Fender flares arrived with scratches all over, normal?

[dondonbabyraptor]

Hello all,

I purchased Bushwacker OE style fender flares. They arrived with scratch and scuff marks all over. Is this normal for flares to be sent like this since people get them painted? Only one made it out relatively okay out of the four. First time purchasing fender flares and bought from Stage3. Thank you.

Warm regards,
Brandon

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[dondonbabyraptor]

Maybe you might know something, Frank. @Stage3Motorsports

Thank you,
Brandon

 

[AzScorpion]

It's hard to tell from the angle on some pics but are they just a light scratch or are they deep? If they're just a surface scratch it shouldn't be an issue as they will get prepped and painted. If they're gouged or creased then I would send them back as the painter will have to do more work costing you more money.

 

[CO2Ranger]

Hello all,

I purchased Bushwacker OE style fender flares. They arrived with scratch and scuff marks all over. Is this normal for flares to be sent like this since people get them painted? Only one made it out relatively okay out of the four. First time purchasing fender flares and bought from Stage3. Thank you.

Warm regards,
Brandon

Mine came scuffed as well. (Not from Stage 3 and not that bad). It looks like they rub against each other in the box and it creates nasty looking scuff marks.

 

[dondonbabyraptor]

It's hard to tell from the angle on some pics but are they just a light scratch or are they deep? If they're just a surface scratch it shouldn't be an issue as they will get prepped and painted. If they're gouged or creased then I would send them back as the painter will have to do more work costing you more money.

Thanks for the help Dave. They are surface scratches mostly if I am correct. What can I do to prep them if you know by chance? I didn’t want to paint them I don’t think. Not realllly trying to spend more money but do you know generally how much it would be to get fender flares painted?

 

[dondonbabyraptor]

Mine came scuffed as well. (Not from Stage 3 and not that bad). It looks like they rub against each other in the box and it creates nasty looking scuff marks.

Appreciate the reply and experience, co2ranger

 

[AzScorpion]

I honestly don't know Brandon. I've never had fender flares but I wouldn't think they'd be all that much but I'm sure being in your area most things are going to be more than in others. As far as getting the scratches out I would ASSume a light wet sand but I'm not positive and would see if someone else who knows more about plastics chimes in.

Maybe you could find one of your fancy stickers in your collection to cover them up? ?

 

[wanted33]

It's really sad you got them that way Brandon. I've found with several things I've ordered (from other suppliers) they just don't pack them well. And, then add the UPS/FedEx people not giving a crap this is what we get these days. I hope you get this remedied to your satisfaction.

 

[OFC Ranger]

No, unfinished ABS should still be smooth.

They should come packaged in sleeves and a box of adequate protection.

Even if you planned to get them painted whoever sent you those would raise your cost at the body shop to smooth all that garbage out.

My Lund SSX OE style flares came smooth as a baby's bottom. Only problem with them was the known fitment issue of the fender markers. They require some shaving of the cavity to fit right. However at $260 for all four it was worth the extra work.

 

[dondonbabyraptor]

No, unfinished ABS should still be smooth.

They should come packaged in sleeves and a box of adequate protection.

Even if you planned to get them painted whoever sent you those would raise your cost at the body shop to smooth all that garbage out.

My Lund SSX OE style flares came smooth as a baby's bottom. Only problem with them was the known fitment issue of the fender markers. They require some shaving of the cavity to fit right. However at $260 for all four it was worth the extra work.

They were packed in sleeves but the box was rather banged up when it arrived, looked very squished/stacked on top of with other boxes... Thank you for your experience and reply, Jack. I was consider the Lund ones too.

 

[dondonbabyraptor]

It's really sad you got them that way Brandon. I've found with several things I've ordered (from other suppliers) they just don't pack them well. And, then add the UPS/FedEx people not giving a crap this is what we get these days. I hope you get this remedied to your satisfaction.

Thanks for the comment Jim. It really is a shame, I don't think it was anything on stage3 part but more so from the mail distributor.. Hit it on the head of the nail, people just don't give a crap no more, especially with the way corporate mail distributors treat their workers. I hope I can figure something out...

 

[dondonbabyraptor]

I honestly don't know Brandon. I've never had fender flares but I wouldn't think they'd be all that much but I'm sure being in your area most things are going to be more than in others. As far as getting the scratches out I would ASSume a light wet sand but I'm not positive and would see if someone else who knows more about plastics chimes in.

Maybe you could find one of your fancy stickers in your collection to cover them up? ?

Appreciate the help anyways Dave. Yeah, it will probably be pricier here. Hmm, yeah hopefully a plastic expert can help.

you best believe if there was a shadow black vinyl fender flare overlay it would of been slapped on and shown on "TODAYS EDITION OF WASTED MONEY ON MODS"

 

[dondonbabyraptor]

Honestly if @Stage3Motorsports can't help here, I will either A) learn how to sand them and hopefully don't mess it up more B) slap plasti dip all over it.

As you can tell plasti dip is my remedy for a lot of aesthetic issues. Dave @AzScorpion has his 303 graphene and damper mascot, mine probably would be a vinyl stickered plasti dip bottle. Kind of like what the kids do with them hydro flasks these days.

 

[Trigganometry]

800 grit wet sanding will get it smoothed out if you’re painting. Just bare plastic will look nasty once it weathers. So prep them all evenly and ether wrap, clear coat satin or paint your color of choice and clear coat. You could get away with graphene but that will require more attention over life cycle. Hope that helps.

 

[AzScorpion]

This might help if you want to try it out. It's for motorcycle plastic but still the same process.

https://www.off-road.com/dirtbike/t...scratches-gouges-and-breaks-part-1-20564.html

FINE SCRATCHES

At this point, you should be ready to handle the fine scratches and finish off the work you've done on the heavy scratches. This called for the Number 2 fine scratch remover. Using #1200 wet/dry sand paper and lots of time and labor, we applied the Number 2 and worked hard.After about 15-20 minutes of work, the plastic was looking good. You can use a power polisher at this point, but use it gently and make sure that you don't have any of the Number 3 heavy scratch remover left on the buffing pad. Clean the plastic thoroughly one more time and now you're ready for the final polishing.

THE FINAL TOUCH
After you've done all your fixing and scratch removal, its time for the last step, and that's making things look shiny and new. This calls for the Novus #1 plastic clean and shine. This requires that you use a clean soft cloth (cotton works best) to buff it out after applying the Number 1. Done right, this eliminates all the hazing and leaves a smooth, clean, greaseless shine.

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