First Scratch

Yesterday I went to pick up my wife at the train station. As she started open the door I said becareful with the light pole, as I was parked on an incline. As she was getting on the truck, she let the door go, which banged the metal light post. I gave her a big speech about been more careful... There was no mark on the door.

30 minutes later, I was getting on the truck after a stop. When I closed the door, the seat belt buckle was caught by the door. The result, 2 scratches on the inside frame of the door, on top of the spec label. One of the scratches is very deep.

I was thinking of stopping at the dealer to get some touch-up paint.

Any recommendations, besides being nicer to my wife?

------------------
2001 Xterra SE
4X4 Auto
Aztec Red

The first one is always the one that hurts most...

Best bet, get some touch up paint and apply it with a match, not the brush that comes with it.

If it's still within the top or color coat, get a polishing wax and try to take the scratch out a bit, then follow it with good pure wax.

Then just try to forget about it...

------------------
2001 Solar Yellow SE 4x4 V6 5spd

I feel your pain. Follow BP's instruction.

------------------
There is a fine line between "addiction" and "obsession".

i would just stick with the later part of being nicer to your wife. a little scrath on the inside of the truck no less is not a huge deal. no need to fret a bunch if it will only be visible to you.

Thanks for the recommendations.

If there is such a thing as a best place for a first scratch, this is it. I'll try to be more careful when closing the door...and nicer to my wife.

------------------
2001 Xterra SE
4X4 Auto
Aztec Red

The match trick, that's with the "torn" end of a paper match, correct?

Brent

yes that is correct. it works very well. i have to do it in quite a few places this weekend.

------------------
Synchro (aka Kirk)
synchro@xterraoffroad.com
2000 Xterra SE, Alpine Green, 4x4, ARB, 32" BFG MTs

Always be nice to your wife

Leslie kicked a huge dent in the Xterra at our last Memorial Day party (I was bad and loaded up a porn DVD on the big screen while her family was here, my excuse was Jaegermeister).

Somehow, she got a 1 ct. diamond ring out of the whole thing.

The dent eventually sucked itself out as we left for GOX in July after loading up the X in the hot sun for 2 hours, then cooling it down with the AC.

------------------
Regards,
Ian

I've heard that mentioned before. A paper match right? What am I saying? A wooden one wouldn't work very well would it. And what else is there?

Anyway, why a match. As I said, I've seen it mentioned. However I don't know the reason. Could you explain for those of us who have scratches, rock chips , etc to fix? Pleeeaaase.



------------------
later,
Rob

2000 Super Black SE 4x4, 5spd
=========================
"not all those who wander are lost"
-J.R.R. Tolkien

Ouch! I've known people to get divorced over less.

What's that saying? Hell hath no fury...

------------------
later,
Rob

2000 Super Black SE 4x4, 5spd
=========================
"not all those who wander are lost"
-J.R.R. Tolkien

This happens to me a lot. I have reported it as a problem on the board but have never heard from anyone else with the problem. The seat belts twists when I take it off which prevents it from rolling up which means the buckle is hanging loose and gets stuck in the door when I slam it. Bummer. I am starting to remember to check but still a bummer.

------------------
Superblack 01 XE
5 Speed

Could someone explain why using a match works best, this is the first I've ever heard this. My Great Dane put two nice sized scratches on my rear door and was about to touch it up until I read BP's post...Hopefully another useful tidbit I'll learn from this club?

------------------
"American beer is alot like making love in a rowboat- it's f**king close to water."

Try taking it off exactly how you put it on, but in reverse.

Most of us are in a hurry, and unhook it, and let go of it while swinging a leg out the door.

Unhook it, and hold it as it goes back up over your shoulder. It takes a few more seconds, but shouldn't end up in the door frame.

------------------
Regards,
Ian

The brush usually holds too much paint. When it's applied, it forms a sort of "bubble" of paint, which will be too high compared with the surrounding paint.

The end of a match without the goop, that is, the torn end of a paper match... Holds just enough paint to dab in there.

The trick is to build up the paint, rather than have one big gloop of it. This way, later on you can just wax over the whole ordeal and it'll mostly disappear. Whereas if there's too much paint, you'd have to wet sand it down. The match also offers more control.

------------------
2001 Solar Yellow SE 4x4 V6 5spd