Stubborn Paint Transfer Removal

[Simon777]

Someone came to me asking to remove a mark caused by a car that had scraped them in a parking lot. I only have a DA and usually only work on my own cars as a hobby, but I figured I'd give it a shot.

I inspected the paint and the mark was definately on the surface as it felt like a hill on the paint. I worked my way down the line of aggressiveness and ended up using a cutting pad with a g110 v2 on speed 6 with Ultimate Compound.

After 36 passes per 1 foot by 1 foot squares at a time, 70% of the mark was removed. I went over the part that wasn't coming off a few more passes, but had to give up as the owner needed the car.

This is what has been bothering me. The mark that remained postbuffing was slowly coming off by scratching the paint real hard with my nail, but only a speck about the size of and ant came off every 5 minutes, so this was highly inefficient.

I know this was an above surface defect and tried claying with the clay bar that comes in the smooth surface kit from meguiars, but no luck. Is there such thing as a more aggressive claybar?

What do you all use to remove stubborn defects? I thought about using a razor, but this was not my car. Also, I did work UC by hand and nothing came off.

[Simon777]

Re: Stubborn Paint Transfer Removal

Does anyone think a pencil eraser would have done anything?

[adriankeith]

Re: Stubborn Paint Transfer Removal

Meguiar's does have an aggressive clay



But I'm not sure if using an aggressive clay would have worked on it either. There's a mild clay as well the label color is blue instead of red.

By the sounds of it, it doesn't sound like the pencil eraser would have worked if you were trying to work at it with your nail. I'm sure someone else will weigh in. Hopefully the clay info helps in the future!

[Murr1525]

Re: Stubborn Paint Transfer Removal

Does a finger nail pull anything off?

[Simon777]

Re: Stubborn Paint Transfer Removal

Does a finger nail pull anything off?

Yes, but I had to scratch the same spot for a while before anything would come off and the mark was 5 feet long so this method wasn't efficient.

[Simon777]

Re: Stubborn Paint Transfer Removal

Meguiar's does have an aggressive clay



But I'm not sure if using an aggressive clay would have worked on it either. There's a mild clay as well the label color is blue instead of red.

By the sounds of it, it doesn't sound like the pencil eraser would have worked if you were trying to work at it with your nail. I'm sure someone else will weigh in. Hopefully the clay info helps in the future!

Would this be able to get off something that a cutting pad and UC couldn't? Is the DA with a cutting pad more aggressive than this? Also, will clay remove contamination faster than a DA?

[Andrew C.]

Re: Stubborn Paint Transfer Removal

Hey Simon, here is what your issue is. M105 uses the SMAT technology, which has super micro abrasive particles that do not break down, but rather stay the same same and continually work and removing the defect while remaining at the same size.

SMAT often will not work the best for removing heavy paint transfer, where a bigger defect removal particle will work better from products that use DAT (diminishing abrasive technology)

Products such as M80, M83, and M85(Rotary only) (listed from least aggressive to most aggressive) use DAT technology. If you have any of those, go ahead and give them a try to see how they work. If you don't have any of those, stop by your local WalMart or Auto parts store and pick up some of the new Meguiar's Rubbing Compound and Polishing Compound, which use DAT.

Remember, both Rubbing Compound and Polishing Compound are only meant for hand application.



Give that a try and let us know how it works for you. up

[Simon777]

Re: Stubborn Paint Transfer Removal

Hey Simon, here is what your issue is. M105 uses the SMAT technology, which has super micro abrasive particles that do not break down, but rather stay the same same and continually work and removing the defect while remaining at the same size.

SMAT often will not work the best for removing heavy paint transfer, where a bigger defect removal particle will work better from products that use DAT (diminishing abrasive technology)

Products such as M80, M83, and M85(Rotary only) (listed from least aggressive to most aggressive) use DAT technology. If you have any of those, go ahead and give them a try to see how they work. If you don't have any of those, stop by your local WalMart or Auto parts store and pick up some of the new Meguiar's Rubbing Compound and Polishing Compound, which use DAT.

Remember, both Rubbing Compound and Polishing Compound are only meant for hand application.



Give that a try and let us know how it works for you. up

Thanks for the response. That makes perfect sense. I'll give it a try and see what happens.

[Simon777]

Re: Stubborn Paint Transfer Removal

Hey Simon, here is what your issue is. M105 uses the SMAT technology, which has super micro abrasive particles that do not break down, but rather stay the same same and continually work and removing the defect while remaining at the same size.

SMAT often will not work the best for removing heavy paint transfer, where a bigger defect removal particle will work better from products that use DAT (diminishing abrasive technology)

Products such as M80, M83, and M85(Rotary only) (listed from least aggressive to most aggressive) use DAT technology. If you have any of those, go ahead and give them a try to see how they work. If you don't have any of those, stop by your local WalMart or Auto parts store and pick up some of the new Meguiar's Rubbing Compound and Polishing Compound, which use DAT.

Remember, both Rubbing Compound and Polishing Compound are only meant for hand application.



Give that a try and let us know how it works for you. up

Before I go and get some rubbing compound, what do you think is the best DAT product for heavy paint transfer? I don't mind ordering online as long as I get something that is more likely to work. I can't use M85 as I don't have a rotary so that leaves me looking at M83. Between M83 and the rubbing compound, is there much of a difference in aggressiveness?

[buda]

Re: Stubborn Paint Transfer Removal

Try a little tar & greaser remover in a towel; some light compound and some pressure with an index finger and you should be able to remove most paint transfer. Has always worked for me.

Bud Abraham
DETAIL PLUS SYSTEMS

[THE BIG BUFFER]

Re: Stubborn Paint Transfer Removal

A mild wet sand with 2000 grit paper, follow up with UC and topped with LSP of your choice would fix her right up. I do marks like this all the time this way.

[Bill Davidson]

Re: Stubborn Paint Transfer Removal

A mild wet sand with 2000 grit paper, follow up with UC and topped with LSP of your choice would fix her right up. I do marks like this all the time this way.

I'd be more inclined to go this route. Think about what you've done already. 36 passes, each one removing a little more clearcoat each time, while the paint transfer spot isn't even getting fully removed. You're going to have a high spot of clear under the area with the paint transfer, the remainder of the 1' X 1' area is going to have much less clear than the remainder of the vehicle.

You need to isolate removal of the paint transfer, then you can do a 1' square to blend the area with removal into the remainder of the paint.

I'm open to others either agreeing or disagreeing with my way of thinking.

[tguil]

Re: Stubborn Paint Transfer Removal

If the car you are working on has factory paint, I'd be really tempted to try a couple of different solvents. Start with Prep Sol. If that doesn't work try some mineral spirits. Neither should damage a factory finish. Just be careful. Again if it is a factory finish, you could even try acrylic lacquer thinner. I've used them all with no problems. Remember to try a very small spot at first.

Tom

[Simon777]

Re: Stubborn Paint Transfer Removal

Once again, Meguiar's makes another outstanding product. I attempted wetsanding with 3000 grit and nothing so I went out and got Meguiar's Rubbing Compound which got out everything. Thank you for making products that actually do what they say on the package.

Unfortunately, due to my previous attempts with ultimate compound and the DA, I almost went through the single stage white into the primer in one area as there was a greyish white spot. At least I believe thats what had happened, either that or that mark was there before as it was the initial impact point of the crash.

I guess I know to start out with Rubbing Compound with its DAT for any heavy paint transfer from now on.

Thanks for everyone's advice.

[Bill Davidson]

Re: Stubborn Paint Transfer Removal

Meguiar's Rubbing Compound which got out everything.

That's great. Wow, it's hard to imagine that it got out what the sandpaper would not. Good to know. Thanks for sharing your success. Hopefully the surrounding paint isn't too thin. Oh well, live and learn.