Rail Dust - Quik Clay Kit doesn't help

[mr_andersen]

Hi all,

My car is covered in what I think is rail dust. My camera doesn't pick it up but looks like this



I tried Meguiar's Quik Clay Kit but no matter how much pressure I used none of it would come off.

What should I try now? Meguiar's Ultimate Compound?

I drive a white 1996 Mitsubishi FTO GPX.

Thanks.

[Tuck91]

Re: Rail Dust - Quik Clay Kit doesn't help

How long have you tried claying the area?

[Chris Thompson]

Re: Rail Dust - Quik Clay Kit doesn't help

First, make sure the problem is on the paint and not in the paint. If it is on top of the paint, you may need a stronger clay bar.

http://www.meguiarsdirect.com/product_detail.asp?T1=MEG+C2000

[ca2kjet]

Re: Rail Dust - Quik Clay Kit doesn't help

Claying should be able to remove these things but it takes a lot of work. I removed some rail dust from a Dodge Caravan and had to use some passion when claying.

You can definitely try a cleaner which may work too and I would try using SwirlX and see if that cleans it up.

Actually... just noticed the year of the vehicle... I would say go with SwirlX and not bother with anymore claying.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Rail Dust - Quik Clay Kit doesn't help

First, make sure the problem is on the paint and not in the paint. If it is on top of the paint, you may need a stronger clay bar.

http://www.meguiarsdirect.com/produc...p?T1=MEG+C2000

Precisely. If you can feel the contaminants (ie, the paint feels rough because of them) and our consumer clay isn't taking care of it you may need to step up to the C2000 pro clay.

If the paint feels perfectly smooth to the touch then the issue is likely below the surface and claying won't do anything for it. A paint cleaner such as SwirlX, UC, etc would be called for to correct that issue.

[Blueline]

Re: Rail Dust - Quik Clay Kit doesn't help

Unless the vehicle has been on a train lately, rail dust from 1996 would have rusted away by now. It could be rust stains from rail dust. In any event, clay is probably not going to do the trick, but a paint cleaner may help.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: Rail Dust - Quik Clay Kit doesn't help

I echo the idea of using a paint cleaner.

[mr_andersen]

Re: Rail Dust - Quik Clay Kit doesn't help

Thanks for the replies,

How long have you tried claying the area?

I spent about two hours claying the bonnet yesterday (the car is also covered in some kind of thin watery black sap or paint or something which the clay got out after a lot of time and elbow grease).

Unless the vehicle has been on a train lately, rail dust from 1996 would have rusted away by now. It could be rust stains from rail dust. In any event, clay is probably not going to do the trick, but a paint cleaner may help.

The car was imported from Japan not too long ago.

I got a hold of some Autoglym Paint Renovator which seems to get most of it off so I might give that a go and follow it up with some NXT Generation Tech Wax 2.0.