Paint protection

Submitted: Sunday, Dec 14, 2008 at 09:35
ThreadID: 64253 Views:2126 Replies:5 FollowUps:4
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Further to my last posting, before departing on my Telegraph Track trip, I enquired on this forum about paint protection, as I was going to be driving through lots of overgrown tracks, and received a heap of good advice.
I chose a product called Auto Skin, which cost me about $55 for a litre. It appears to be similar to PVA woodworking glue. I applied it with a sponge roller and gave the sides of the wagon about 3 coats - by the time I had finished one coat, it was dry enough to start again and re-apply the next one. It eventually dried clear with a stippled finish, though in rain, it went a bit milky. It dried to a pretty tough coating, and was only moved by a hail storm in a few isolated places.
On return, a quick spray with the hose to soften the skin, and I was able to pull the skin off in large sheets, leaving the paint as new underneath, totally unscathed. From previous experience with paint damage after driving through these conditions, I was most impressed with the product, and the money spent was nothing compared with the re-work I would have had to do to the paintwork. I can certainly recommend it (no financial or other interest in the product at all)
cheers,
Gerry
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Reply By: Member - Mick O (VIC) - Sunday, Dec 14, 2008 at 10:12

Sunday, Dec 14, 2008 at 10:12
It's great stuff alright Gerry. I couldn't get the Auto-skin this year so used a comparable product and only managed to get one coat on before hitting the rough stuff. It still did an amazing job at protecting the duco.

Mick
''We knew from the experience of well-known travelers that the
trip would doubtless be attended with much hardship.''
Richard Maurice - 1903

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Reply By: Member - Andrew (QLD) - Sunday, Dec 14, 2008 at 10:21

Sunday, Dec 14, 2008 at 10:21
Just make sure you get rid of ALL of the product joc, as it bakes on after some time and is virtually impossible to get off. I believe they recommend that you don't leave it on for any longer than 3 months in any case(that use to be the recommendation, not sure now)

Andrew
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Follow Up By: Member - joc45 (WA) - Sunday, Dec 14, 2008 at 10:58

Sunday, Dec 14, 2008 at 10:58
Hi Andrew,
Yes, the mfr recommends not leaving it on for more than about 6 weeks. Not sure I'd want to leave it longer, as after 3 weeks of dust and mud, the skin didn't look all that pretty! But it certainly was effective!
Gerry
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Follow Up By: Member - Andrew (QLD) - Sunday, Dec 14, 2008 at 11:19

Sunday, Dec 14, 2008 at 11:19
I had some on the roof which was missed and yes it was near on impossible to remove. This was after a trip of 5 weeks away, in a hot environment, which probably accelerated the evaporation of some ingredients, and the heat that a roof receives.

Some of the area that i was travelling (one trip inparticular) required traversing tracks overgrown, hence the roof protection.

Andrew
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Reply By: Member - Stephen L (SA) - Sunday, Dec 14, 2008 at 10:33

Sunday, Dec 14, 2008 at 10:33
Hi Gerry
Sounds a great product. From what I am led to believe, is it true that they do not advise to use on the bonnet. I gave read in the forum a long time back, someone having all the trouble in the world getting it of his bonnet. The heat from the motor baked it on. I did not hear how he got on.

Cheers

Stephen
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Follow Up By: Member - joc45 (WA) - Sunday, Dec 14, 2008 at 10:56

Sunday, Dec 14, 2008 at 10:56
Hi Stephen,
As well as doing the sides, I did about 300mm in onto the bonnet, and similar at the top of the windscreen as I expected branches to scratch that area as well. In the end, I had no problems removing the skin from the bonnet, but I only had the product on for a bit over 3 weeks. They recommend not leaving it on for more than about 6 weeks.
What they do recommend is putting a bit extra on the edges, so that there is a clear line so that it pulls away cleanly at the edges. This worked well in practice. Where very thin bits did stay behind, a bit of extra water and a fingernail got it off pretty easily.
But the bulk of the skin came away cleanly like peeling gladwrap.
Gerry
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Reply By: Peter McG (Member, Melbourne) - Sunday, Dec 14, 2008 at 13:48

Sunday, Dec 14, 2008 at 13:48
You can get that really hard to shift bit off with a rag and metho. Softens it up and doesn't leave a trace. I've used it for the last 2 years. Great product and a litre does 2 cars.

Peter
AnswerID: 339669

Reply By: Member - Royce- Sunday, Dec 14, 2008 at 18:30

Sunday, Dec 14, 2008 at 18:30
I've gone the other way about things. Let the truck get lots of scratches and dings to show where you have been, and add to them whenever you go somewhere interesting.


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Follow Up By: Motherhen - Sunday, Dec 14, 2008 at 21:46

Sunday, Dec 14, 2008 at 21:46
My sentiments exactly Royce, although this skin does sound like a good product. We tried to get something to protect the paint work of the very well maintained F250 before we took our maiden voyage in it - wanting to tackle the Holland Track. We abandoned the idea of doing the track in full after getting quite a few scratches. Otherwise unless it leaks, let the vehicle show off the scratches and dents with pride.

Motherhen
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