Posted 2012-06-04 11:27 AM (#144507) Subject: scratches on white aluminum
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 560 Location: Mena, AR
I have some scratches on the white painted aluminum on my 2008 4-Star 2H GN. They are from parking near trees. Is there a good way to deal with the scratches to make them look better? They run from front to back, and some are pretty long.
Posted 2012-06-04 12:00 PM (#144509 - in reply to #144507) Subject: RE: scratches on white aluminum
Expert
Posts: 3802 Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
Wash an wax the trailer and call it good..!! Not alot you can do for these pre-painted aluminum panels.... May be something that you could cover with a stripe, probably less noticable it you just leave it alone. All those marks tell a story and give that 4 Star caracter!!
Posted 2012-06-04 1:32 PM (#144511 - in reply to #144507) Subject: RE: scratches on white aluminum
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
The original paint was applied by a heated roll coating method, and is quite thin. If the scratches do not penetrate through to the metal, you may be able to use a light bodied automotive/marine buffing compound to blend them out. Chances are however, that the buffing will remove the remaining paint.
If the paint is scratched through and bare metal is showing, your only recourse is to spot prime the metal and respray the panel(s).
It is almost impossible to touch up the scratched areas and have an unnoticeable repair, colour wise. Even if the original colour is exacty matched, the repaired surface texture would differ from the worn original. This would then involve polishing the whole panel or over spraying it all with a clear coating.
Scars show duty and experience. Your 4Star can wear them proudly.
Posted 2012-06-04 8:53 PM (#144530 - in reply to #144507) Subject: RE: scratches on white aluminum
Expert
Posts: 2615
Wow,I was just considering posting about this very thing.We already had a long front to back scratch from existing limb on our remote road when we had to pull over to let someone by and husband didn't sit still then pull away from the offender.I take care of those now by walking down our road and trimming them with a long pole saw.
But,over Memorial Day weekend,we obtained a NEW one that goes back to the awning and almost claimed it,when the camping spot we pulled into at the MO campground had overhanging tree limb.I now look those spots over carefully before we pull through or back under because our skylight over the shower was scratched pretty badly from a pine tree limb once.The trailer dealer took something and buffed it out but,I of course,can see them when I scrutinize it from the inside.
A good waxing will help,but like these experts have said,that paint is thin.I believe waxing helps to prevent it from happening quiet so easily,but,depends on the limb once again.
Some things you just have to treat as Tom Cruise did in "Risky Business and say,"Aw,what the H."
Posted 2012-06-05 11:10 AM (#144555 - in reply to #144507) Subject: RE: scratches on white aluminum
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 560 Location: Mena, AR
Thanks for the advice. I think I'll try a little wax and see if that helps. They are not horrible, but noticeable. They don't go to the bare metal, which is the upside.