Paint spots & Clay

1254 Views 14 Replies 7 Participants Last post by BlueMinx, Oct 6, 2009

HeiMa

Discussion Starter · Jan 31, 2006

Well, sometime during the last couple of weeks I managed to drive through some white paint which I could not see until I washed my car this weekend, and now my beautiful black horse has white spots!!! :madas:

Anyhow, I noticed I can scrape the spots off with my finger nail so it will come off (I have the permaplate), but I doubt I am going to sit there and scrape a couple-thousand spots off of my car. They are along both sides and the back.

I got a quote from a shop today that said they could clay it and that would take it off. Does this sound right, and if so, is the claying process something I can do myself?

Thanks in advance.

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G

· #2 · Jan 31, 2006

I'm sure someone will chime in here but...

Unless they're referring to something more professional at the body shop I would get a Mother's Clay Bar and misting spray and do it yourself. It's not expensive and would probably do the trick. I've used the clay bar in the past as it really gets gunk and impurities in the surface of the paint out pretty well. You should be able to find it at your local auto parts store. Unless the body shop is using some extravagant method I can't see paying them for something you can do yourself with a little elbow grease. Fight the urge to scrape with your finger, though, as you'd be surprised how easy it is to marr a perfectly good finish.
Hope that helps and have a good one!
Snack

HeiMa

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jan 31, 2006

Thanks - that's what I thought. I'll make a run to the auto shop during lunch - they want to charge me $377 and another detailer said he would need to remove and then reapply the permaplate - all for "only" $150 which actually makes me nervous.

Oh, and I only scrapped just to make sure it could be removed, but thanks for the warning. :thumbsup

Snackmaster said:
I'm sure someone will chime in here but...

Unless they're referring to something more professional at the body shop I would get a Mother's Clay Bar and misting spray and do it yourself. It's not expensive and would probably do the trick. I've used the clay bar in the past as it really gets gunk and impurities in the surface of the paint out pretty well. You should be able to find it at your local auto parts store. Unless the body shop is using some extravagant method I can't see paying them for something you can do yourself with a little elbow grease. Fight the urge to scrape with your finger, though, as you'd be surprised how easy it is to marr a perfectly good finish.
Hope that helps and have a good one!
Snack

G

· #4 · Jan 31, 2006

For $377 I would definately try it yourself. What's Permaplate? Is that a Ford coating option of some sort? I'm not familiar with that at all so I guess I would double check at the auto parts store to make sure whatever you apply to the paint is safe for the Permaplate.

At least you have a car that needs detail work. I have to live vicariously through everyone else's Stangs until mine arrives.

This is tough.

Snack

HeiMa

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jan 31, 2006

Snackmaster said:
At least you have a car that needs detail work. I have to live vicariously through everyone else's Stangs until mine arrives.
Snack

Oh man, that does suck!

The Permaplate is just a clear protective coating that was applied - there have been debates on this board about if it is worth it or not, but both the dealer and the detailer I talked to said that is the only reason the paint is coming off, so right now I think it is.

I don't think it is just a Ford product as it was the same name when we had it applied to my wife's Camry.

Thanks again!

5twenty

· #6 · Jan 31, 2006

Zaino claybar claims to be great for "paint overspray". Sounds like it might work for your problem.

MN. SCOOTER

· #7 · Jan 31, 2006

permaplate?

Is this Permaplate the 3m plastic that you can put on the front of vehicles? Or is this some sort of wax/sealer you had applied??
Thanks Scooter

HeiMa

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jan 31, 2006

MN. [url="#" said:
SCOOTER[/url]]Is this Permaplate the 3m plastic that you can put on the front of vehicles? Or is this some sort of wax/sealer you had applied??
Thanks Scooter

It is a liquid form that is sprayed on.

HeiMa

Discussion Starter · #9 · Jan 31, 2006

5twenty said:
Zaino claybar claims to be great for "paint overspray". Sounds like it might work for your problem.

I guess I can only order the Zaino online - didn't see anything about stores that carry it. But thanks, I have heard great things about their products.

danalor

· #10 · Jan 31, 2006

My understanding is that claying was initially used by body shops to remove paint overspray, so it will work. I clay my car twice a year (just finished the 2nd one last weekend) and with the mustang's straight lines I can clay my car in 30 - 40 minutes including windows. As for as using elbow grease, most how-to's I researched before doing mine recommended not using a lot of pressure just let the clay glide over the finish and the clay will do the work.

MN. SCOOTER

· #11 · Jan 31, 2006

Where can you get this permaplate done? Is this from Ford, or is it an aftermarket product? This stuff sounds great, Do you do anything different as far as waxing goes?

Thanks Again
Scooter

HeiMa

Discussion Starter · #12 · Jan 31, 2006

MN. [url="#" said:
SCOOTER[/url]]Where can you get this permaplate done? Is this from Ford, or is it an aftermarket product? This stuff sounds great, Do you do anything different as far as waxing goes?

Thanks Again
Scooter

It was one of those things they tack on when you buy the car so they can add more to the price! :winks However, my wife's car is a dark gray and I saw how much it improved that car's appearance so when I bought black I decided to go with it. It is also applied to the interior of the car.

They give you their own "paint renewer" which they say is not wax, and I have treated my wife's car with it - works the same way - rub it on, let it dry, whipe it off. As for what's different about it from commerical/consumer polishes I could not tell you.

BTW - the problem is solved. We have one of those mobile detail guys that has been servicing cars in our business area since I have been here in my office - about 6 years now - lot's of high-end cars and repeat customers so I figure he does good work. I talked to him at lunch today and he tested a spot with his polish and it came right off! :laughlitt

So next week it all gets taken off and a nice wax on the car which it is WAY overdue for anyhow. All for $75.

Thanks to all though for your help and suggestions. I have been wanting to try the Zaino for a while now and may just get some for the next polishing.

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BzLime05

· #13 · Jan 31, 2006

Zaino

I highly recommend the Zaino show car finish products- I used the clay bar and was amazed at how much junk the bar collected. A friend recommended it, and I was NOT disappointed. One application has lasted almost a year, and makes cleaning the road tar and stuff easy. Spring will see another clay bar and TWO applications.

Now I just have to figure out how to fix the stone chips in the hood... GRRRRR! Damn stones. I hate that loud *CRACK* when one of those little meteors hits.

05, Lime GT, Pushing 30K
Ordered 12-4-04
Rec'd 2-3-05

johnnymac

· #14 · Feb 1, 2006

zaino clay bar

In my parking lot at work they oversprayed while marking out the parking slots with white paint. The entire back and side of my black car got sprayed. They denied it, so I was left to pro shop for 400 bucks or do it myself. I chose to do it myself. I only did a panel at a time over the period of two weeks in all. All the paint dots came off and the black was shinier than ever. Just remember to keep the surface lubricated and don't stop while in the clay is in contact with the paint. You should be okay. Just be careful and take your time. Good luck

BlueMinx

· #15 · Oct 6, 2009

I have a 2001 mustang gt convertible that I'll pit the smoothness of the paint job (minus the road dings) against any new paint job. About once a year I use a clay bar and a detailing spray to get off all the garbage that ends up getting on your car from daily use. It does work well with paint overspray too. If your car is well waxed, generally the little bitty overspray type spots will come right off. I had someone spray their house while my car was out and it ended up with little paint dimples all over it. With a bottle of mothers detail spray and a clay bar and some hard work, all of it came off. I have also found that a product called 'ducky' made for boats takes off real hard water spots that nothing else would. I use the ducky, then wash the spot, then wax it and it comes out clean. It may take a little work depending on the water spots.

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