Mountain pin-stripes -

[blademan]

Well, I've had my Black TE only a month. Had to have a friend come help me get it outta the pasture with my tractor. At week 2, my son's team-mate lauched a foul-ball into the DS front 1/4 panel, I was able to pop out most of the dent from the engine well but you can still see the damage if you know what to look for. Then I took it turkey hunting in the mountains of N. AL and it seems that the black paint streaks quite readily from twigs and branches and such - left me with a few "mountain pinstripes" that I would like to remove. I used some "NU-finish" scratch remover - didn't do much. I was thinking, since it appears that no actual paint removal took place, that a good body man with a buffer might be able to buff those out. Anybody had that issue and solved it or am I just gonna have to get used to it?

I drove up there in the dark and when I got back and saw the streaks, I almost :barf: .... I spent the next 2 hours going back down with clippers cutting out the road :redbrick:

 

[harper7]

Well, I've had my Black TE only a month. Had to have a friend come help me get it outta the pasture with my tractor. At week 2, my son's team-mate lauched a foul-ball into the DS front 1/4 panel, I was able to pop out most of the dent from the engine well but you can still see the damage if you know what to look for. Then I took it turkey hunting in the mountains of N. AL and it seems that the black paint streaks quite readily from twigs and branches and such - left me with a few "mountain pinstripes" that I would like to remove. I used some "NU-finish" scratch remover - didn't do much. I was thinking, since it appears that no actual paint removal took place, that a good body man with a buffer might be able to buff those out. Anybody had that issue and solved it or am I just gonna have to get used to it?

I drove up there in the dark and when I got back and saw the streaks, I almost :barf: .... I spent the next 2 hours going back down with clippers cutting out the road :redbrick:

I've got pinstripes all over my sides too. I wear them with pride and don't have to worry about scratching it anymore because your going to get them offroading. They are probably more noticeable on the black compared to my silver though.It's those dang native scrub mesquite trees around here that reek havoc.

I had 2 real bad gouges in the paint on the DS side rear door from a manzanita tree in Utah last year that I did buff out by hand using a kit from 3M called the scratch removal system .Nobody would notice now unless I told them where they were at.So they can be buffed out as the clearcoat is thick compared to the base coat.. I'll worry about the rest if I ever sell it and get it buffed out then....maybe.

The ones that can't be buffed out are the ones in the black plastic parts!The bottom side of my front bumper is all scratched up.

 

[joneseyyy]

My Black TE has the pinstriping as well:sobbing: No avoiding it offroading in VA/MD. I am going to try the zaino line of products in a few weeks to see if some will polish out and hopefully hide the others with a high quality wax.

 

[Antman]

If you want to get these out yourself, go to Griot's Garage.com and buy their buffer, the orange pads and some 1 step sealant. I think they even sell some starter kits. Their buffer is different because you can't burn through the paint with it, very easy and efficient to use. My wife is always scrapin' up her car, and I can tell to you for sure, it will remove stuff you swear would be impossible to get out. The 1 step sealant will remove scratches and seal the paint (duh!) keeping it looking good for awhile. I have also used it to bring back neglected gelcoat on a few boats, with great results. I detail cars on the side and the buffer was the best purchase I have ever made!

NO,:banana: I DON'T HAVE ANY BUSINESS INTEREST IN GRIOT'S- they just make good stuff!!

 

[1engineer]

Take it to a reputable detail shop. They will do it probably for under $100.00. Also any auto body shop.

 

[snow&surf]

Trail scars....you get used to them over time, sort of.

 

[harper7]

Take it to a reputable detail shop. They will do it probably for under $100.00. Also any auto body shop.

Reputable detail shop by my house wanted $200 last year and keep it for the day.Drop it off and they would take me home.Said they would have it better then new.

The problem I see is they will probably have to take off a few layers of clearcoat to get down to the bottom of the scratches. Then you go wheelin again and get scratches again and buff em out again and so on. Pretty soon there won't be any clearcoat left. I'll wait!

 

[Antman]

Harper, it's true that some clearcoat is removed during a detail, but you're talking microns. By using using quality products, like a paint sealer and a good wax, the scratches are filled in, in a sense, which makes them less visable to the naked eye. It would take alot of buffing to get through the clearcoat! BTW- you're freakin 'runner is awesome!

 

[desertred]

If you want to get these out yourself, go to Griot's Garage.com and buy their buffer, the orange pads and some 1 step sealant. I think they even sell some starter kits. Their buffer is different because you can't burn through the paint with it, very easy and efficient to use. My wife is always scrapin' up her car, and I can tell to you for sure, it will remove stuff you swear would be impossible to get out. The 1 step sealant will remove scratches and seal the paint (duh!) keeping it looking good for awhile. I have also used it to bring back neglected gelcoat on a few boats, with great results. I detail cars on the side and the buffer was the best purchase I have ever made!

NO,:banana: I DON'T HAVE ANY BUSINESS INTEREST IN GRIOT'S- they just make good stuff!!

A good Porter Cable random orbital and the appropriate Meguires products has worked for me. I haven't needed it on the T4R (yet), but has produced great results on my other vehicles.

 

[blademan]

Much obliged gentlemen!
I have a Porter-cable RO, what kind of pads would be recommended? Recon some of those Griot's "super orange pads" work on it?
Which Meguires products do you use?

 

[Antman]

The Griots pads are Velcro attached so you would need an attachment to work with your buffer. Mcguires makes great stuff too!