SCRATCH REMOVER

[OLE YLLR]

http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gifDOES ANYBODY OUT THERE HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR REMOVING SCRATCHES ON PAINT. TRIED MEGUIARS SCRATCH AND SWIRL REMOVER, WORKED ON SOME BUT NOT ON SOME DEEPER ONES. DID'NT REALLY WANT TO USE RUBBING COMPOUND BUT IF I HAVE TO OH WELL.

[OLE YLLR]

http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gifDOES ANYBODY OUT THERE HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR REMOVING SCRATCHES ON PAINT. TRIED MEGUIARS SCRATCH AND SWIRL REMOVER, WORKED ON SOME BUT NOT ON SOME DEEPER ONES. DID'NT REALLY WANT TO USE RUBBING COMPOUND BUT IF I HAVE TO OH WELL.

[NSXTC]

Hey YLLR,

Had to do the same for mine from last weekend. Took it to a detail shop who used the clay/rubbing compound/polish/wax process.

Wish I knew that there was going to be pinstripes otherwise I would have prepared my vehicle for it (i.e., 3M static cling). The trip said zero damage and I assumed that included paint job. http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif That was the only downside to the So. Cal trip.

[Steve R]

Sorry guys http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif I too have some battle scars to show for out outting.

The first part of the trip didn't really do anything to my rig...but I was very careful choosing my lines and trying to make certain not to make any more contact then necessary.

I'm hesitant to do much more then just wax the whole thing. If you keep working on the paint with a polish, you'll eventually get through the clear-coat and into the actual paint.

I was told by Cary that only H1's might receive some "pin-striping" and that H2's would be fine. The second part of our trip was definitely a brush-raker. I'm looking into getting some kind of protection and then getting the rig professionally buffed out and trying to preserve it from there.

I suppose this is the way of the offroader? Some people have told me that we should wax the rig real well before heading out...but I doubt even that would substantially solve anything. I think I can hear MAC laughing?

[Hummer Man]

Well Put STEVEN R.
My Dad always told me "WAX YOUR RIG REAL BOOD BEFORE YOU GO INTO THE BUSH"

I am not certain he was talking of off-roading but the same protections seem to apply !!!!!! http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[Steve R]

HummerMan, FUNNY!!!!! that got me laughing. I believe the appropriate response is ROFL-LMAO

I was almost thinking of building some kind of giant twin-weed-whackers that involves an axle-like thing going across the front like a mustache and activating when needed.

I HATE scratches!!!!!!

[SJ]

I've used Meguiar's Scratch X with good results. I had the hairline scratches all along the side of my H2 after my last outing and Scratch X rid them from view. Clay bar for wider scratches on the clearcoat!

I follow the application of Scratch X with Meguiar's Gold Class.

Used to be a fan of Zaino, but I find that Zaino requires a lot of repeat application to get the same results as Meguiar's after only one coat.

[bklynh2srock]

It may not be the best, but we used the plain old Turtle Wax type that comes in the different body colors. We got it at Pep boys and it includes a lipstick-like stick that hides some medium-sized scratches. However, it doesn't get rid of everything so I'll try the Meguiar's.

[Peter]

Quit your crying. So you got a few scratches big deal... Easy for me to say now that I have been reborn from my scratched old black H2 into a flawless new pewter H2 http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

The first time I took the black one off road it had 150 miles on it and I raked both sides of the truck with many branches. The next day as I dried the truck after washing I started to see the millions of little scratches in my new black paint.

I went down to the auto parts shop and found the 3M poducts. I got 3M rubbing compound, 3M Swirl remover, 3M glaze, and 3M wax. I spent the rest of the day getting rid of the scratches and putting on several heavy coats of wax. My shoulders hurt for the next week. The truck looked like new until the next time I went out and scratched it again. Subsequent scratching were less severe after that day of rubbing and waxing.

[Steve R]

I know you guys will laugh....but I'm thinking about a special set-up for my next trip: basically a nasty-ass dual weed-whacker set up like a mustache on the front of my rig. With the push of a button I can somehow grind a nice path.

I hear the magnetic skins aren't the way...a stiff branch/twig can drag hard and get under them. They are apparently only good for light brush.

The 3M stuff sounds very intricate and I'm uncertain how they would work. Anybody have any thoughts?

[Texas Red]

Yea, I have a thought for you Steve. Go out in your garage, get a yard rake, drag it down each side of your rig, then say f*** it! and don't worry about it any more. It'll be a very freeing experience.

[JCJ]

Hm. I thought this topic was about how to REMOVE scratches, not how to let 'm APPEAR, or maybe about how to PREVENT 'm...

[Texas Red]

Excuse me, if my sense of humor escaped you. And I apologize for straying off-topic with an asinine comment. We're all so good about staying on topic. http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif

[Peter]

I laughed out load when I read that. http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Texas Red:
Excuse me, if my sense of humor escaped you. And I apologize for straying off-topic with an asinine comment. We're all so good about staying on topic. http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

[JJ]

Remember those mutual of omaha Wild Kingdom shows with those seats mounted outside and upfront of their chase vehicles. I figure you mount a couple of them on the H2, find a couple of teenage kids to go along on the trail ride, give them each a chain saw and have them blaze the trail as you go. The kids will love it - riding an H2 and brandishing a chain saw what more fun is there?

Although, that rake idea is quite a bit simpler.

JJ

[Steve R]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Texas Red:
Yea, I have a thought for you Steve. Go out in your garage, get a yard rake, drag it down each side of your rig, then say f*** it! and don't worry about it any more. It'll be a very freeing experience.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

GREAT IDEA JIMBO....let's start by doing YOUR rig....and let's not miss those pretty little polished HUMMER letters in your bumper!!

[JCJ]

Or B4 you grab your rake, try this:
http://www.autosupershield.com/

[TonkaH2]

FYI: My auto detailer tells me that the paint on most american vehicles is as thin as a sheet of paper - primer included. He said they can only buff out the finish twice and then it's through the top layer. I doubt it's any thicker on Hummers.

-Jack
Yellow H2 adv. on order [forever]
Alaska to ??? June '03
www.sunspotnatural.com (http://www.sunspotnatural.com)

[MAC]

I guess thinner paint does save a lot of weight which is directly related to MPG and has other benefits. I had/have English cars which claim to have x layers of paint but to my untrained eyes I could not see the difference.

[JJ]

JCJ - interesting product. Do you know anyone who has used this stuff? The idea of using adhesive to apply a urethane based material on my vehicle sounds harsh at least. Perhaps as a lower rocker panel protector it might make sense.

JJ

[TBarrow]

I have used and installed the 3M product on my H2. I installed it on the door sill edge below the black H2 logo. I did not want dirty feet sliding accross my paint and leaving scratch trophies.

Black H2 Adventure Series+ all other options.

[MAC]

PhilD you could be right about weight since we are not talking about a lot of paint here. I was thinking about the old report that how many millions of gallons of gas saved by American Airlines when they use aluminum airplane body without paint, or the paint on Golden Gate bridge weights how many thousands of tons.

Talk about planes, don't they say clean airplanes save gas? does that mean a clean Hummer gets better MPG? http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[Hummie2]

Another product called Safe Guard. Its a clear Urethane Film and applied like 3M film is. This yellow H2 was at Houston Auto Show and had the film applied to hood(top & sides), doors and body below windows. The pieces come in pre-cut kits and professional installation is recomended.

[Hummie2]

Film Applied below Windows

[Hummie2]

Here are the pre-cut pieces available in different kits. I talked to distributor and was about $1800 to do the H2 from windows down as this one was or $2000 to do the entire vehicle from roof down. Its a little high, but nothing on a H2 is cheap.

[Hummie2]

It is pretty close to invisible at the edges, but I did notice some "Orange Peel" effect under the bright lights.

[Steve R]

for what it's worth....I've got ****loads of ugly-ass scratches well above the doorlines!

Now I know why many H1's drive around with drab colors that look like they were spray painted with cans of spray paint from Home Depot.

I'm going to get my scratches as cleaned and buffed as possible AND THEN look into some kind of protection. Also...there are plenty of trails that don't involve brush-rake.

I'm not getting gun-shy...just want to be as practical as reasonably possible.

[MAC]

Steve,
Some one talked about putting 6 layers of wax on the Hummer before you go off-road, have you try it yet? does it work? how long does the 6 layers wax stay on? how often do you have to do it? every off-road trip? sounds like a good workout.

[Mike97ZJ]

I'll throw in my .02 on this one, since I have a black vehicle with tons of scratches.

As far as putting 6 coats of wax, that really doesn't do much to prevent scratches. Don't spend all week waxing it and think your invincible on the weekend.

I find that Maguire's Scratch X works reasonably well on small surface scratches, and that Turtle Wax Color Match stuff with the lipstick works well on the larger ones. Only thing with that though, you have to keep a good coat on it or it washes off after a few rainstorms. It leaves a great shine on it though, amd as scratched as mine is, it looks great from about ten feet away.

Also, the Meguire's gold class cleaner wax does a good job of removing swirl marks, and leaves a great shine.

Funny thing, it's strangly liberating, getting that first set of scratches. After you get over the initial shock an dissapointment, you don't worry about it as much the next time.

I still try to avoid them, but I'd rather take the line that gives me a few scratches than to take the line that gets me stuck or puts my door into a rock.

It must be tough though, doing that to a new vehicle. Mine was four years old when it got it's first set of trail scratches. Of course I had only had it 6 months at the time, so it still hurt.