I just detailed a bmw that had spray paint on the tip of the hood about 4-6 inches from the tip to cover up rock chips, the paint was really oxidized so the spray paint just blended in, now that I detailed the car you can see where the spray paint was applied. The owner is OK with the final result but I was wondering if there was a way to remove the spray paint and expose the clearcoated paint underneath it? My possible guess would be wetsanding but im not sure.
Removing Spraypaint
- Thread starter Paul2011
- Start date
Ron Ketcham
Active member
Opening up a lot of question with this one.
To start with, do you know or can ask, if it was like a "Dupli-Color" spray paint (basically lacquer based) or some off the shelf "rattle can" spray paint?
If the later, I would recommend that you first try to soak it a bit with plain old mineral spirits, like for 4 or 5 minutes and see if the "color" comes off on the wipe rag.
Pretty simple resin system of most off the shelve spray paints and the mineral spirits will usually break it down pretty quickly.
Should that work, then polish it with whatever machine and polishing product you are comfortable with.
If not, then do the best you can, either by wet sand and buff with a good yarn pad to start with and a compound, followed of course with a polish pad and polishing product, perhaps a foam pad for that.
Second step may be done with the rotary or a dual action, in my opinion.
Not easy to know when one is not right there, but giving you the best I can for advice.
Grumpy
To start with, do you know or can ask, if it was like a "Dupli-Color" spray paint (basically lacquer based) or some off the shelf "rattle can" spray paint?
If the later, I would recommend that you first try to soak it a bit with plain old mineral spirits, like for 4 or 5 minutes and see if the "color" comes off on the wipe rag.
Pretty simple resin system of most off the shelve spray paints and the mineral spirits will usually break it down pretty quickly.
Should that work, then polish it with whatever machine and polishing product you are comfortable with.
If not, then do the best you can, either by wet sand and buff with a good yarn pad to start with and a compound, followed of course with a polish pad and polishing product, perhaps a foam pad for that.
Second step may be done with the rotary or a dual action, in my opinion.
Not easy to know when one is not right there, but giving you the best I can for advice.
Grumpy
David Fermani
Forza Auto Salon
Maybe a heavy paint thinner, but I would most likely reach for some light sandpaper. Micro Mesh 3200 or 3600 will do the trick w/o removing the factory paint *that much*.
Ron Ketcham
Active member
Naw, mineral spirits first, it will break down the resin system of most of the "enamel" off the shelves rattle cans without doing any damaging/attacking of the OEM paint system, given a bit of dwell time, most will wipe off.
Then, use the clay if necessary.
If something like a Dupli-Color rattle can, that is basically a lacquer based and it will have eaten into the OEM clear finish, so that is another concern, period.
Some questions asked, some detective work regarding the concern, does provide information that makes a huge difference in how to handle this issue.
Grumpy
Then, use the clay if necessary.
If something like a Dupli-Color rattle can, that is basically a lacquer based and it will have eaten into the OEM clear finish, so that is another concern, period.
Some questions asked, some detective work regarding the concern, does provide information that makes a huge difference in how to handle this issue.
Grumpy
JohnKleven
New member
Sprayway makes a great paint remover for spray paint. It's like a gel lacquer thinner in a spray can. Works amazingly well.