Spots won't come off!!

G

golfdude

New member
So, I am detailing this client's pick-up, and there are little, 1/16th of an inch dashes all over the driver's side panels. It's definitely not tar, not bugs, not dirt. It is black in color. It's really annoying and it is killing the overall look of my polishing regiment. Before polishing, I tried a clay bar, car wash soap, tarminator, and zep citric degreaser. Then, I took a bug sponge and vigorously scrubbed a small area. The dashes started to come out but at the cost of heavy micromarring. Basically, I am NOT doing this over the area b/c it is not worth it to heavily scratch the area. It seems that the same matter was on the rubber trim and chrome side steps. On those surfaces, the matter easily came off with a clay bar and some degreaser. But a clay bar (and degreaser or any other liquid in my arsenol) on the paint will not remove this stuff. Here's the only thing that might help. The owner of the vehicle cuts grass for a living. Maybe it's some sort of material from being around that? Any suggestions? I don't think pics would help at all, but I'll try to take some tomorrow. Thanks
 
It could be crack filler/sealer... used to seal cracks in the asphalt on the roads. It is heated to a high temperature and formulated to dry quickly. It is a ***** to get off. :o
 
Try DuPont's Prep Sol, Meguiar's Body Solvent (from their Detailer line) or mineral spirits.





Mix up a solution of car wash soap and water. Spray the panel, let it dwell and then using the bug sponge dipped in the soapy water ( it will act like a lubricant and help to avoid micromarring) start rubbing the spots on the panel. You may have to go over the panel a few times to get it all. Follow up with the least abrasive product that will remove any swirls and marring, then apply your LSP.



Good luck and let us know how it came out.
 
R U sure it's above surface and not below surface (check by putting your hand in a ziplock if you're not sure). A majority of polishes will leave this pattern of gashes you are describing in black paint. Did you polish via PC? What polish?
 
Yeah you def need a PC with a sonus 3 pad and I would recommend Mazerna power gloss after the clay bar process has been done well over the whole car. But if your not a professional take it too one. Sounds like your in over your head at this point.
 
The spots are above the surface. My nail hits them when I go over the surface. These spots are not from me...they came with the truck. Once again, the owner uses this truck to trailor around his mowing equipment if that helps at all. No Sonus pad will remove them. Optimum Hyper Compound will not remove them with an Edge 2000 Orange or Green pad. No PC pad/compound combo will remove them.



Gonzo...where can I get mineral spirits? I need something that is easily available locally.



Here are some pics (notice the spots):









Thanks!
 
Gonzo...where can I get mineral spirits? I need something that is easily available locally.
Click to expand...





Any place that sells paint.... the local hardware store, Home Depot, Lowes, etc.
 
I see now - those look a lot bigger than 1/16" though. Try the spirits first, but if you had to, you could spot treat with a body solvent (I even like Goof Off)...will dull the areas, but nothing a quick polish won't take care of.
 
[quote name='xfire']The spots are above the surface. My nail hits them when I go over the surface. These spots are not from me...they came with the truck. Once again, the owner uses this truck to trailor around his mowing equipment if that helps at all. No Sonus pad will remove them. Optimum Hyper Compound will not remove them with an Edge 2000 Orange or Green pad. No PC pad/compound combo will remove them.





Yeah, even if a wool pad via rotary would take care of it, I don't believe in using abrasive methods to remove bonded conaminants anyways - if clay won't do it, then go to chemicals...
 
Advanced Autoparts salesperson said that they have a product similar to DuPont Prep Sol. BUT, he says that I should not use it for my intended purpose b/c it will STRIP MY CLEARCOAT!!! The salesperson mentioned that this stuff is designed to prepare a surface for paint. Is this true? I don't want to screw-up and pay for a paint job! Is the Prep Sol stuff safe to use for my intended purpose of removing these stubborn spots?
 
xfire said:
Advanced Autoparts salesperson said that they have a product similar to DuPont Prep Sol. BUT, he says that I should not use it for my intended purpose b/c it will STRIP MY CLEARCOAT!!! The salesperson mentioned that this stuff is designed to prepare a surface for paint. Is this true? I don't want to screw-up and pay for a paint job! Is the Prep Sol stuff safe to use for my intended purpose of removing these stubborn spots?
Click to expand...



The guy at the parts store probably tried to sell you lacquer thinner... that will damage the paint.



Prep sol and mineral spirits are safe to use.
 
So, I bought some mineral spirits and some Goo gone. I did what Gonzo recommended I do, and nothing happened. I attempted the fix multiple times, using all sorts of pressures applied to the bug sponge without much improvement. I guess on this one I have lost. The owner of the vehicle came by and kept on telling me how good of a job I did and to ignore the spots, so that's what I will do. Oh well, you can't win all of them. Unless of course, someone suggests something else???
 
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