Originally posted by Ron Ketcham
In the many professional trade journal articles I have written, I have addressed the acids on paint concern several times. For the last 15 of my many years in the business of vehicle paint, trim etc, I have studied, consulted, etc on this issue
Bird droppings are acid!
The paint, non clear or clear is porus! It is a resin system and the system may be eaten apart by acids when H2O and heat are present. The dark metallic basecoat colors are the first to experience etching, then the dark non metallic basecoat colors.
The use of QD's is not recommended by this writer! You must get the acids out of the clear!
For this, you need a quick way to dry and draw them out.
Have a glass cleaner with a high Isopropal Alcohol content in the trunk! There is a more certain way to get it out, but that is to involved for when you come out and find the dropping.
Even doing as I am about to write will not guareentee that you will not experience some etching!
As soon as you see the dropping, wet it throughly with the alcohol based glass cleaner, no ammonia, no butyls in it. Both will accelerate the reaction of the acids.
No waxes, no dimethal silicones, etc when you clean and attempt to draw out the acids, they will only serve to lock them into the porusity and allow them to concentrate, waiting for some heat and H2O to activate them.
You may even take a spray bottle and mix rubbing alcohol and water, at a 50/50 or even a 70% IPA and 30% water.
Soak the area!! Let it set for at least 2 to 3 minutes so it may penetrate and since the alcohol is a drying agent, it will pull the acids up and out , the water in the mix is not an issue!
Once it has liquified the dropping totally, wipe off with a soft cloth and respray and let set again for a couple of minutes, then wipe dry.
Will it stop it everytime, NO, but then the damage to the clear may already be in place, will it remove all the acids, that depends of so many factors that it is impossible to determine.
Nothing in the world is perfect, including this, but based upon my 15 years of working with vehicle manufacturers, the paint manufacturers, the port operations, the dealerships, detailers etc, it is has been found to be the most effective method.
Ketch
D) up.
