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Help! Black paint overspray all over white OBW!


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Guest Chip Hedrick

During the work day I park my Glacier White OBW in a small downtown parking lot near my office. Various buildings, including a 5 or 6 story tall office building, overlook the parking lot.

 

On my way into work on Thursday I noticed what looked like a reddish film on the hood of my OBW. I though little of it other than that I needed to wash my car. During the day my assistant came into my office. She drives a white Toyota Camry. She said her husband noticed red paint all over her car and it wouldn't wash off. She told me he was taking the car to a body shop to see what they recommended.

 

I went out to the parking lot and verified that there was what looked like red paint dust all over the hood of my car.

 

There were commercial painters working at the 5 or 6 story office building. I spoke with a gentleman who identified himself as the owner of the painting company. I asked whether he was using red paint, but he said no, he was using black paint (he was covered in black paint overspray). I told him there was what looked like red paint overspray on my car and asked whether he had done any sand blasting (most of the buildings in the area are brick) or had seen anyone else painting or sandblasting in the area. He said he hadn't. On the way back to my office, I observed another painter (also covered in black overspray) wheeling what looked like a paint sprayer down the sidewalk. I think the painters had been spraying black paint on a fire escape on the outside of the office building.

 

I have today off. First thing this morning I went out to wash the OBW in the driveway. Much of what looked like dust or film washed off, but sure enough I was left with thousand of BLACK (not red) paint specks all over the white paint (not just the hood), roof rack, windows, etc. The black specks wouldn't wash off with normal effort.

 

Is there any surefire way (polish?) for me to get these thousands of black paint specks off my car without damaging the paint or clear coat? What about getting them off the windows?

 

I am a lawyer and could sue the painting company and/or the building owner on behalf of myself and my assistant, but it wouldn't be worth the effort unless one or the other of us ends up needing a new paint job. (These little cases are a PITA: labor intensive and the minimum filing fee is $100.00, plus costs of service, etc.). Accordingly, I would like to try to fix this myself before threatening suit (there are many honest lawyers like me who are not overly litigious and are not millionaires (maybe those things go together)). Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

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Guest Legacy777

Well I was/still am in a similar situation, except the body shop did it, instead of painters.

 

Clay bars will take off overspray. The body shop did a half rump roast job of it, which did help, but it's still not perfect. So I'll be needing to do the entire car. Depending on how much comes off, and what it looks like, I may take it to get it buffed out to get anything I missed and to help "level" the paint finish between the old and new paint.

 

You should be able to get the paint off yourself....it's just a lot of work. You can use acetone, which will take it off of some of the black plastic pieces. It shouldn't damage the clear coat, but I don't know if I'd use that on the entire car. You could try some areas and see how it works. If you do use the acetone, your car will most definitely need to be waxed. I'd wash it again as well.

 

As for windows and mirrors, use a razor blade. Make sure it's a brand new razor blade, as used ones can scratch the glass's surface (happened on a small portion of my mirror) Hold the blade at about a 30 degree angle to the surface and just scrape. You may need to flip sides occasionally, and razor blades. Sharper the blade the better and smoother it works, not to mention less likely hood of scratching.

 

If you got any questions, let me know.

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Josh is absolutely correct, use a "clay" bar. Go to the auto parts store and get a "clay" kit. You may have to look around but the couple I have purchased are from Mothers and will sell for $15-20. They will contain a clay bar and a wetting solution. Just spray the liquid on the car, about 2 square feet, then rub with the clay bar. It is just that easy and you will be amazed. It will take the over spray off and is far more gentle than any solvent or abrasive.

 

Enjoy.

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Guest 1 Lucky Texan

I must say that since the paint used by these guys is most likely much different (maybe they'd tell you what they use?) than the finish on your car - there may very well be a solvent that would remove it without doing harm to the car's finish. If you can't get some paint expert's idea, I'd try (all these on an inconspicuous test area first) soap and water first, then something like an Orange Cleaner, then an alcohol next,Goof Off, followed by either acetone or maybe concentrated sodium hydroxide (Liquid Plumber). The clay bar will be a lot of work but half the chemicals listed above are very harsh and tricky to keep off of rubber and plastic areas. good luck and be careful!

 

Carl

1 Lucky Texan

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Guest Chip Hedrick

Thanks for the advice. I hadn't heard of clay bars before. I think I'll start with those, and if they don't do the trick I'll try chemicals.

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