Do they not understand paint and clear-coat? Is there some magical barrier of understanding? Did you never colour as a kid, or do any projects that involved some sort of picture? Does this block your understanding of the delicacy of the materials used involving paint and finish? Have you not come across some sort of surface that is rough and abrasive?
It seems so simple to most true car guys/gals. If its not smooth against the skin of cheek it would most likely damage your paint or clear. Sand for example, we all know its rough. So you would assume that it would be detrimental to brush away sand that's accumulated as rubbing it against your paint would cause scratches. Keep this cheek reference in mind as I continue to rant.
At the moment I'm staying in a motel. I don't expect much, I've stayed here before and the kind old european lady that runs it is quite nice. Prices are obviously reasonable. But I feel this sets the tone. This morning I wake up to a giant snowfall, I had planned to go visit my Z4 in storage because of course...I miss it.
The owners husband is outside my door shoveling as I'm leaving. He proceeds to offer to clean off my car which has about 4 or 5 inches snow on it. I decline saying "don't worry about it". What I should have said was, "please for the love of god, don't!". He proceed to then take the shovel and push the snow off the hood of the car. He obviously saw my drop jaw face and reaction to which he says
"dont voorry shovel iz plaztic wont scratch paint". Had this been any other car than my worth nothing winter beater I would have flipped. WTF is he on? Luckily, I really don't care to much about the the paint because I plastidipped it myself before the winter came and the stuff is pretty durable and easy to peel or retouch.
Back to my cheek reference. I should have asked him "would you run the edge of that shovel against your cheek? No? Then don't use it on my car!" Id go so far as to say that the new standard frame reference should be...
IF YOU CANT RUN IT AGAINST YOUR CHEEK OR EYEBALL THEN IT SHOULDN'T BE AGAINST YOUR PAINT.
