redwagon
01-04-2012, 10:50 AM
When I purchased my ZHP, it had a few stickers on it from the PO who liked to show up to CCA events etc. There was one sticker on the hood that was just not removable......totally baked on by the sun and faded. I tried a number of times to remove it using standard methods (ie heat gun, chipping, light chemicals to soften) and always got nowhere as I didnt want to damage the paint.
So yesterday I was off work a little early and decided to stop by the body shop down the street from where I live...havent had a good chat there in quite a while. Good guys and have had them do a lot of work for me over the years, even if just shooting something I had prepped. They immediately have 4 guys working on removing the sticker, and saying they do it all the time.....no problem.....have techniques.....etc. I'm sitting there saying that I was just looking for some advice and they say just trust us. Out come some power tools, lots of unmentionable solvents, etc. I couldnt even look any more as I started fearing damage was coming so started talking with the shop manager.
After aboutv 15 minutes I hear 'F*CK!' from one of the guys. Then a bunch of scrambling and 'oh crap' a bunch of times...........and bottom line they not only damaged the clear coat but went down to the primer.
They immediately said they'd repaint the hood for me no charge, and I'm standing there really trying not to go nuclear on them..........
So this morning I brought it in and they have the car now. On the bright side the hood will be pristine, including a new badge, but the aftermarket paint is never exactly the same nor as hard & tough as what it left the factory with. They are sanding it completely down and reshooting mystic blue and new clear coat.
I just had to vent..........I think of all the time polishing, glazing, waxing, sealing for such a beautiful finish and being so careful..........
lessons:
1. Dont ever use permanent stickers on paint.....ever. Heck not even ones that are temporary. And dont let friends either...... :-)
2. If you have a little voice in your head saying this can be a slow motion train wreck, stop things immediately....
3. Regardless of who it is or how well you know them, it pays to be a bit paranoid especially on things that are irreversable.
ugh. sigh.
Tim
So yesterday I was off work a little early and decided to stop by the body shop down the street from where I live...havent had a good chat there in quite a while. Good guys and have had them do a lot of work for me over the years, even if just shooting something I had prepped. They immediately have 4 guys working on removing the sticker, and saying they do it all the time.....no problem.....have techniques.....etc. I'm sitting there saying that I was just looking for some advice and they say just trust us. Out come some power tools, lots of unmentionable solvents, etc. I couldnt even look any more as I started fearing damage was coming so started talking with the shop manager.
After aboutv 15 minutes I hear 'F*CK!' from one of the guys. Then a bunch of scrambling and 'oh crap' a bunch of times...........and bottom line they not only damaged the clear coat but went down to the primer.
They immediately said they'd repaint the hood for me no charge, and I'm standing there really trying not to go nuclear on them..........
So this morning I brought it in and they have the car now. On the bright side the hood will be pristine, including a new badge, but the aftermarket paint is never exactly the same nor as hard & tough as what it left the factory with. They are sanding it completely down and reshooting mystic blue and new clear coat.
I just had to vent..........I think of all the time polishing, glazing, waxing, sealing for such a beautiful finish and being so careful..........
lessons:
1. Dont ever use permanent stickers on paint.....ever. Heck not even ones that are temporary. And dont let friends either...... :-)
2. If you have a little voice in your head saying this can be a slow motion train wreck, stop things immediately....
3. Regardless of who it is or how well you know them, it pays to be a bit paranoid especially on things that are irreversable.
ugh. sigh.
Tim