Did I burn my paint? Pics..

Kn0x

New member
Started with a 6 1/2 inch white pad with Optimum polish at 6, nothing. So I moved up to a green pad with Optimum Compound 4 inch at 6. All of a sudden I see this in two spots...



Did I just burn my paint? It seems almost raised and it feels like an orange.



Can it be fixed?





 
Those pictures aren't the greatest...but it looks like surface rust bubbling up under the paint...



I don't know any newer cars off hand that have that big of a body line in the middle...but the image could be fooling me into thinking it's old school. Is it an older truck or car?
 
The spoiler is either plastic or fiberglass and that looks like you melted the paint (burnt it). The paint tends to be thin on those pieces as well.



It is barely noticable. Don't worry about it. Just be careful with that combo on other nonmetal parts of your car. You shouldn't have to worry on metal panels. Post some pics when you're done.
 
If you're using a PC there's no way you burned through the paint, even with a 4".

I second Logan, it looks like rust underneath the paint or maybe poor prep. from the factory.



Anyone else?
 
It just kind of boggles my mind how I could have burned through the paint and yet there are still super light scratches that I didn't even get out surrounding the area I burned through.



Or if it some kind of factory defect, I should take it back to the dealership and have them fix it. I just bought this car brand new this past December.
 
ConglomrationAL said:
If you're using a PC there's no way you burned through the paint, even with a 4".

I second Logan, it looks like rust underneath the paint or maybe poor prep. from the factory.



Anyone else?





A 4" pad on a PC will burn paint..I have done it on a test panel...it will smoke and burn...I believe Accumulator has also burned paint with a 4" pad....they produce alot of heat...



I am very careful on edges and places that may have a thinner paint now...



Al
 
Yeah, you CAN burn paint with the PC. It is VERY hard to do but you can. I burned some paint on my old Civic on a repainted panel that had super soft clear.
 
ConglomrationAL said:
If you're using a PC there's no way you burned through the paint, even with a 4".

I second Logan, it looks like rust underneath the paint or maybe poor prep. from the factory.



Anyone else?



YES YOU CAN!:hairpull



and remeber He was working on a plastic(I assume) spoiler

and that is a lot easier to burn then a metal panel
 
Was the spoiler a dealer install? I don't know much about Subarus, but on a lot of cars around my area the dealerships with bodyshops will offer "incentives" in the way of offering to throw different rims and tires in or even toss a paint-matched spoiler or special decals/emblems on the car. If this was a dealership install, it could be that they didn't do a very good job and I would definately take that sucker in and ask for the finish to be warrantied.



If they ask, you started washing it yourself and while you were starting to wet it down with your garden hose you noticed these spots.
 
I just took my 07 Impreza wagon past one of the other detailers on the board. He pointed out that my OEM spoiler had visible marring/clearcoat removal from what appeared to be post paint wet sanding. I was shocked by the quality on the 'oem' piece and phone the dealer back to ensure that they HAD in fact installed an OEM spoiler.



Call the dealership where you bought it, ask when the regional service rep (person responsable for verifying warranty claims) will be in and show up on the day with your car. Point out the paint failure/defects. Something is telling me that they get plenty of complaints about the paint on the spoiler and he'll likely have it replaced. Judging by the wheel in your avatar it's a 2.5i so the spoiler was dealer installed.



I'm going to try the same.
 
Danase said:
Yeah, you CAN burn paint with the PC. It is VERY hard to do but you can. I burned some paint on my old Civic on a repainted panel that had super soft clear.







+1. I'm not sure who started "The PC can't burn paint" myth, but it's bad information. If used improperly, all powered buffing/polishing tools can cause damage period.



Kn0x: Sorry to hear about this. Don't feel bad, it's part of the learning process. I've burned paint too. You'll either have to live with it, sand/touch it up, or have it re-sprayed. You have to be very careful with painted bumpers, trim and spoilers. It doesn't take much to heat up the paint and cause a boo-boo. No one was injured, so chalk it up to a learning experience.
 
yeah you can for sure, i also produced the same looking marks on a test spoiler. when you use a four inch pad remember that the same pressure is not needed, you don't have to flatten the pad to the pain you also don't have to make such slow passes, keep in mind yourdealing with a lot more concentrated area so lighten up the pad pressure and make your passes a little quicker.
 
keep in mind it took an aweful long time to do that sort of damage though, my guess is you were just trying to do the right thing and make sure that polish was breaking down so you pressured those two spots trying to remove a rids, or something to that affect, your head was in the right place but now you know
 
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