How Do You Pros Handle Rust-Blooms?

Accumulator · 01-07-05, 11:57

I didn't want to thread-jack the "do you clay?" thread so I'm posting this as a new thread.

Just curious about how you (real

i.e., Autopian ) pros handle rustblooms. The "pros"

around here never really eliminate them from the cars they do (seems like most car nuts around here have theirs professionally detailed). These supposed "pros" hardly ever clay, let alone use decontamination systems, and the polishes/paint cleaners they use obviously don't solve the problem.

On my vehicles, it takes frequent claying and often the use of decontamination systems like ABC to keep the whole "ferrous contamination" issue at bay. But mine (and those owned by people I advise) are the only vehicles I ever see in my area that don't have the rustblooms.

I always expect the pros here to be quite different from those in my area (who are, nonetheless, very successful- they charge a lot, work on a lot of exotics, and are always busy) and I was just curious....

joburnet · 01-07-05, 03:48

Please define "rust-boom".

If there is a place where rust is bubbling up from underneath the paint then the only thing to do is take it to a body shop to get it fixed.

If your talking about when Rail Dust gets stuck into paint and eventually causes small rust specs then Claying the vehicle every six months or so should take care of it.

Accumulator · 01-07-05, 04:08

Quote:

Originally posted by joburnet
Please define "rust-boom". ..If your talking about when Rail Dust gets stuck into paint and eventually causes small rust specs then Claying the vehicle every six months or so should take care of it.

Yeah, that's what I was referring to- spots from where ferrous contamination started to corrode, resulting in a little rust spot. I'm *not* referring to paint chip/paint failure/etc. rusted areas (whole different problem).

Perhaps I wasn't clear, and if so I apologize. Between clay and AutoInt's ABC I've solved the rustbloom problem on *our* vehicles. The ABC seems to provide a more permanent fix, at least on new vehicles, but often the clay *is* sufficient.

I was just curious about how you professional detailers deal with them on customers' cars. Or *if* they get dealt with it at all. This curiosity was prompted by the thread about "Do You (pros) Clay..".

usdm · 01-09-05, 10:09

Although I do help my father out in the bodyshop,
I would not call myself a pro, at least when it comes
to detailing.

That said, I can tell you that before clay and decon
systems were introduced to the shop, the conventional
metod of dealing with rust was use a "pen that had
rust inhibitor chemical, sand down the affected section,
then touch up or repaint. It was tedious, but it tended
to get the job done, and we did not get a lot of
comebacks. Even after getting introduced to clay
a while back, I did not find that it was always a thorough
solution as the spots would come back after a while.
Sometimes they would reappear almost a full week after
the claying was done. Since I started using the Decon
kit, however, I have found that most if not all rust spots
come off, and if the customer kept up with the
car's upkeep, the rust spots tended to stay off.
Nowadays, if I am doing a new car (at least new to me),
I always try to get the person to at least get a decon
before any other work is done. I still clay, but thanks to
the kit, I now only focus on spot cleaning when the decon
kit by itself will not take everything off.

It really does make me wonder how we managed to get
along as well as we did without the kit...

Accumulator · 01-10-05, 10:53

Thanks USDM. Sounds like your experiences are about the same as mine. I too find the kits to be a real godsend, but it seems that not too many here at Autopia seem to need them the way I do.

And you're certainly right about the importance of custormer upkeep. I have some to-the-metal stone chips on the XJS that have stayed just fine for 18 years without even touchup paint (though that's different from the rust blooms under discussion). All a matter of taking proper care of things.

I'm a little surprised this isn't a bigger problem for pros that it apparently is. Around here, all the light colored cars have a lot of these things...

usdm · 01-10-05, 11:16

Quote:

Originally posted by Accumulator
Thanks USDM. Sounds like your experiences are about the same as mine. I too find the kits to be a real godsend, but it seems that not too many here at Autopia seem to need them the way I do.

To be honest, I did not find about the kits until recently
last year. There used to be a supplier the shop dealt
with that pushed something similar to the decons. But
for some reason it did not catch. It was not used primarily
for rust spots, but rather as a prep clean before painting.

I think the reason we dont hear more folks using the kits
is because they feel there is no need to, or
maybe they are not inclined to share their secrets.

Quote:

Originally posted by Accumulator
And you're certainly right about the importance of custormer upkeep. I have some to-the-metal stone chips on the XJS that have stayed just fine for 18 years without even touchup paint (though that's different from the rust blooms under discussion). All a matter of taking proper care of things.

I'm a little surprised this isn't a bigger problem for pros that it apparently is. Around here, all the light colored cars have a lot
of these things...

Trying to get folks to keep up with their cars is my biggest
problem. While I don't mind at all that they return, it bothers
me that they return when their car is back in rough shape
again. The logic for a lot of these folks seems to be that if I was
able to clean it up the first time, there should be no problem
to clean it up again as many times as needed.

Jimmy Buffit · 01-11-05, 12:46

It is not a common concern for the cars I see. I think it is related to the local environment.

Having spent years in the NE Ohio area, I know the air quality is substantially different from that here in the cornfields of Indiana...

I am a big fan of the Valugard A-B-C process, when indicated.
It certainly leaves a clean surface!

Jim

Accumulator · 01-11-05, 09:58

Quote:

Originally posted by Jimmy Buffit
It is not a common concern for the cars I see. I think it is related to the local environment.

Having spent years in the NE Ohio area, I know the air quality is substantially different from that here in the cornfields of Indiana...

I am a big fan of the Valugard A-B-C process, when indicated.
It certainly leaves a clean surface!

Yeah, maybe it is a more localized issue.

Nice to hear ABC works well for people who use it more extensively than I do (as a non-pro).

Quote:

Originally posted by USDM
I think the reason we dont hear more folks using the kits
is because they feel there is no need to, or
maybe they are not inclined to share their secrets.

Heh heh, I wouldn't have thought that pros here would be unwilling to share such a "secret" when I've come right out and asked about it...I guess they just don't see the need for such measures.

But AutoInt and FinishKare sure sell a lot of these decontamination systems, so I know that *somebody* is using the stuff!

usdm · 01-14-05, 12:09

I got hooked on the fk1 after hearing claims that
the AutoInt stuff could damage glass or trim, so I
pretty much stuck with fk1. But ordering from them is
something of a hassle for me (me and paypal do not
get along). The pricing on Autoint stuff is very competetive
and they are closer to my neck of the woods. After
I finish up the last of my fk1 decon, I'm going to
give the AutoInt stuff a try.

Jimmy Buffit · 01-14-05, 04:52

USDM: FWIW, I've not expeienced any issues with glass or trim, after two years of use. Be aware of the issue, and use some caution.

I think the issue has been a bit 'inflated' ...

Jim

usdm · 01-16-05, 01:36

I'm inclined to believe there's some over-inflations as well,
Jimmy. I guess I got caught up in all the hype over at FK1. I
use the kit on the glass as well, and I don't find any issues
with staining. The glass always ends up real clean, and water
just beads like crazy after I use it.

When I mentioned AutoInt to one of the FK1 reps, he was
fit to be tied. I won't get into it here, but let's just say there
is no love loss between the folks at FK1 and some of the
folks at AutoInt..

Anyway, for me, results and ease of purchase are what
count. Definitely will give the competition a try soon enough,
and I will heed any warnings offered.

Accumulator · 01-16-05, 11:12

Quote:

Originally posted by usdm
When I mentioned AutoInt to one of the FK1 reps, he was
fit to be tied. I won't get into it here, but let's just say there
is no love loss between the folks at FK1 and some of the
folks at AutoInt..

Maybe it's silly of me, but whenever somebody gets all bent out of shape regarding their competitor(s) I think "uh-oh, something's funny here...". It erodes their credibility in my eyes.