Could I have damaged my paint?

[8k_RPM]

Re: Could I have damaged my paint?

I want to apologize to Mark for trying to post that a few times. I didn't realize until the last time that it was being moderated.

[8k_RPM]

Re: Could I have damaged my paint?

I've been staring at this picture for about 10 minutes and two thoughts are going through my head:

1. Idiot--why didn't you use an applicator
2. Why wasn't the strip with the most solution damaged.

#2 leads me to believe its something left in the wax. Especially since the bottle says it won't strip wax and there was a fresh coat. But maybe its just wishful thinking on my part.

[8k_RPM]

Re: Could I have damaged my paint?

One more question and then I'll wait for replies. Would it be a good idea to clay bar the area that is streaked to see if it comes up?

[8k_RPM]

Re: Could I have damaged my paint?

I'm starting to wonder if this may even be something else that got onto my car. Either liquid wax that was never wiped off or some foreign liquid that left a stain. It appears to have dripped down on the front half of the door, but I don't notice it on the rest of the car. Based on the fact the pin stripes aren't stained, I'd say it happened before removal, not after.

Maybe instead of causing this, I simply noticed it when I polished the door with the stuff.

[Murr1525]

Re: Could I have damaged my paint?

I dont see anything damaged, but I only see the color difference where the stripes were.

You'll also notice there area under the stripes doesnt have swirls yet, also making it look darker.

[Shawn T.]

Re: Could I have damaged my paint?

I dont see anything damaged, but I only see the color difference where the stripes were.

You'll also notice there area under the stripes doesnt have swirls yet, also making it look darker.

+1

Thats exactly what I was thinking. it also is not discolored at all because it has not been exposed to the sun and therefore absolutely no oxidation. The TW product did the job perfectly! You have to correct the whole car now to match those areas lol.

[Ravi_1992]

Re: Could I have damaged my paint?

I think you've got your answer already about the "discoloration" but here's my two cents,
I use TW bug and tar remover all time, I remember the bottle saying something about it leaving a deep dark shine and a wax protection after your done using it. If the product did cause darker spots , then it should fade away after a while. As mentioned already, the paint under the stripes is probably non oxidized or swirled so it looks better then the rest, you have to correct the whole car to make it even

I would use something like #9 swirl remover 2.0 or UC if I really need it

[8k_RPM]

Re: Could I have damaged my paint?

I was worried about those three hazy spots in the picture that look like something dripped. There is more of that on the door than is visible in the picture. At the time I thought it was the TW. But its only on the front half of the door, so the more I look at it, I'm thinking its regular wax that didn't get removed properly and melted in the sun.

Since there is another coat of wax on top of it, it'll probably have to wear off.

Anyway. Thanks for all your help and when I'm able to work on my car, I know where I can find some help.

[8k_RPM]

Re: Could I have damaged my paint?

HI all,

There actually are some hazy areas where I sprayed the remover and let it sit for a minute (I was mistaken when I said it was shinier, you can see it if you look closely at the picture I took).

A. Could the marks be the waxes sitting on top of the coat of wax?

B. If not, can I use Swirl-X to make these areas normal again.

I've tried buffing it and using the quick detailer, but its still there.

You would think this product would work on Civics since Turtle just demoed an updated formula using a Civic.

Sorry to reopen the issue, but I'm just wondering if I should wait and see if these get better or try putting something on them. Just to be clear, I'm not talking about the strip itself, but some haze where I sprayed around the strip.

Thanks a lot,

Jeff

[Junkman2008]

Re: Could I have damaged my paint?

Jeff, I said it once and I'll say it again. Polishing is what makes paint shine. If you want the area to shine, polish it. I personally would use a PC and something like the combination or M105 followed by M205, but others may chime in with some more readily available products.

[8k_RPM]

Re: Could I have damaged my paint?

Jeff, I said it once and I'll say it again. Polishing is what makes paint shine. If you want the area to shine, polish it. I personally would use a PC and something like the combination or M105 followed by M205, but others may chime in with some more readily available products.

So basically I stripped off all the polish and I need to replace it? Can it be done in those small areas as a quick fix? I can't redo the whole car before my surgery. I'll wait if I have to.

[Junkman2008]

Re: Could I have damaged my paint?

So basically I stripped off all the polish and I need to replace it? Can it be done in those small areas as a quick fix? I can't redo the whole car before my surgery. I'll wait if I have to.

First off, keep in mind that I am talking about the professional products (Mirror Glaze line or similar) that are sold today. With those products, polishes (which are sometimes referred to as compounds) are usually used to repair paint. For the most part, they are not used to cover up or mask damage in any way. View them as the soap that you shower your body with. Although you apply the soap all over your body, you rinse all of the soap off. The soap was merely used to remove the dirt from your body and ideally, none of the soap will remain behind.

Polishes are very much the same. Polishes are used to remove imperfections on or in the clear coat or paint by working them (either by hand or machine). Once that polish or compound has been worked sufficiently, you wipe the polish or compound off and inspect the finish. If the results are to your satisfaction, you will move to the next step in the process. If not, you will repeat that polishing scenario. Again, you wipe the polish OFF the paint. It does NOT remain behind. A wax or glaze is a product that will remain on the paint as it is a protectant or filler. You can look at wax or glaze as sun screen or lotion that you would use on your body after a shower.

Compounds and polishes are worked and then removed. Waxes or glazes remain on the car, even though you wipe them off too. The difference is that waxes and glazes are allowed to dry and bond with the surface of the car in order to protect as they do. Oh, and yes, you can do just a small area at a time. You don't have to do the entire car at once.

Does that clear it up a little better?

[8k_RPM]

Re: Could I have damaged my paint?

Yes, I think so. Applying what you said to my problem...the spray I used was a wax with a petroleum cleaner in it for the tar and stuff. It bonded to the clear coat and stands out from the other wax I coated the whole car with.

To make everything look the same, I need to use a polisher to remove all the different waxes and compounds that are on the clear coat. Then I could go about shining the paint and replacing the waxes.

Basically nothings damaged it just looks different because I introduced a new compound in a small area. Am I catching on?

[Junkman2008]

Re: Could I have damaged my paint?

Yes, I think so. Applying what you said to my problem...the spray I used was a wax with a petroleum cleaner in it for the tar and stuff. It bonded to the clear coat and stands out from the other wax I coated the whole car with.

I'm not sure exactly how what you used works but let's go with your description, as it sounds plausible.

To make everything look the same, I need to use a polisher to remove all the different waxes and compounds that are on the clear coat. Then I could go about shining the paint and replacing the waxes.

Here's where I will correct you by using and changing your own words to make it correct.

To make everything look the same, I need to use a polisher and a polishing compound to remove everything that is on the clear coat. The process of polishing will create the shine that I am looking for. At that point, I can then reapply my wax.

That statement would be more correct.

Basically nothings damaged it just looks different because I introduced a new compound in a small area. Am I catching on?

That part is correct. Remember, the act of polishing is what makes the paint shine. Also, professional polishes and compounds DO NOT remain on the paint, they are used to repair the paint so you won't be removing any compounds as you previously stated.

A key thing here is the difference between some of the consumer products that Meguiar's sells and the professional stuff. My statements can be incorrect when you're talking about a product that calls itself a polishing wax. That's why I stress the professional grade product part. It would actually be better if we named the exact products that you will be using to do this. It can be a little confusing but hopefully I am getting through to you.

It's funny. This is exactly why I started making videos. It's a whole lot easier to see what I'm talking about than it is to read it!

[8k_RPM]

Re: Could I have damaged my paint?

I think I under stand now (the concepts, at least). When it comes to the actual application, I will definitely be back here checking whether each compound is correct for my purpose.

The dealer is actually finishing taking the stripes off while they have the car for the bumper (only because it was going to them anyway, and I'm in too much pain now to be working on the car).

That brings me to an off topic question, though. How long should it take for a dealer/body shop to pain a bumper? Can it be done in a single day? They messed up the bumper before I every took possession of the car and it didn't' show till later. Now they keep sanding and spraying it and I"m having problems like dozens of rock chips and 'shrinking primer.'

Is there really no way to put paint on a bumper and make it stay? Or are they cutting corners with this repair?

Thanks for answering all the beginner questions (I promise this is the last one for now).

-Jeff