Steam cleaning paint?

[hood rich]

I've been thinking about this too - though more along the lines of door jambs etc rather than the main bodywork. I wonder if a combination of a foam gun and steam cleaner would work well? Use the foam gun to apply and aid the shampoo to sit on the bodywork then "rinse" off with the steam cleaner?



I would have throught a steam cleaner could also be useful for cleaning exterior trim/glass. I'm currently trying to find a steam cleaner on ebay (UK) for a good price - unfortunately they seem very popular and bidding gets a bit manic towards the end of auctions

what would be the benefit to steaming your paint? save time maybe? it's not hard or time consuming to wash a car by hand and I would think that washing would do a better job than steaming. I use my K'Archer to prep cars.... door jambs, wheel wells(sp?), engine bay, window seals, etc.... and it kicks ***. saves me a lot of time and does a better job. i prep with the steam cleaner first then wash it by hand.



too bad you're having such a tough time finding a steam cleaner... i just sold my Landa for $1k and it was in awesome shape.

I saw a guy at a car show once using a steamer on his wheels. Didn't seem to hurt them at all.

i spray the wheels down with wheel acid and rinse with my K'Archer.... the wheels come out almost brand new looking every time... however you can't use acid on all wheels.

 

[hood rich]

i think people are getting the household steamer units and professional steam cleaners mixed up here... there is a huge difference and I sense a lot of confusion on this thread. i wouldn't use one of those cheap steamers meant for getting wrinkles out of my clothes and stains of my counter tops on any of my cars or client's cars for that matter.

 

[Lowejackson]

Well I tried steaming the badges on the Merc today and it did best part of nothing other than soften the glue holding them on - very dissapointed. Even after an application of solvent it made no real impact on them. Agitating with a brush didn't help matters either. I did take some photos but they show no difference so I can't be bothered to upload them.



So far my steamer has definitely been a waste of money...unless of course I got a duff one?



Now I have the slight issue of getting in and sround the decals clean...



Ben

Thanks Ben, it showed my theory to be false but thank you for your efforts :up

 

[brokentelephone]

That would be great Ben. I wonder if shampoo would be necessary with a steamer but my gut feeling (based upon no experience) is that it should as it would allow the detergent to lift and suspend the dirt in the water solution.

I tried my steamer on really dirty wheels but it didnt work. I have a ladybug steamer btw:

 

[PhilS]

So far my steamer has definitely been a waste of money...unless of course I got a duff one?

Ben, what steamer do you have? After reading a thread by Anthony Orosco where he used a steam cleaner very successfully, I've been looking to get one. Currently my search is narrowed down to a Polti Vaporetto 2400/3000 or a Karcher, like the SC1502.



Cheers,

Phil

 

[benpocock]

I've got the Karcher SC1122, which I think the 1502 is replacing. It's basically their bigger domestic one, and whilst I hate the fact it is domestic, it has the exact same steam temperature and pressue as their commercial DE4002 unit, but without the benefit of two tanks and the vapour control. I'm going to hire a DE4002 and see if it's any better than the SC1122 in terms of its performance, but if not, I can't see me using a steamer for much more again.



Ben

 

[Peter J. Porter]

For those who wish to see a demonstration check out these sights.





www.daimer.com/comfiles/pages/28.shtml



www.steamjetcarwash.com/pages/1/index.htm

Watching those guys rubbing the finish of those cars made me :shocked :soscared:, especially that Black Mercedes



I can understand that the steam does a nice job breaking down, and loosening dirt, but without a rinse phase, that dirt is still just sitting there on the paint. In those videos, they just rubbed whatever they dissolved pretty forcefully into the paint. Those finishes may be clean, but they have to be swirled beyond belief. :sadpace: