Topic: white paint spots - how to remove?

[sunnygator]

All,

My rear left quarter panel has some tiny white spots that I'm guessing are white paint droplets.  I've tried rubbing them out with just a microfiber towel and even a fingernail, but that doesn't do it.  On my "Cool" Sol, they don't show up that bad, but my better half's Chili Red MINI has them too, also on her left rear quarter panel, and they of course look much wore on that color.

Suggestions to remove these and cause minimum damage to the clearcoat?  Or has that ship sailed?

SG

[Uranium-238]

I'm interested in a solution as well, I've got white paint specs all over my car's front bumper, side mirrors, and rear quarter panels. My usual polishing compound didn't do a thing. Really makes my black car look like crap...

[Go-N Def]

Try a claybar. Use either some soapy water or some quick detailing spray as lubricant and push down hard with the claybar using a back and forth motion.

If that doesn't work, you may try something like Poorboy's World SSR3 with a Porter Cable buffer.  Joe may be able to help you with this if you don't have one...

[sunnygator]

Try a claybar. 

Did that already, no joy.....

If that doesn't work, you may try something like Poorboy's World SSR3 with a Porter Cable buffer.  Joe may be able to help you with this if you don't have one...

Def, I'll  I'll look into this one.....

any other ideas out there?

SG

[Critterman]

Are you possitive they aren't chips?

[tazz]

I would say clay bar since I took specks of yellow road paint off my truck that had been on for a few months.  Took a bit of rubbing with the clay bar but it did come off.  Your not going to do any damage as long as your use some soap and water mix and turn the clay bar often when  you can see it getting dirty.  Also not all clay bars are created equal and I would use a high quality clay bar and not the ones from most auto parts stores.

[Uranium-238]

Clay bar didn't do squat, the paint is bonded on there too well.

[Sly Bob]

Are you wheels wells splattered with paint? Wondering if you caught a freshly painted line on the hwy.

[Uranium-238]

Nope, my theory is it came off somebody else's car. Somebody could have come from a recently painted side road onto a main drag near me and the paint flying off his tires ended up on my cars. That's the best I can figure.

[tazz]

The paint spatters on my truck were from a freashly painted yellow line and they were small spatters.  I wasnt sure how to take them off and I was just going to buff them out when I detailed my truck.  Months later I used a light polish compound and it didnt touch it so I tried the clay bar and it worked like a charm considering the paint had been on there for 2 months.  
Im just suprised that your FRESH paint spatters wont come off with a clay bar when mine were on for 2 months and they came right off.

[Uranium-238]

1. Clay bars are worthless, if a fingernail won't get it off neither will a clay b
2. I've really no idea how long the paint has been on my car. From March to September the car was washed a grand total of zero times, work has been crazy and all I can honestly say is there wasn't paint on it in March.
3. I'm not in the habit of repeating myself, and when I speak on matter on which I have authority, I expect to be believed. Clay bar, fingernail, mild polish didn't work, next step will have to be a tougher polish.

[Rogue]

If the paint spots are not from a catalyzed paint source, then using an acetone based finish reducer (like lacquer thinner) should soften them and remove them. Be careful not to rub too hard or the heat generated could ignite the vapors. You should be able to find a pint can at a local auto parts or home supply store. The lacquer thinner will not damage your car's paint, however it will remove any waxes or sealers you have in the area you're rubbing out. If the paint spots are catalyzed, you'll need a mild abrasive (1500 wet or finer) to remove them and then the clearcoat will have to be polished back using a buffing wheel and polising agents.

[Go-N Def]

1. Clay bars are worthless, if a fingernail won't get it off neither will a clay b
2. I've really no idea how long the paint has been on my car. From March to September the car was washed a grand total of zero times, work has been crazy and all I can honestly say is there wasn't paint on it in March.
3. I'm not in the habit of repeating myself, and when I speak on matter on which I have authority, I expect to be believed. Clay bar, fingernail, mild polish didn't work, next step will have to be a tougher polish.

As for statement #3, maybe its just me, but you sound like an ass.  He's just trying help you after you adked for advice.  Its not like he told you to try brake fluid, aircraft remover, or a belt sander with 60 grit...

Maybe if you had washed it and waxed it sometime in the last 6 months you wouldn't be in this situation.   

[Uranium-238]

Sorry Mike, but things like washing the car end up pretty low on the priority list when you're working 50-60 hours a week. For example, I only got to stop by the Mod meet on Friday for a few hours, I ended up working all day Saturday.

Yeah, I guess I overreacted, but when it comes to people telling me that claying should fix things when it's already been tried I get peeved. Seems like every single time I have a finish problem the response is "Clay bar!" While they serve their purpose, a clay bar won't fix everything.

[duramax]

Go to adams forums and sign up. Ask there you will get an answer.

[1LILNDN]

Nope, my theory is it came off somebody else's car. Somebody could have come from a recently painted side road onto a main drag near me and the paint flying off his tires ended up on my cars. That's the best I can figure.

 The other Car could have been going so fast the painton that car Liquified and got on yours.  Now I have used WD/40 and got paint off my PT spray on rag and rub Gently. All paints are not the same .pick a small spot to check first

[tazz]

 
Sorry for tring to help out.
.

[Uranium-238]

I guess I kinda owe you an apology, but that's a subject I'm already about half cocked about.

[sunnygator]

Well thanks for the ideas, I'll let y'all know what pans out.....

[Arabas]

sunnygator, on a previous car i owned (old crappy car) i had white paint spots ALL over the car.
my dad had visited a shipyard and he parked the car near the ship, that was painted at that time. wind changed direction and white colour was flying on the car...if it wasn t an old car, i would have had a heart attack.
i tried everything, and i mean everything...but nothing worked out. so what i did was rub it with acetone WHICH OF COURSE RUINED THE CAR COLOUR but removed the spots... never painted the car after. now car is turned to a can or something.

SO, what i suggest, is to seek professional help. IMHO, the parts with white paint spots need to be repainted to the original colour. maybe it s time to refresh the colour of your car.

Sorry about this accident...

[Kagem]

That is what will happen with pure acetone, Arabas has a point. You can try some nail polish that has acetone inside but is not that strong to ruin the colour of the car, you can experiment on some parts underneath that are not visible unless you bent under the car....

[SHiNY]

When I had paint spots on the front of my car I went to my favorite body shop. (I think it was from those stupid lines in the road.) I have no idea what they used but it wiped right off.  I'll check with them today.

[Rogue]

Maybe I should have qualified myself before I offered my suggestions...I'm a veteran of many years of the autobody repair business. If you read my earlier post carefully you'll notice I did not say "pure acetone," the suggestion was for an acetone based sovent such as lacquer thinner or equivalent. That will not damage a properly cured catalyzed OEM clear coat. If the finish was a 20 year old enamel or lacquer coating - well then, the acetone based products would indeed do a lot of damage. That is not the case here. I stand by my original posting.

[Arabas]

Maybe I should have qualified myself before I offered my suggestions...I'm a veteran of many years of the autobody repair business. If you read my earlier post carefully you'll notice I did not say "pure acetone," the suggestion was for an acetone based sovent such as lacquer thinner or equivalent. That will not damage a properly cured catalyzed OEM clear coat. If the finish was a 20 year old enamel or lacquer coating - well then, the acetone based products would indeed do a lot of damage. That is not the case here. I stand by my original posting.

Rogue, i wasn t "fighting" your post, i was just sharing my experience with an 1983 Audi 80 i had, in order to state that professional help would be needed. i was saying that with acetone you can remove the spots, but i found out that you will remove the body colour too. what you are saying is a different product, friendly to the body paint and i understand that.
sorry if my post wasn't clear enough

[Rogue]

Arabas - The Audi probably had a thermal set lacquer, aka TPA or thermal polyacrylic (or possibly enamel) finish, both typical of the late 70's and early 80's. If so, then the acetone probably did indeed lift a lot of the finish right off the car! I didn't mean to dispute your post, rather, clarify that the OEM kappa finish was not likely to suffer that kind of damage. Thanks for your repost.