Touch up paint came off???

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n2_space

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Ok, this one is a new one on me. I detailed an 03 Tahoe for a guy about 3 weeks ago. He has run it through a popular car wash chain (mike's for those that know of it) the whole time he has had it. One day when he ran it through, it scratched up the side of it, even though they claim they didn't (and they gave him a free wash for it :rolleyes: ).



Fast forward to 3 weeks ago I detailed it for him, and he gave me a bottle of touch up paint to fix the scratches. I did as I have time and time before, used an #0000 artist brush with thin layers, proper prep before the painting, etc. I used Meg's 2000 unigrit to level, and DACP or 1z UP with a cutting pad to elminate the sanding marks, followed by #80 with an orange LC pad. Topper was #16.



Fast forward to today, and he gives me a call and said he ran it through Mike's again, and he sees scratches, pretty sure it's the same ones (I haven't seen it yet, but am going up to look on Tuesday). He thinks the paint ran off in the car wash (first time he has washed it since it was detailed). He wasn't upset, and doesn't think it is my fault, but more curious, as am I... my guess is something with the concentration of something in their soap. Like I mentioned, I have never had touch up paint come off (much less from a car wash) and explained and he understood he was sanded, polished, etc. Either that or the paint was bad. Has anyone else ever had this happen? Any ideas? Here are a couple pics of a before and after on one of the scratches for reference.



post-41-1115514009.jpg




post-41-1115514146.jpg
 
I can't imagine the paint washing off , after the wash scratching his truck the first time why go back for more . :nixweiss











Thankyou ! May I have another ~!
 
Rollman said:
I can't imagine the paint washing off , after the wash scratching his truck the first time why go back for more . :nixweiss











Thankyou ! May I have another ~!
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Exactly my thought. I am guessing it was more srcatching, but :nixweiss I'll find out Tuesday. If it isn't that, maybe the paint he gave me was bad :nixweiss
 
I've removed touchup paint before with PG and an orange pad via Cyclo (not deliberately :angry), so it doesn't surprise me that a very harsh "not-so-touchless" carwash could do it. After all, its capable of leaving much deeper marring than my machine, so I dont doubt that it could have taken the paint off. Don't forget, it doesn't completely cure for a month or so (maybe more, don't quote me on the exact # of days)
 
My dad's pickup (black) somehow got some pretty deep scratches on the roof, which I filled in with touch up paint about six months ago. I prepped the surface with alcohol and everything like you are supposed to, and I just noticed the other day that the touch up paint is completely gone and the scratches are fully visible again.



I know for a fact that my dad goes through those horrible gas station car washes and stuff, so it's highly likely that's what stripped it off.
 
Thanks for the replies all :) I feel a little better now :) Still going to go check it out.



themightytimmah: Yes, I warned him of it, it's been 3 weeks, so I guess he figured close enough. I warn all my customers that you are going to scratch the paint again and strip wax faster using those washes, and 99% of them still say that they will, they are too lazy to wash them themselves. I have had maybe two or three take my recommendations and spend a few bucks for some real car wash, mitts, and towels (I don't sell them, I just tell them what to get).
 
**UPDATE**



I met up with him yesterday, and the places I painted are fine, they are new scratches. The "Thank you, may I please have another" is definately the case here. He literally has probably 4 times as many now. He is going to shchedule a time after his vacation for another round of touch up fun.
 
question for you.. how long do you wait for each layer of touchup paint? i read on the autupia guide to wait 3-4 hours between layers? maybe you didnt let it sit long enough per layer.
 
Reflectionz said:
question for you.. how long do you wait for each layer of touchup paint? i read on the autupia guide to wait 3-4 hours between layers? maybe you didnt let it sit long enough per layer.
Click to expand...



Yep, read above a couple posts ;) I checked the car out, and it was fine, the scratches were all new (I had pics so we could tell). He has a follow up appointment with me after his vacation to fix the new ones :xyxthumbs
 
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