And another polishing question

[Guest smith356]

Driving down Interstate 57 the other day and went past an overhead pass that was all tarped over while they're painting the underside.I switched to the passing lane when I went by it and thought no more of it. A few days later I noticed my black car covered with tiny gray dots of paint - like a speckled egg ! I'll need to go over the car with a polishing compound, but with a dark color (black), I'm a little nervous about leaving swirls in the paint. I would appreciate any input before I begin. Thanks. Jim

[Guest EDBS0]

Detailing clay was designed to remove pa...e most popular.

DO NOT EVEN THINK OF USING A RUBBING OR POLISHING COMPOUND!

[Guest F14CRAZY]

EDBSO is right on. Try a clay-bar kit. Autozone carries a Mother's kit that I've used and worked really well. I'm pretty sure it'll get the specks out.

[Guest EDBS0]

Details on using clay.

[Guest Tammy]

I used the Mothers clay kit, good stuff. It did take me a longggggg time to do my car, but only because I was working around a baby's nap time.

After I did one little area on the hood, I set the detail bottle down on the hood(by mistake) and it slid right down off the car. It was that slick. And wait till you see what it takes off your car. I mean I just had gotten my car and washed it a bunch of times, but then when you clay, you get the <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />off

[Guest smith356]

Thank you so much, everyone. I'll definately go with the clay. Again..... this is why this forum is so great !

[Guest F14CRAZY]

Just don't drop the clay

[Guest smith356]

Just got done ! It's nice and shiny again - the clay does a great job...and, luckily, I didn't drop it ! Thanks, EDBSO & F14 for steering me in the right direction. Much obliged !

[Guest EDBS0]

My pleasure.

This is a really bad time to tell you this BUT there are two types of people in this world. Those who have dropped their detailing clay and those who say that they haven't dropped their detailing clay! Personally I do two things! I work over fresh newspaper so when I drop the clay it does not pick up dirt. Second I tear the clay into smaller pieces about 1/8 of a bar. I then fold these pieces several times before they are dirty enough to use on the rims and then toss.

You and Tammy can go to any car show and drag your finger tips across and painted surface and you can immediately tell which car has been clayed.

After a quality polish on top of the clay job you will have a fantastic smooth and shiny finish.

Congratulations on your job well done! I do mine every spring.

I have seen professional glass guys diamond grind gang grafittti scratched into store front glass, it looked new when they were finished. You may be able to find someone willing to do your windshield. But I don't know?

[Guest smith356]

Thanks so much for taking the time to help out - hope someday I can return the favor. As they say, what goes around comes around !

[DeeBee]

Why do anything other than getting the painting contractor to have the paint professionally restored? It wasn't your fault, it was theirs. They have insurance for these purposes. Matching the paint specks to your car and their paint is easy.

I don't advocate running to insurance companies for everything but this is no minor snafu and someone else is responsible. It will accomplish a few things: you'll get professional care for the paint; they will be more careful in the future.

If you were painting your house and got some paint on the neighbor's car, think he/she would be out there claying the car and trying to fix the problem you caused?

I'm all for helping one's self but when someone else is clearly at fault through negligence, I hold them accountable. It helps me and it helps the next guy from perhaps not getting the same treatment.

[Guest smith356]

It was no big deal. It all came off easily and I now have the added bonus of smoother and shinier paint. You know, make Lemonade out of lemons ! If it had been bad, I agree with you, I would have gone back to the Contractor. For some reason, it came off very easy. Maybe it assures the contractor that he'll be busy in the years ahead - by using a low quality product ?? I don't know, just glad to have a happy ending.