall wheel, as well as an environmental barrier to cover and protect the laser engraved surfaces.
This will aid in overall cleaning and maintenance.
Clearcoat service is included with each laser engraving, at no additional charge!
Clearcoat, Or Nanoceramic Coating?
Clearcoat:
We believe that clearcoat will provide the best overall protection, as it results in a thicker physical barrier which is typically applied at thicknesses ranging from 3 to 8 mils, whereas nanoceramic coatings are applied at dry film thicknesses (DFT) of 0.02 to 0.12 mils.
Clearcoat service is included with every set of wheels that are laser engraved, at no additional charge.
Prior to clearcoat, clients will have the option to request the sheen level for their clearcoat, whether they prefer a flat matte to high gloss, or simply to opt out of clear coat altogether.
If no preference is provided by the client, the default sheen level for clearcoat is high gloss.
Clearcoat results in a thicker physical barrier that will act as a partial filler to cover the engraved design (as well as the rest of the wheel), making it much easier to clean dirt/debris deposits which can accumulate when under normal use, and the environment.
Nanoceramics:
Nanoceramics, while excellent at inhibiting dirt/debris buildup on normal, smooth surfaces, are not as good as a thicker clearcoat at creating a surface that is "cleanable" using typical means and methods, with regard to laser engraved substrates.
This is not to say that nanoceramics are necessarily a "poor choice", it is just that through our own testing we have found that clear coated wheels are much easier to clean and maintain in this specific application (laser engraved wheels), compared to nanoceramic coated wheels.
This is primarily due to the roughened surface that the scouring effect of the laser engraving process leaves behind when laser engraving into the base material.
Nanoceramics simply do not provide a sufficiently thick enough film layer to "fill in" the roughened surface that the laser engraving leaves behind.
What Does "Mil" Mean?
The term "mil" refers to a standardized unit of measurement that is commonly used in the paint and coatings industry to describe the thickness of the dried film.
1 mil = 0.001 in, or 25.4 microns, and 1 micron = 0.001 mm
- The average thickness of a human hair is 1.5 to 3.5 mils.
- The average thickness of a sheet of standard printer paper is 4 to 5 mils.
- OEM automotive paints are typically applied at a dry film thickness of 3.5 to 5.5 mils.
What Laser System Do You Use For Laser Engraving Wheels?
We are equipped with a Laser My Wheels Gen. 1 Wheel Engraving Workstation. It is a heavy-duty 200W Fiber laser system that is equipped with an equally heavy-duty CNC rotary device that is capable of handling, and processing wheel diameters through 34in!
What Sizes Of Wheels Can You Engrave?
Our LMW Gen. 1 Wheel Engraving Workstation can handle a wide range of wheel sizes.
Currently, the lowest size we are able to work with is 14" diameter wheels.
We are actively exploring means and methods to be able to bring this service to wheels as small as 8" diameter.
How Long Does It Take To Laser Engrave A Wheel?
Compared to other options for having your wheels engraved, not long at all.
Depending on the size and lip depth being engraved, it could be as little as an hour, to 8 hours per wheel.
There are examples on the internet of hand engraved wheels that exceeded 500 hours to complete!
The inaugural set of 22in x 14in KG1 Forged Veteran that we showcase on our home page only took 6 hours per wheel!
Is The Laser Engraving Permanent?
Yes, absolutely!
We use a high powered laser system that is designed to impart a physical etching of the design into your wheel's base material.
Whether your wheel be polished, or powder coated, the laser will hard etch your design into you wheel's surface so that it simply cannot be polished away under normal use and care!
The engraved designs can be removed through mechanical surface conditioning, either through a series of sanding processes, abrasive blasting, or milling.
Service Questions
Do You Offer Other Customization Services Besides Laser Engraving?
Yes we do!
We offer custom powder coating as a part of your overall wheel customization.
How Much Will It Cost To Engrave My Wheels?
There are many factors that influence the cost of laser engraving your wheels.
Pricing for wheel engraving can range from $270 to $1,835 per wheel, depending on variables/factors.
If you have a set of wheels you are looking to have engraved, we have a Service Pricing page set up to help you out!
Do You Laser Engrave Forged Aluminum Wheels?
Yes, absolutely! Whether they are polished, or powder coated, we can service forged aluminum wheels!
Do You Laser Engrave Mag Wheels?
Yes, but they are not the typical wheel that we will see going through our shop, so we will need to have a preliminary consultation before we can commit to any work on mags.
Do You Laser Engrave Alloy Wheels?
That's a solid "probably". It really depends on the material (and finish) your wheels are comprised of.
Alloys can be a combination of different materials, and in many instances, we will be able to laser engrave your alloy wheels.
Alloys (Polished/Powder Coated): If your wheels are polished, or powder coated, in most instances we will be able to engrave them without issue, but in order to add extra environmental protection, especially in the engraved metal portions, we would strongly advise having your wheels clear coated by a powder coating facility.
That is something we are absolutely able to facilitate for you, so that when you receive your wheels, they can be mounted, balanced, and installed on your ride.
Alloys (Chrome Plated): If your wheels are chrome plated, then we would not be able to assist you at this time. We are actively exploring ways that we can offer laser engraving services on chrome plated wheels that will not sacrifice the corrosion protection that is offered by the chrome plated finish.
Do You Laser Engrave Chrome Plated Wheels?
At this time, we are not offering our laser engraving services on chrome plated wheels.
Laser engraving is a process that will damage the protective qualities of the chrome plating (if done incorrectly), so until we have a proven method of applying a laser engraving in a manner that does not jeopardize the protective qualities of that plating, we will not be doing any engraving work with chrome plated wheels (or other automotive parts).
It is something that we are actively exploring, and will be announcing at some point in the future, once we make this service available.
If you are not sure whether or not your wheels are chrome plated or polished, we would be more than happy to help you find the answer, so Contact Us!
Do You Laser Engrave Steel Wheels?
At this time, we are not offering laser engraving services on steel wheels.
It is something that we are actively exploring, and will be announcing at some point in the future, once we make this service available.
What Is The Difference Between Chrome Plated and Polished Wheels?
Quite a lot actually.
Polished wheels are simply a finishing option for aluminum wheels where they are brought to a mirror finish through a variety of polishing methods.
Chrome plating is an electroplating process where multiple layers of copper, nickel, and then chromium are deposited on the steel (and occasionally aluminum) wheel to create a bright, mirror-like, and highly reflective surface.
Removing those surface layers through laser engraving also reduces the protective qualities of the chrome plating, introducing the possibility and likelihood of damage by way of corrosion.
We are actively exploring ways that we can service Chrome Plated wheels, but it is something that may or may not be possible to provide, depending on the results of our testing.
Do You Only Laser Engrave Automotive Wheels?
At this time, we are only offering laser engraving services on automotive wheels, however, we are looking into other types of wheels that we can process in our laser system, including:
- Motorcycle wheels
- Bicycle wheels
- Miscellaneous auto/truck/motorcycle parts/components