How do you deal with bug damage?

imported_NHBFAN

New member
I've detailed two cars this weekend that had bug markings on the front grille and gravel pans. I tried everything to minimize it with no success. I tried 3M tar and wax remover to insure no caucuses were left then hit it with DACP and a cutting pad.



All I managed to accomplish was to make the damage stand out even more.



How do you deal with bug damage?
 
I would imagine show the customer before beginning and let them feel the etching and explain they can't be buffed out.



I'm about to get my front bumper re-painted because of this.
 
JCrawford said:
I would imagine show the customer before beginning and let them feel the etching and explain they can't be buffed out.



I'm about to get my front bumper re-painted because of this.



Yeah, I guess that's all you can do once the damage is through the clearcoat/paint.



It's just really disappointing when you can't fix problem areas and the rest of the car looks great.
 
NHBFAN said:


How do you deal with bug damage?



I get depressed. :(



Our two current cars have no damage, but I tried to help my brother-in-law's totally neglected and love-bug attacked van look better. No dice. Game over. Repaint is the only option.
 
I'm going get some Pro Bug Guard in hopes to prevent some and at least minimize bug splatter
 
like a car nut...I carry some QD or QEW in a spray bottle with an MF and take care of it as soon as I'm stopped....(while the wife rolls her eyes)...
 
reevis said:
like a car nut...I carry some QD or QEW in a spray bottle with an MF and take care of it as soon as I'm stopped....(while the wife rolls her eyes)...





Same here! :D :up :up
 
Bill D said:
I'm going get some Pro Bug Guard in hopes to prevent some and at least minimize bug splatter



I was just going to ask if there were some product to minimize bug damage.



Does Pro Bug Guard do a good job?
 
NHBFAN said:
Yeah, I guess that's all you can do once the damage is through the clearcoat/paint.



It's just really disappointing when you can't fix problem areas and the rest of the car looks great.



yep that's what i'm having to deal with. the previous owner of my truck must have never cleaned the love bugs off, ever. now my whole front bumper is etched. :(
 
NHBFAN, yes, the Pro Bug Guard does work pretty well. however, i just gave my whole gallon of it away. the problem i have with it or as i see it is this - it simply washes off with a strong dose of water. either that water can be sprayed directly on or a simple rain shower can wash it off. that being the case, as far as my customers are concerned, is a problem for me. it's a problem because 99.9% of the time my customers will not go out and rinse the stuff off(bugs included) nor will they reapply another

coat after they've rinsed it off or mother nature has. once it's been washed off - no more protection. i simply tell my clients to at least rinse off the bugs with their hose until i can get to them to correct the problem. my solution now is to carry a spray that dissolves the bugs bodies after they've been smashed on the car. if you wanna try the Pro stuff i wouldn't recommend buying a whole gallon of it, just try the 16oz. bottle. i find my clients tend to do little or nothing and sometimes strange things to their vehicles in between my next appointment with them. no matter how many times you tell them what they can do to help their car - 9 out of 10 times they won't do it anyway. thankfully that is why they call on us to maintain their cars; cause they don't wanna be bothered with it - it's one less thing for them to worry about.
 
sonnydaze1 said:
my solution now is to carry a spray that dissolves the bugs bodies after they've been smashed on the car



sonnydaze1,



Thanks for the info on Pro bug guard.



What solution do you carry to dissolve bug guts?
 
Yes yes do tell what you use to dissolve their acidic tiny guts i would love to know. And will it take the wax off?
 
Bugs are not a problem. Use a High quality paint sealer with an anti corrosive agent. Bugs Love Bugs etc. when they land on your car produce corrosive compound which etch into the paint.



If you use a soap with an acid rain neutralizer they will neutralize the compounds from the bug splater. The polymer sealer with the anti corrosive agent will give you durabliltiy non stick and resistance to the acidic compounds from the bugs.



For removal of the existing problem use a Sure Scrub pad from SM Arnold. They work very good just soap them first before using them. If the paint is blistered corrective messure are necessary.
 
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