I may have messed up: Snow scraper tragedy.

[CeeMatt]

A few months ago it snowed here in NYC. I figured if i take it gently with the snow scraper on the hood and trunk (it was plastic and pretty smooth so I thought it would be fine), it would clear the snow off pretty quickly. Comes to find out it left a whole bunch of marks on the car. I would consider them more like scuffs than scratches. I've taken it to the wash a few times but that didn't do much. Do you think a high quality wax like Simonize would take of that or did I do so much damage a new paint job is needed?

[Gagt518]

A few months ago it snowed here in NYC. I figured if i take it gently with the snow scraper on the hood and trunk (it was plastic and pretty smooth so I thought it would be fine), it would clear the snow off pretty quickly. Comes to find out it left a whole bunch of marks on the car. I would consider them more like scuffs than scratches. I've taken it to the wash a few times but that didn't do much. Do you think a high quality wax like Simonize would take of that or did I do so much damage a new paint job is needed?

:shake:

[TA^Guy]

You seriously thought that something strong enough to scrape away ice wouldn't harm your paint....

[Vimjah]

Just so you know, snow brushes are evil and will harm your paint. If the scratches are visibly white and you can feel them with your fingernail if you drag your fingers over lightly then you need new paint, if not then it should polish out. Go to a professional detail shop and have them take a look. A decent high speed polish should run you about $100 or so.

[tenspeed]

Get some polishing compound - it'll buff right out.

Wax to finish it off.

[curtisjade1]

:needpics:

[PontiacGA]

NEVER brush snow off your car! I always take just enough of the snow off to let a thin layer on and then park it in the sun. Takes but an hour to melt off. I dont even scrape my windows.

[99blackSE]

A leaf blower is all I use, I never touch the car at all. Brush = glass only next time, hard way to learn though = \

[curtisjade1]

I don't think he said he was using the brush I think he was saying that he used the scraper end of the brush to clear off the snow in that case he may not be able to buff it out thats why I said that pics would be nice

[coupe]

OMG i just about had a heart attack reading that, then after that i had this reaction

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d104/Rand81/talk%20forum%20goofs/Picard.jpg

[tenspeed]

..... if i take it gently with the snow scraper on the hood and trunk ....... Do you think a high quality wax like Simonize would take of that or did I do so much damage a new paint job is needed?

I wouldn't think that new paint is needed. Try a cleaner/wax first to remove the marks. If they don't come off, try some polishing compound. It could be plastic deposited by the scraper or it could be some marks in the clear coat.

[99blackSE]

I don't think he said he was using the brush I think he was saying that he used the scraper end of the brush to clear off the snow in that case he may not be able to buff it out thats why I said that pics would be nice

Yeah sorry I should have clarified there, the brush & scraper I would only use on glass.

[CeeMatt]

:needpics:

I was waiting for somebody to say that.:P Its raining so I can't take pictures now. But running my fingers across the marks, it feels smooth. I didn't dig hard with it. I just tried to skim the surface, so hopefully it didn't do any damage. The paint was far from perfect when I first got it.

[Nighthawk243]

In some places, you are legally obligated to brush the car off before you drive (to avoid throwing it on the people behind you).

I personally would rather risk getting pulled over.

[Pontiac]

In some places, you are legally obligated to brush the car off before you drive (to avoid throwing it on the people behind you).

I personally would rather risk getting pulled over.

I don't know if its a legality issue here or not, but I do it just because I HATE having snow blow up on the windshield just from when I'm driving! Same with the rear window. When I had the Camaro, due to the slope of the rear glass, it'd pile snow up rather nicely. Since then I've just been in the habit of taking the snow off.

Besides, when it gets warm out for the hour a day (as of late) the car comes out nice and clean, relatively speaking, and now white crap on it. ;)

[CeeMatt]

Well...here are some pics. You may have to look really hard because there was some rain and a lot of reflection. Its the gray lines in the pics.

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj205/ceematt/IMAGE_168.jpg

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj205/ceematt/IMAGE_169.jpg

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj205/ceematt/IMAGE_170.jpg

[Nighthawk243]

I don't know if its a legality issue here or not, but I do it just because I HATE having snow blow up on the windshield just from when I'm driving! Same with the rear window. When I had the Camaro, due to the slope of the rear glass, it'd pile snow up rather nicely. Since then I've just been in the habit of taking the snow off.

Besides, when it gets warm out for the hour a day (as of late) the car comes out nice and clean, relatively speaking, and now white crap on it. ;)

Its not a common law. Infact, it wasn't an issue in Pennsylvania until just recently when the law was passed to make it a violation to drive with snow on the car. If I recall correctly, it coincided with the passing of the law to make it illegal to drive without your headlights on in the rain.

[Nighthawk243]

From the pictures, it looks light. Does it catch your fingernail? If not, then its probably not through the clear coat, and is fixable.

[Vimjah]

looks like it should polish out no problem :)

[CeeMatt]

Thanks a lot guys. Nope it doesn't catch my fingernail so there's hope afterall :)

[coupe]

Actually thats pretty bad, fixable, but not by hand.

[CARS GONE WILD]

meh, i've scraped ice off some parts of my car before, never had anything bad like that happen, though.

regardless, my paint is a myriad of swirls. :D

[CeeMatt]

Yea I looked at it again...my nail does catch...so its the hard way to fix it for me. But at least it looks great from a distance. :p