Spray paint "touchup" removal

[spinefan]

I just bought a 2005 Dodge Ram that's black in color. The previous owner decided to "touchup" a few scratches with flat black spray paint. There are a LOT of these touchups all over the truck. The only spots he didn't seem to touch are the hood and roof. What do ya'll suggest for removing the spray paint? Start with clay and work my way through the process? My old regimen was #2, #9, and then #26. Should I hit it with the clay and then use those? Any help is appreciated.

[spinefan]

Re: Spray paint "touchup" removal

Sorry to bump this, but I see that I've lots of views but no replies. Anyone have any suggestions for getting the spray paint off? It's been on there for several months and isn't playing nice.

[Ganesa]

Re: Spray paint "touchup" removal

it would be great with a few pictures, because it depends on your definition of spraypaint that the previous car owner used..

because if he used a thick spray paint then it is obviously neccessary to wet sand the rough layer of paint, so that it can be level with your clearcoat/paint..

but if it is paint flying from the air around the environment, then a claybar and a mild cleaner would be enough..

[agp56]

Re: Spray paint "touchup" removal

or if it is somewhere in between, wash then aggressive clay.....

[spinefan]

Re: Spray paint "touchup" removal

Thanks for the replies. I'll try to get some shots posted today. I'm afraid the wet sanding may be a reality for me.

[Tom Weed]

Re: Spray paint "touchup" removal

I did a silver LeSabre this past weekend that had green paint all the rear bumper and trunk. Clay wouldn't touch it, I used blue, red, some purple agressive clay that ADS carries and a Magna sponge, it got the lighter stuff off, but still had plenty of spots. I ended up using 105 on the rotary with a purple foamed wool pad and was getting it off the trunk, but I was afraid to tackle the plastic bumper with this approach due to how much it work it was to remove and didn't want to heat up the plastic bumper fearing of damage to the paint. I broke out Lacquer Thinner and it worked well on the bumper to remove the rest of the paint, I just made sure to wash off the residue as soon as I was done.

[spinefan]

Re: Spray paint "touchup" removal

Had storms come through after work yesterday, so I didn't get a chance to take pictures. I'll try to post this afternoon. Thanks again for everyone's suggestions.

[spinefan]

Re: Spray paint "touchup" removal

I took a few with my phone at lunch.

Here's the edge of the hood:


Here's the passenger door on the driver's side:




Here's the B pillar on the driver's side:


Here's the spot above the driver's door handle:



and finally, the edge of the bed:

[Tom Weed]

Re: Spray paint "touchup" removal

I would try clay first, then buffing it and if that doesn't work, then a solvent. Wet sanding would be my last resort, espeically if you haven't done it before.

[spinefan]

Re: Spray paint "touchup" removal

I just got after it with the clay I have and it didn't touch it. The clay I have is from the Quik Clay kit, so I'm guessing it's not very aggressive. I put some #2 on a foam pad that attaches to my drill, but it didn't do much either. I put some #1 on an old cotton rag and did circles with it and that lifted some of it. Should I try the #1 on a terry cloth pad with the random orbital buffer I have?

[the_invisible]

Re: Spray paint "touchup" removal

Wiping the spots with paint thinner would remove the flat black paint, but you will risk removing the clear coat.

Wetsanding with 1000grit sandpaper may be your only option. The flat black paint will come off with just a few strokes of 1000 grit sandpaper. You can finish it off quite easily with 1500 and then 2000 grit papers. To remove sanding marks, you would have to work in the area by hand with M105.

Orbital buffer and terry cloth bonnet may work if you have something like the Turtle Wax Rubbing Compound. It is made to remove excess spray on.

[Ganesa]

Re: Spray paint "touchup" removal

I would agree with above... you could try searching for "how to wetsand" in this forum, and then working it in a small test spot area followed with at least Ultimate Compound or M105 would be even better..

But if you are absolutely unsure and feel insecure doing it, I would recommend finding a professional car detailer to try and fix that, plus when your car has that smooth
swirl-free, defect-free look, you only need to maintain it which is even easier with a regular wash and clean/wax products

[spinefan]

Re: Spray paint "touchup" removal

Mirror Glaze #1 seems to be lifting it quite a bit. I've still not had a lot of time to put into it, between work and the ever growing honey do list. Thanks for the wet sanding tips. I guess I could take it to a professional, but that takes all the fun out of it.

[Tom Weed]

Re: Spray paint "touchup" removal

Again, I would be very careful about wetsanding especially if you have not done it and don't have a rotary buffer to remove the sanding marks. I would suggest a paint thinner or lacquer thinner in in like a 1" area in an inconspicious area first.

I just did a 2007 GMC pickup with 7 K miles that had stripping paint all down the entire passenger side and wheel wells. That stuff is VERY hard, nothing I tried would break it down, finally had to go to Goo Gone with plastic razor blades to "pop" the stripping paint off and had to use a very high PSI pressure washer in the wheel wells. I went through a ton of the razor blades. My point being, it's going to take some trial and error to see what works and if it's wetsanding you turn too, might I suggest a junk panel to try it on first and see if you can remove the sanding marks and not go through the factory paint to the metal.

[spinefan]

Re: Spray paint "touchup" removal

I think ya'll have scared me off of wetsanding...for now. My 2000 Nissan Frontier could be my test mule. Poor thing has actually been used by a truck. I do plan on selling it though, so I may not be brave enough to try the wetsand process on it either. I bought some adhesive remover at the suggestion of a worker at my local O'Reilly parts store. Haven't tried that yet either. I had forgotten how much I love detailing my vehicles and now I'm itching to get it right again.