Paint Overspray on Rubber Trim

[Jimmy Buffit]

(I've posted this on another forum, also, so please forgive my redundancy.)

I'm "lucky" enough to have a deal to do 21 cars with paint overspray.

I've only done two cars to date, and they've gone well, except for the pebbled plastic trim, and especially the rubber molding.

Oh, we've tried several approachs:

Clay (2 levels, several brands...)
Dry eraser
Mineral spirits
Lacquer thinner (NO!)
Plastic razor blade
Finger nails (works best, but SLOW!)
3000 grit sandpaper
...and more.

Any thoughts to speed up our work will be appreciated by my very overworked staff.

BTW, for inquiring minds, we'll average $300 per vehicle...

Jim

[Mike Phillips]

Hi Jim,

Meguiar's does not make a specific product for removing overspray paint from pebble textured plastic trim. This is a tough one.

Because pebble textured plastic trim has an irregular surface, you cannot use a product that abrades.

Because plastic trim is susceptible to dissolving and distorting, you are limited to the type of chemicals you can apply. Typically anything strong enough to dissolve or loosen the paint overspray will be strong enough to dissolve, melt or distort the plastic trim.

You are left with your fingernail, some type of plastic scraper or a Popsicle stick to scrape, pick at or flick each individual speck of paint off the trim. Time consuming to say the least.

I've heard there is a company that offers some type of chemical wipe that will remove paint overspray, but I cannot remember their name off hand. If I think of it I will post it.

You may end up taking the "Honesty is the best policy", approach and explain the above to your customer and limit your work to removing the overspray to the hard smooth surfaces like paint, glass and mirrors.

Best of luck...

Mike

[Bill D]

Mike,

I think Car Brite and Sprayway offer such wipes. HTH

[Jimmy Buffit]

Thanks very much for your responses!

This one (21times over!) sorta sums up my signature:

"If it was easy, everybody'd be doing it."

I've got some 'stuff' being overnighted by another source which sounds quite promising. They work with several OEMs, and have great successes with large lots of damaged NEW vehicles, i.e. 4000 Mazdas, 2500 Hyundai Accents, etc. No claims after THREE years!??

It is a redying procedure, with UV protection, as opposed to a removal product. Hey, if it works?

#5 is in the shop.

Oh yeah, I'll followup...

[Stealth97]

let us know. Sounds like a big project.

[Mike Phillips]

Originally posted by Jimmy Buffit
It is a redying procedure, with UV protection, as opposed to a removal product. Hey, if it works?

You know the old saying,

"Where there's a will, there's a way"

Mike