weird question...

[bambam282]

I detailed my buddys 2000 GMC SUV black. He bought it used years ago, I picked it up in the am and started just as the sun camed up. Car was washed with two bucket method, clayed, than color x was applied to the hood. when the sunlight came around so that you could accurately see the hood it looked like a bunch of small snowflakes, and small scratches on the hood, no particular pattern. you could not feel them with your nail at all and with direct sunlight unless your nose was on the hood you could not even see them. My buddy never really paid attention to it but I was completely stuck at how to get them out!!!!! Like I said if it was overcast you could barely even notice, with sunlight bright white scratched snowflakes. could this have been something that was kind of hidden, and when I clayed it ....just showed????? im confused!!

[Mike Phillips]

Sounds like the outlines of water spot etchings.

There are two kinds of water spots,

1) Above Surface Mineral Deposits
2) Below Surface Water Spot Etchings


Type I Water Spots

Type I Water Spots are what Meguiar's refers to as Above Surface Bonded Contaminants. A Type I water spot is some type of deposit, often times a mineral deposit that was in the water source, sitting on top of the surface.

If you have Type I water spots, you can use either a clay bar or a paint cleaner like ScratchX by hand. Clay bars are for removing above surface defects and will typically do a good job of remove Type I water spots/deposits from off the surface. Sometimes you may have to follow the claying process with a paint cleaner like ScratchX to completely remove all traces of where the mineral deposits attached to the finish.

Type I Water Spots






Type II Water Spots - Deposits on the surface
Type II Water Spots are what Meguiar's refers to as Below Surface Defects. A Type II Water Spot is actually an etching in the surface where whatever was in the water was strong enough in it's chemical composition to actually eat or dissolve the paint and thus etch into the paint.

If you Type II Water Spots, you can use a paint cleaner by hand such as ScratchX, or a machine applied product such as a compound, paint cleaner, or cleaner/polish to machine clean the finish, removing a small amount of paint in an effort to level, or smooth out the finish. The goal is to remove just enough paint to level the surface with the lowest depths of the defect.

Just to be clear, removing Type II Water Spots means removing paint. As such, you are limited as to how much paint you can remove. In some cases you may want to check with a seasoned professional for their advise before attempting to remove below surface defects like Type II Water Spots.


Type II Water Spots - Etchings below the surface


Close-up of same photo above


Click here to add your comments or ask questions about this article...

[Tim Lingor]

Hey,

I hate to say it, if they look like snow flakes and the small lines have the odd line coming off of them, it sounds like the beginning of clear coat failure. Sorry.

Tim

[bambam282]

thanks

thanks for the advice fellas. It was just weird and never seen it before, def was not water etching... Hell probably be getting a new ride soon any how...Thank you!

[Tim Lingor]

Hey,

Does the paint look like the one in the link? Look at the high Res pics.

http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=8012&highlight=clear+coat+failure

Tim

[bambam282]

IDENTICAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I read the article, thanks man, was just wierd cause it kinda just appeared...Thanks for making me feel better!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Tim Lingor]

That's what I figured. I have seen that many times and sadly, there is nothing that can be done except a repaint.

Tim

[Mike Phillips]

Yeah I was thinking best case scenario as I've seen water etching spots that look kind of sporadic on the finish with now particular pattern.

Pictures always help when trying to trouble shoot a problem.