Hi all. Last weekend I DACP+NXT wax my car because it has what looks like dried water spots (they are NOT water spots they just look kinda like small ones, I'm trying to describe what it looks like) all over the flat surfaces. I was told by a pro detailer that this was acid rain. Well I used the DACP + yelo pad and PC and worked till dry. These spots can only be seen in bright sunlight. Not visible in shade, car looks awsome if not in bright light. Anyway the DACP made a small improvement. I have never clayed because the surface is like glass. But I'm wondering if clay might be in order? Can anybody help this stuff is pizzing me off.
Need help.. DACP or clay bar???
- Thread starter jlfrogy
- Start date
ntwrkguy1
New member
If you truly have acid rain etching, the clay bar won't do any good. You'll need to try something far more agressive, such as a rotary buffer and a cutting pad. If you've never done that before, you'll definitely want to seek out a pro that has.
Accumulator
Well-known member
Yeah, clay is for contamination that's ON the paint (or imbedded IN it, like a splinter). Acid rain etching is a "crater" where the paint has been "pockmarked" by the acids eating it away (oversimplification, I know). You'll have to abrade the clear down to the level of the bottom of the "crater". With all the downsides that entails, like thinned clearcoat, you'd better think about it first. Consider whether the spots bother you that much...
togwt
The Old Grey Whistle Test
Quote: With all the downsides that entails, like thinned clear coat, you'd better think about it first. Consider whether the spots bother you that much...
~One man’s opinion /observations~
Good advice when you consider that clear coat has a thickness of 2-3Mils. Removing more that 0.3 mil (0.0003�) of clear coat will cause premature paint film failure. As a point of reference a sheet of copy paper is 3.5Mil (0.0035�)
Just a thought but you might try a water/distilled white vinegar solution, 5:1 (adjust ratio as required) to dissolve the alkaline-based mineral water deposits
~Hope this helps~
Experience unshared; is knowledge wasted…/
justadumbarchitect * so i question everything*
~One man’s opinion /observations~
Good advice when you consider that clear coat has a thickness of 2-3Mils. Removing more that 0.3 mil (0.0003�) of clear coat will cause premature paint film failure. As a point of reference a sheet of copy paper is 3.5Mil (0.0035�)
Just a thought but you might try a water/distilled white vinegar solution, 5:1 (adjust ratio as required) to dissolve the alkaline-based mineral water deposits
~Hope this helps~
Experience unshared; is knowledge wasted…/
justadumbarchitect * so i question everything*
Accumulator
Well-known member
TOGWT said:
And to take a REALLY conservative view of this, *I* have heard that you can do damage by removing .1 mil of clear!
Of course, if you keep the vehicle well protected and/or out of the sun it'll make a big difference, but still...
Actually, the first step is to determine if it really IS acid rain etching, or mineral deposits from HARD water. Both are "water" problems, but they are very different.