Is rubbing alcohol on a qtip OK to use on paint before doing a few touchups?

**corvetteman** · 05-31-2011, 10:12 PM

I have a bunch of little spots on my hood to touch up. The hood has some wax on it. Is rubbing alcohol on a qtip OK to use on paint to clean the wax out of bad spots before doing a few touchups? Any other suggestions? I`m not looking for perfection. More like protection from the spots spreading. Thanks in advance

**Old Pirate** · 06-01-2011, 06:54 AM

I see way not, just go over with your towel also ( IPA )

**corvetteman** · 06-01-2011, 07:05 AM

I just wanted to make sure rubbing alcohol was safe enough for my surrounding paint if it touches some.

**Accumulator** · 06-01-2011, 10:37 AM

corvetteman- IPA is paint-safe (many use it to clean off polishing oils before waxing), but it might not be the best prep for a touchup. Some other solvents (e.g., PrepSol) probably clean better....not that IPA is a *bad* choice or anything.

**corvetteman** · 06-01-2011, 10:39 AM

Originally Posted by Accumulator

corvetteman- IPA is paint-safe (many use it to clean off polishing oils before waxing), but it might not be the best prep for a touchup. Some other solvents (e.g., PrepSol) probably clean better....not that IPA is a *bad* choice or anything.

Thanks accumulator. I appreciate the reply.

**Brad B** · 06-01-2011, 11:12 AM

Something I use for a lot of things, I call it Wonderjuice, is Acrysol. It`s what most German car dealerships use to wipe off protective waxy coatings sprayed on at the factory. It leaves no film and I`ve found it safe on paint, metals, plastic and glass. It`s also great for cleaning up paint overspray, grease or oil, etc. I use it with a rag or on Q-Tips or medical swabs for detailing. I get it at my Audi/Porsche dealership. A can lasts a long time.

Excuse the camera phone image:

**Accumulator** · 06-01-2011, 11:30 AM

Brad B.- Hey, maybe that Acrysol would be a replacement for my beloved, but discontinued, 3M Adhesive Remover :think:

**corvetteman** · 06-01-2011, 06:34 PM

I used the rubbing alcohol. I dont know if it was 50% or 70%. Seemed to go OK.

1 questionable spot was 2 significant cuts on paint black plastic front bumper. It looked like the clear coat may have burnt or had a halo. I dont think I rubbed the qtip with alcohol too hard so it may have been like that before I did anything.

The hood and bumper had around 40 small/medium spots to touch up. In the shade it looked good but under the sun my black color showed a ton of white spots on that hood and front bumper. I did an average at best job of touching them up. It is hard to control that brush plus I was battling my own sweat, shaky hands and a persistent fly. I`m hoping even a bad touch-up job of black will look better than the exposed white. Looks like the previous owner tried some touch-ups as well but may have used a flat black instead of the shiny black with clear coat. Hopefully the car will look good. Maybe in a couple of years I may spring for a new paint job since there is a fairly priced paint place 30 minutes away that people rave about.

**Accumulator** · 06-02-2011, 10:38 AM

corvetteman- I sincerely doubt that you caused any of the issues on the bumper with your IPA.

That was a lot of chips to do! What kind of brush did you use? I like small artist`s brushes, sizes like "0" or "00".

If you want to redo the ones the previous owner attempted, it`s usually easy enough to remove touchup paint.

**corvetteman** · 06-02-2011, 10:46 AM

Originally Posted by Accumulator

corvetteman- I sincerely doubt that you caused any of the issues on the bumper with your IPA.

That was a lot of chips to do! What kind of brush did you use? I like small artist`s brushes, sizes like "0" or "00".

If you want to redo the ones the previous owner attempted, it`s usually easy enough to remove touchup paint.

Hey Accumlulator. The touchups in the back and on the sides look pretty good but the ones on the hood look pretty bad. The paint I got was from the dealer with a poor brush for application. Even though it is suppossed to have clear coat it didnt seem like a perfect color match on the hood. It did look good everywhere else. Some of the touch ups were before me with the wrong color paint in my opinion. I`d like to take another shot at the hood. I looked all over today for PlastiKote paint leveler to help even or remove the touch up paint but I couldnt find it.

I think the hood if not the whole car probably had some colored black wax on it when I bought it. That hid some flaws. Once I cleaned the car those flaws popped big. Today in desperation I bought some black color wax for the hood only but I havent used it yet. I`d prefer to get the touch ups right and not have to cheat with colored wax. Where do you get your brushes? How do you remove the touchup without damaging the rest of the paint? Thanks in advance.

Edit: I just called PlastiKote. They dont make the paint leveler anymore. That sucks. It was a bargain at $3

**Bill D** · 06-02-2011, 10:51 AM

I hope Brad B chimes in here again because several years ago he wrote an outstanding article on applying touch up paint although it involved using an airbrush. I have it spiral bound in my detailing guide. I think several principles in it would still be applicable here.

Although I can`t share a technique for removing touch up/preventing damage, here is an old school technique for applying new touch up paint

**corvetteman** · 06-02-2011, 10:53 AM

Originally Posted by Bill D

I hope Brad B chimes in here again because several years ago he wrote an outstanding article on applying touch up paint although it involved using an airbrush. I have it spiral bound in my detailing guide. I think several principles in it would still be applicable here.

Although I can`t share a technique for removing touch up/preventing damage, here is an old school technique for applying new touch up paint

Thanks Bill. I appreciate your help. Using an air brush may be above my skill level but I`d like to improve things for sure.

**Bill D** · 06-02-2011, 10:56 AM

Maybe that technique using the filed toothpicks can help in any future chips you may have to fill.

**Accumulator** · 06-02-2011, 10:57 AM

corvetteman- Sometimes getting even a "simple" color like black to match OK is a big challenge! I`ve had touchup paint from most of the "big names" and it`s always a crapshoot guessing which one(s) will match OK.

I got my brushes at Micro-Mark: The Small Tool Specialists . Go to their site and search on "red sable brushes" . I bought a bunch of different sizes, but the ones I probably use the most are "1", "0", and "00".

I remove touchups with Lankga Blob Eliminator, which is probably about the same as the PlastiKote paint leveler you`re trying to find. Go to We Are Car Care -- Car Wax, Car Polish, Auto Detailing Supplies, Car Buffers & Car Accessories Store and search on "Langka".

**corvetteman** · 06-02-2011, 11:02 AM

Originally Posted by Accumulator

corvetteman- Sometimes getting even a "simple" color like black to match OK is a big challenge! I`ve had touchup paint from most of the "big names" and it`s always a crapshoot guessing which one(s) will match OK.

I got my brushes at Micro-Mark: The Small Tool Specialists . Go to their site and search on "red sable brushes" . I bought a bunch of different sizes, but the ones I probably use the most are "1", "0", and "00".

I remove touchups with Lankga Blob Eliminator, which is probably about the same as the PlastiKote paint leveler you`re trying to find. Go to We Are Car Care -- Car Wax, Car Polish, Auto Detailing Supplies, Car Buffers & Car Accessories Store and search on "Langka".

Thanks guys. I will go buy new brushes and tooth picks.

I have a couple of other questions.

1. Ive heard some good and bad things about Lanka but is there anything I can buy locally to remove touch up paint?

2. Do I have to use some compound after the touch up paint dries? Will 3m swirl mark remover do? I have that in my house.