I hope everyone is doing well.

I made a duh stupid mistake and got some red spray paint from a can on the fender of my car, which is basecoat/clearcoat. It's been on there a few days because I just haven't had the time to deal with it.

I know there are certain DO's and DON'Ts regarding clearcoats, and I don't want to screw up again and make a bad situation worse.

Is it possible to remove the paint and leave the clearcoat intact?

Thanks,
Tom

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TC Member #59
'70 Malibu 350/4speed (http://members.aol.com/tkarol/myhomepage/pic00001.jpg)
'90 John Deere SS165 (http://hometown.aol.com/tkarol/images/jd_ss165_s.jpg)

[This message has been edited by TK-70 (edited 03-19-2001).]

How much red paint? First I would try some car wax/cleaner or the clay bar stuff. If that doesn't work, use clear coat buffing compound. Just put some on a rag, smear it on the red paint and rub till it's gone. The longer the red is on the car the harder it will be to remove.



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Bill Taylor
TC Gold Member #73
December 1999 Feature Car
www.chevelles.com/feature/december99.htm (http://www.chevelles.com/feature/december99.html)
www.chevelles.com/showroom/BillTSS70-2 (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/BillTSS70-2)
www.chevelles.com/showroom/leaves2 (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/leaves2)
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Try prep-sol or a pre-paint cleaner 1st. If that dosn't work, you can use a laquer thinner-soaked rag for the tough stuff. Just don't let it stay 'wet' with the solvent for too long. polish & wax afterwards.

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Triple Black 69 SS 396

Thanks Bill, Jimmy.

Any particular name brands come to mind? I'll run out and buy whatever I need. I just don't know very much about paint maintenance aside from washing and waxing.

As for how much - a 6" squirt on the top of one of my fender extensions. I wasn't going to get into the whole story, but since you asked... Technically it wasn't my doing, but my stupidity for letting it happen. I brought it in for a paint match to an auto supply store and he sprayed it with some touch-up before I knew what happened. He thought I'd be repainting it anyway and it looked like a *perfect* match to me as well. When I checked it in the daylight a few days later it doesn't look so good. So at this point, I'd prefer see the original imperfect paint again, rather than the wrong color. Thanks.


[This message has been edited by TK-70 (edited 03-19-2001).]

Tom, I had a similar, but self inflicted, wound, and I used one of those clay bars with a bit of Mother's #6 ( i think) Glaze and it came off nicely.

Thanks Gents.

Bill, 427+, it looks like I'll pickup some clay stuff and try that. I did some Internet browsing and everything I read about the clay is positive and it's relatively safe. I'd never even heard of clay til just recently. Amazing. I found many references to its ability to remove overspray. 427L88 confirmed that as well. Thanks.

If that fails, Jimmy I just realized that the Eastwood Pre-paint that I have is probably what you were referring to. I've got lacquer thinner if that fails. I hope I don't have to resort to that.

Thanks again. Tom

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TC Member #59
'70 Malibu 350/4speed (http://members.aol.com/tkarol/myhomepage/pic00001.jpg)
'90 John Deere SS165 (http://hometown.aol.com/tkarol/images/jd_ss165_s.jpg)

Here's the verdict.

I tried the clay last night. It's very weird stuff! I didn't feel like I was accomplishing much of anything. Maybe I'm too old fashioned or something, but I can't figure out what's supposed to happen with the clay. Some red was appearing on the clay, so I kept folding it over and inside out. But overall it wasn't taking much of the paint off. It may be good for removing overspray, but my situation was worse than that.

So I then turned to the PRE paint cleaner. This took it right off! I was very careful about not leaving the surface wet for very long. I soaked a cloth and made a swipe, then quickly dried with another cloth. I had the paint off in no time.

Thanks for the tips. It really comes down to how much paint you've got on there apparently. I had too much paint for the clay to absorb.

Thanks again guys. First day of spring! We'll be on the road again soon.
Tom

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TC Member #59
'70 Malibu 350/4speed (http://members.aol.com/tkarol/myhomepage/pic00001.jpg)
'90 John Deere SS165 (http://hometown.aol.com/tkarol/images/jd_ss165_s.jpg)