| Author | Message | ||
     Jamie (Rover_puppy) Senior Member Username: Rover_puppy Post Number: 417 Registered: 05-2003 |
Hi, We're back home. Cleaned the important stuff right away - engine, brakes, wheels, under rover, etc. This afternoon I got around to washing the mud off of the the exterior and I can see the paint again. I can also see the many scratches that I earned from trees and branches. There are lots of them - but, none are deep (they're just surface scratches). I have high hopes to earn lots more scratches and I am wondering what is the best way to handle maintenance for scratches. I'd like to learn to take care of the exterior just as I have learned to clean up engine and parts under the rover. Should I be concerned about buffing out scratches as soon as possible after trail rides or will it be okay if I just do it a few times a year? Any suggestions for products that work best? I'm hoping I can find a "buffer for dummies"!  Thanks in advance, Jamie p.s. every single scratch was well worth the joy of a week and a half of trail rides!! | ||
| Ray Wallace (Rayd2) New Member Username: Rayd2 Post Number: 14 Registered: 05-2003 |
Welcome back. Hope you had fun with Bill. Scratches go with the territory when you trail with him. GS 27 from most hardware or auto storees works great on the scratches. I just do a "go round" the rig after a severe trip. Waiting a month or two won't hurt for the minor "pinstripes". After buffing out the scratches, put a little Zymol or your favorite wax on the area and you're all set for your next adventure. Hope you had FUN. Ray | ||
| Bill Rogers (Dc_plasterer) New Member Username: Dc_plasterer Post Number: 20 Registered: 11-2003 |
After repeated efforts to buff out my Java Black paint, I decided I'd experiment with an alternative before I wore off the paint down to primer. Here is a product I have just had put on my sides where the "pin-stripes" usually end up after a trail ride. It's an 18 mil clear (removeable) poly sheeting simular to window tinting but much thicker and tougher. You can't see it on the car until you are up close. I'm hopeful it will absorb the scratches like my clear coat use to before I buiffed it all off, lol. http://www.clearshield.com/Products/Paint_Protection.htm Agreed its excessive... but my rig wasn't bought to be a HC "trail machine" and I'd like it to look nice after it's washed off after the occassional run in the forest. The proof is not yet in, as I haven't been out on the trails since I applied the clearshield. Will give an update after my first serious run. | ||
| Jamie (Rover_puppy) Senior Member Username: Rover_puppy Post Number: 423 Registered: 05-2003 |
Thanks Guys, I agree the scratches go with the territory and oh gosh, what beautiful that territory is!! Adventuring through overgrown brush and trees was awesome - if I could I'd just stay out there forever!! I just stumbled on to a thread in Discovery section that I missed while away - it is about buffing out scratches. Half of me wants to leave the scratches (memories!) and the other half of me (practical!) knows it would be wise to keep up with the exterior maintenance as well. What kind of electric buffers/polishers do you use? Are all the brands pretty much the same? Thanks again, Jamie | ||
| Ray Wallace (Rayd2) New Member Username: Rayd2 Post Number: 16 Registered: 05-2003 |
Jamie, you don't really need an electric buffer/polisher for these kind of scratches. Risk of buffing too deep and taking off the primer. Just use a soft cloth of some sort and your strongest arm going across (90 degrees) the scratches. Maybe sort of a circular motion to blend the clearcoat over the scratch. Then apply your favorite wax, hand-buff it out, and you're good to go again. I, too, like to keep my rig looking sharp until I get it dirty/scratched again, then I go through the whole procedure again to make it look sharp. Too many years in the Corps, I guess. Ray | ||
| Jamie (Rover_puppy) Senior Member Username: Rover_puppy Post Number: 427 Registered: 05-2003 |
Thanks Ray, that makes good sense! Jamie |
