How do you tackle bug damage?

NHBFAN · 10-10-05, 04:51

When a customer brings in a vehicle with bug remains etched into the clearcoat what do you do?

brwill2005 · 10-10-05, 05:04

Etched into the clearcoat, or just dried hard as cement on top of the clear? Anyways, dilluted APC, a boar's hair brush, and pressur ewasher usually does it. Clay also works. Another option is a the yellow bug block that feels rough as sand paper, but when soaked in warm water becomes much softer and can be used in combination with your wash solution or APC. If the bug residue actually etched into the clear, it would have to be compounded or maybe even wet sanded.

NHBFAN · 10-10-05, 06:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by brwill2005

Etched into the clearcoat, or just dried hard as cement on top of the clear? Anyways, dilluted APC, a boar's hair brush, and pressur ewasher usually does it. Clay also works. Another option is a the yellow bug block that feels rough as sand paper, but when soaked in warm water becomes much softer and can be used in combination with your wash solution or APC. If the bug residue actually etched into the clear, it would have to be compounded or maybe even wet sanded.

I've tried OTC bug & tar removers three times, you can't even scrap anything with your fingernail ... it's embedded into the clear. I don't have the skills or equipment to tackle wetsanding/rotary compound sanding.

With this much effort if I were doing this for a living I'd starve

Do you include difficult bug damage in your regular detailing packages?

brwill2005 · 10-10-05, 08:37

Never really had a problem with bug residue etched into the clear. I try to remove all bug residue even with my hand washes. I would definitely charge more if the clear was damaged though. Did you try a clay bar?