Somebody Spraypainted My New Car!!!

[CorneliousJD]

So I woke up to a big line of blue spraypaint on my car...

I used a little sponge/scrubby pad (usually for dishes) and some hot soapy water with car-wash concentrate in it.

So I started rubbing it with the sponge, and nothing was coming off, I tried just a little bit with the scrubby side of the sponge, and the paint instantly started to lift off, it was doing an amazing job, I quickly proceeded to finish cleaning the vandalism off my car... After getting it all off, I took a step back to see, and make sure that I got everything, when I noticed that the line I scrubbed in now looks dull, the high-gloss finish is gone from that section of my car, how can I get it back!?

[pampos]

Re: Somebody Spraypainted My New Car!!!

Sad to hear that.They have to kill these people...
You have to polish it...If you are going to work by hand i guess Scratch X will do the job...If you are going to use a polisher try some fine polish on a finishing pad.If this is not enough try the fine polish on a polishing pad...
In general try the less aggressive combo first....
If you show us a picture it will help more i guess..

[RaskyR1]

Re: Somebody Spraypainted My New Car!!!

Ouch! Paint thinner may have taken it off with ease. Those scrubby pads would instill some pretty deep scratches. I agree that you should start with the least agressive polish but I'm thinking you may end up needing a rotary on this one. Pics would help so if you can gets some please post.

Rasky

[Murr1525]

Re: Somebody Spraypainted My New Car!!!

You'll want to read through these, and see if you want to work by hand or machine....

Meguiar's 5-Step Paint Care Cycle
Step 1 Wash
Step 2 Clean
Step 3 Polish
Step 4 Protect
Step 5 Maintain

Suggested Products for Taking Care of a New Car

What it Means to Remove a Scratch

How To Remove Swirls By Hand

How to remove a defect by hand with ScratchX

1986 Ford Bronco II - Extreme Makeover

Rotary vs. PC vs. Regular Orbital Buffer

Recommended Products - G100a Dual Action Polisher

Using the G-100 to remove swirls with the Professional Line

Each one, teach one... Ferrari Fiorano 355 F1 Spider

[CorneliousJD]

Re: Somebody Spraypainted My New Car!!!

Alright, I've gotten some photos, its really hard to see though, considering my car is white. (which I suppose is a good thing if it's not that noticeable...)

It's more noticeable in person though than in the photos.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3045/2573016731_66c136c14f_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3123/2573019289_f3f39b307a_o.jpg

I'm sure you guys can see it... its a few inches under the door handles across the entire length of the car!
In case you can't see where it's at, here's a set of photos with the paint on it... as comparison.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/corneliousjd/sets/72157605573137466/

If you need better photos, I might be able to take on at night with the flash on that would make the glossy/non-glossy area's show up alot better.


Please keep in mind I don't have a whole lot of money at this point, i just bought this car, and paid some tuition... So I'm pretty much broke.

Something else to keep in mind: I don't know much about car paint/polish, so you might need to use simpler terms with me... haha!

PS. I'm off to work until 10PM right now... so I hope to see some helpful responses when I get home, you guys have been a great help so far! I hope I can get this sorted out for cheap.

[Murr1525]

Re: Somebody Spraypainted My New Car!!!

Well, if you are close to broke....

Read over the ScratchX threads. A tube of that, some applicators, and a good quality towel or two to remove the product are all you would really need to remove the swirls.

[RDVT4ME]

Re: Somebody Spraypainted My New Car!!!

I would certainly try a claybar. The claybar's was first called overspray clay and used for removing paint overspray. It can't hurt and might solve your problem.

[RaskyR1]

Re: Somebody Spraypainted My New Car!!!

Well, if you are close to broke....

Read over the ScratchX threads. A tube of that, some applicators, and a good quality towel or two to remove the product are all you would really need to remove the swirls.

I concur.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Somebody Spraypainted My New Car!!!

but I'm thinking you may end up needing a rotary on this one.

Depending upon how hard the paint is, how deep the scratches you put in are and your skill level, it may require someone with a rotary buffer to remove the swirls and scratches you've put in.

Just so you know for the future, the correct way to have tried to remove the paint would have been to first try detailing clay. Detailing Clay will remove aboves surface bonded contaminants like spray paint without instilling scratches or removing paint.

If detailing clay didn't work then some type of solvent to dissolve the paint or a paint cleaner like ScratchX or M105

Too late for those option...


The least expensive and easiest thing to try would be ScratchX with some passion behind the pad, if that doesn't' work then M105 Ultra Cut Compound can be used by hand and it's pretty good at this kind of thing and a lot more aggressive than the ScratchX.

M105 only comes in a quart bottle however and it's quite a bit more expensive than a tube of ScratchX. You also have to find a PBE store or order it online whereas ScratchX can be found at just about any auto parts store, Target and/or Wal-Mart.

After you use either ScratchX or M105 to remove the dull hazy look which is actually scratches, then you'll need to apply some wax to protect the paint as neither ScratchX or M105 protect paint as that is not they're jobs.

Be sure to read though all the links Murr1525 posted for you.

These will take you to pictures, prices and descriptions of these products.

ScratchX



M105 Ultra Cut Compound

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: Somebody Spraypainted My New Car!!!

You should of clayed first. But it to late for that. The least expensive way would be using Scratch-x. Make sure you read the links. Then tackle the repair. Good luck.

[CorneliousJD]

Re: Somebody Spraypainted My New Car!!!

Well, I think I'm going to try the ScratchX method. If that doesn't work, I know a guy with a rotary and/or powered buffer and everything (he's an owner of his own shop, who I'm fairly good friends with his son.) So hopefully he'll be able to recommend me to somebody who can help if ScratchX doesn't....

Here are some nighttime pictures of my car, you can more clearly see the scratches put into it...




For more detail see these links, they're the original (2816 x 2112) hi-res photos.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3092/2573802279_20c1a7c167_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3150/2573804113_50319f0c58_o.jpg

If more pictures are desired let me know, it's no trouble to take them at all.

Also, I've seen about 3 or 4 more cars on my street who've gotten hit today, needless to say I'm keeping my car in the back for a while...

And thanks so much for your help everybody, I really really appreciate it... and I'll be sure to read the ScratchX threads before I dive into working on it.

Also, I was told to use a clay bar first, but I wouldn't of had time to get one and use it for at least 3 or 4 days... and everything I read online said the FASTER you act on a spraypainted car, the better, the longer your let it sit, (especially in the 80+ degree weather we have where I live right now, the greater chance it will turn into a professionals job... =/)

[EDIT]Upon reading the ScratchX instructional thread, I now realize this will take me at least a few hours to complete, most likely alot more than that, maybe a few days...

But my question is what are the applicators called and what should I be looking for in a good applicator (in case I can't find Meguiar's) and why is there two (at least there are two in the picture...)? Also what is the "wiping towel" just like a micro-fiber towel? And when should I be using the towel, between applications of ScratchX to remove any product/residue left behind?

andddd how many tubes of ScratchX should I buy, two, three? It seems a tube doesn't go a very long way by how the thread saying you need to work in a few applications per 6x6 inch square.

any and all feedback/suggestions are more than appreciated, I really hope I can fix this...


[Edited for implied inappropriate language. While I can understand your frustration, MOL is a family friendly forum where bad language whether used or implied is not allowed. Thanks, Tim]

[Murr1525]

Re: Somebody Spraypainted My New Car!!!

Well, days is for an entire car.... Though if you really wanted to ensure doing the job right, you could plan one day per panel. But you can probably get your results quicker than that. It looks like it is just kind of that line down those 4 panels?

For that line, you shouldn't need more than two tubes, and I really think one would do it.

What I would probably do is start off with a terry cloth applicator (or an old 100% cotton white athletic sock turned inside out to get to the terry) and do my first 2 or so applications like that. And yes, a microfiber cloth like the Supreme Shine or other decent quality one would be used to remove residue in between applications. Then my next application or two would be with a soft smooth foam pad, like the Hi-Tec Foam applicator pad.

Do you have any sort of other detailing products already? Following up your work with just a cleaner/wax or something would be a good idea to re-wax those sections, and the rest of the car as you have time.

Hope that helps, we can always go into more detail as to how to use ScratchX when you get it.

[CorneliousJD]

Re: Somebody Spraypainted My New Car!!!

Thanks for all your help Murr, I'll start with a tube of ScratchX tomorrow morning, if it's not enough I can always pick up another I guess.

So from what I gather, my process should go like this...

1. Take a 5x5 inch section of the scratch to start with.
2. Put some ScratchX on the terry cloth applicator, and rub it in until the product works itself in.
3. Wipe with a microfiber cloth
4. One or two more applications with the terry cloth, wiping inbetween
5. Two more applications wit ha smooth foam pad.
6. Finish the entire line
7. Wax

Would taking it somewhere to get it buffed/waxed with a motorized buffer be a good idea after i'm done?

I'm sorry if i'm using the word "buffed" wrong, I'm not too big into car detailing yet, I honestly just purchased this new car a few weeks ago. I'm learning a lot from this ordeal though.

[Murr1525]

Re: Somebody Spraypainted My New Car!!!

So from what I gather, my process should go like this...

1. Take a 5x5 inch section of the scratch to start with.
2. Put some ScratchX on the terry cloth applicator, and rub it in until the product works itself in. Kind of smear the 5x5 with the pad to cover it in product, then begin to work in until the product becomes a greasy clear color. You are not working the product in as much as breaking it down, and it takes a fair bit of passion to do so properly. With a car, it should just about be rocking on the springs as you work it in. And smear any product on the edges of the 5x5 back to the middle to work in more.
3. Wipe with a microfiber cloth
4. One or two more applications with the terry cloth, wiping in between
5. Two more applications with a smooth foam pad.
6. Finish the entire line If you are working over a day or two, I would plan to wax what I finished. So try to plan to ScratchX and wax the panels you work on each day.
7. Wax

It is the working in of the product that is exhausting, which is why the panel or two a day recommendation. As you get tired, your work will tend to fall off, which doesn't help anything.

Would taking it somewhere to get it buffed/waxed with a motorized buffer be a good idea after I'm done? If the ScratchX removes the defects, you wont have to. If it removes some/alot of it, then you have a decision to make. If after your first 5x5, with several properly applied applications, you see little or no improvement, then the machine may be needed to improve at all.

You'll get the terminology, don't worry.

[CorneliousJD]

Re: Somebody Spraypainted My New Car!!!

Awesome, thanks so much!

Is there any reason I shouldn't start in the middle of the second panel? (that's where the scratches are the worst... if I can get it to work there, I know I will get the rest out!)