Cleaning Around Emblems - (w/o emblem removal)

[TimG]

Re: Cleaning Around Emblems - (w/o emblem removal)

Thanks for the great suggestion guys! . I'll try that once I drop by her house this weekend.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Cleaning Around Emblems - (w/o emblem removal)

Hmm, I'm wondering what kind of bush might work best--Rhododendron, Juniper, Forsythia? The possibilities are almost endless.

Sorry, couldn't resist ...

--Roger the Shrubber

Sometimes spell check doesn't help....

I fixed my error... thanks....

[akimel]

Re: Cleaning Around Emblems - (w/o emblem removal)

Take either a cleaner/wax or a paint cleaner, or even a cleaner/polish and use it very wet in the build-up area by scrubbing it using whatever you can get in to the tight area, for example a bush of some sort.

Hmm, I'm wondering what kind of bush might work best--Rhododendron, Juniper, Forsythia? The possibilities are almost endless.

Sorry, couldn't resist ...

--Roger the Shrubber

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Cleaning Around Emblems - (w/o emblem removal)

There is no easy what to clean a build-up like shown in your picture, even the hard way won't be easy.

This isn't a great procedure and sometimes doesn't work but it's worked for me a few times for things like this but it isn't' easy, it isn't quick and it isn't fool-proof as you're going to introduce something that you then have to remove.

Take either a cleaner/wax or a paint cleaner, or even a cleaner/polish and use it very wet in the build-up area by scrubbing it using whatever you can get in to the tight area, for example a brush of some sort.

The idea is to get the liquid chemical cleaners onto the build up and agitate the build-up with the chemical cleaners and the brush. Then using every imaginable way available to you, wipe and/or remove the gunk after agitation.

Removing the gunk could be wiping out with a cloth, microfiber or terry cloth, cotton swabs, foam swaps, a blast of water from your garden hose, vacuuming out with a wet/dry vacuum using a small tip. (I once made a small tip by using some duct tape to affix a piece of clear plastic tubing to the end of the vacuum hose).

Again, without removing the emblem, you need to get some kind of liquid in to and onto the residue build-up you want to remove, (often times is wax residue left by some other person), use the product heavy so it's real wet, somehow agitate the chemical against the build-up and then somehow remove the entire mess when you're done.

There's no fast, easy fool-proof way to do this but with some creativity it can be done. Of course if you're doing this kind of work for paying customer then weigh the time and effort involved against what your charging and any benefit to going above and beyond the call of duty for the customer. And of course, explaining to the customer what's involved and having them say, "Skip it" is always a good option too.

If the build-up of whatever the residue is around the emblem happened under their ownership then it's possible it will just happen again even if you remove it unless the circumstances under which the build-up happens has changed.

Kind of like it doesn't do your customer any good to remove all the swirls out of their car's paint if they're going to run the car through a brush style car wash once a week after you're finished detailing it.

[mike_svt]

Re: Cleaning Around Emblems - (w/o emblem removal)

If you ever get the vehicle back to clean, how about a Qtip w/ M105? It can be used by hand to get into nooks and crannies, which looks like what you need

[akimel]

Re: Cleaning Around Emblems - (w/o emblem removal)

eyezack87 found these at michaels in the paint brush department for around $4 IIRC.

That is called a stippling or stippler brush. It looks very similar, doesn't it, to the SwissVax detailing brush. I found on the web a site that sells similar brushes at reasonable prices: Airebrush Stippling Brushes. I have not ordered any yet, as I am presently set with brushes, but perhaps someone would like to chance on them.

[RaskyR1]

Re: Cleaning Around Emblems - (w/o emblem removal)

I wonder if the adhesive has actaully bonded with the CC?

Were they ever removed and reappled at some point? I've seen body shops put them back on with some sort of super glue!

[TimG]

Re: Cleaning Around Emblems - (w/o emblem removal)

Have you tried using a plastic razor like they have on ADS.

Since it seems like you need something stiffer then a brush, q-tip, etc. Maybe if you spray some qd and carefully use a plastic razor blade. Just the edge. It should not induce any scratches, but it should be stiff enough to get the dirt out. Just typing out loud.

Had the same idea. Plastic Razor and some QD, gently scrape it off. But unfortunately car has already been picked up by the owner. She eventually was ok with it.

If it were my vehicle, I would be more concerned about the scratches in the "H" rather than a little residue. If the owner does not notice that, she probably will not notice the reside. Maybe you are concerned needlessly.

yeah...its just bugging me to see those yellowish stains around the emblems (the picture is only a sample of the problem and is not the actual car's emblem) After 8-10 hours of solid machine polishing, she only notice its super clean in the inside

Anyhow, thanks everyone for the good ideas.


Tim

[angeloabbattista]

Re: Cleaning Around Emblems - (w/o emblem removal)

You could try a Dremel with a polishing felt. I haven't tried it so can't speak from experience. Just a suggestion.

[Carfire]

Re: Cleaning Around Emblems - (w/o emblem removal)

Have you tried using a plastic razor like they have on ADS.

[Blueline]

Re: Cleaning Around Emblems - (w/o emblem removal)

If it were my vehicle, I would be more concerned about the scratches in the "H" rather than a little residue. If the owner does not notice that, she probably will not notice the reside. Maybe you are concerned needlessly.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: Cleaning Around Emblems - (w/o emblem removal)

Since it seems like you need something stiffer then a brush, q-tip, etc. Maybe if you spray some qd and carefully use a plastic razor blade. Just the edge. It should not induce any scratches, but it should be stiff enough to get the dirt out. Just typing out loud.

[Nappers]

Re: Cleaning Around Emblems - (w/o emblem removal)

Thanks Aaron. But I've tried that with ADS brush and some Last Touch. Didnt even budge the darn thing

If its my ride, I'll debadge it quicker that you can say Meguiars.

Bummer, need a tiny PC/Rotary to get in those

I've seen those little foam ended sticks, maybe a paint cleaner (DC1) maybe......

Doubt anyone would notice but you and the other 20,000+ members here on MOL!

[TimG]

Re: Cleaning Around Emblems - (w/o emblem removal)

To add, I have the Meguiar's double ended brush and when I get wax/polish stuck in the emblem, I just QD and scrub it out, haven't run into any trouble yet, the brush has pretty stiff bristles.

Give it a try, never know.....

Thanks Aaron. But I've tried that with ADS brush and some Last Touch. Didnt even budge the darn thing

If its my ride, I'll debadge it quicker that you can say Meguiars.

[Nappers]

Re: Cleaning Around Emblems - (w/o emblem removal)

To add, I have the Meguiar's double ended brush and when I get wax/polish stuck in the emblem, I just QD and scrub it out, haven't run into any trouble yet, the brush has pretty stiff bristles.

Give it a try, never know.....