White paint spots on Royal Blue Car!

[Leander]

Hi - some advice needed please:lol:

Recently bought a conny tourer with about a five hundred tiny pin head sized white points on the bonnet. Apparently the previous owners neighbours had been having some of the exterior paint work done, and some of the spray blew over....

I've already tried nail polish remover, and white spirit, with no effect on the spots. I don't want to t-cut it, even with the t-cut for metallic/ pearlescent as I'd wear a good bit of the lacquer off, and maybe get down to the paint, trying to take off the half mm deep paint spots.

I've tried scrapping with wood, plastic spoon, with no effect. The point of iron knife works, but it's impossible not to damage the laquer and paint a bit in the process - I dont' want to turn 500 spots into 500 holes or scratches.

So - over to the experts as usual - what do I do now!

[GreyGhost]

I would say a machine polish by an expert would be the best way to deal with this problem.
I'm sure the likes of Deano75 will be along to confirm or deny. And advise the best option.

[Greeners]

As GG says, go to a detailer (not a valeter), they'll save it. If Deano isb't close by, I'm sure he'll know someone close by.

Failing that, try Detailing World...an excellent site

[Leander]

Thanks Grey Ghost and Greeners, and for the recommendations.

Already spent £500 in the last month or son on the car (synergy, pierburgh, all the filters, egr replacement, set of crowns and tires, all the gliptone stuff etc) so was hoping to diy it if possible - hence my efforts so far.

I'll go an take a look at Detailing world now... but if anyone has any brilliant ideas in the meantime...


Cheers
Leander

[Kai Herb]

How about trying some Detailing Clay ? , you can remove a fair bit of contamination and its not too expensive.

[Leander]

Originally Posted by Kai Herb

How about trying some Detailing Clay ? , you can remove a fair bit of contamination and its not too expensive.

Thanks for the suggestion.

From the little I understand about detailing clay, it's quite a mild abrasive, so would take a lot of work to remove paint spots (but someone correct me if I'm wrong).

More problemically, as I'd be rubbing the spots, I'd also be rubbing - again a lot - on the surrounding paintwork, which I imagine can only take so much.

I hoped there was some kind of solvent out there - like acetone or white spirit (tried those) - that would loosen the spots without damaging the lacquer or the paint below.

[Kai Herb]

The problem is that anything that will "dissolve" the white paint will more than likely damage the original paint.

A clay does not in itself damage the paint , its usually the contamination (dirt etc) that does the damage which is why its important to fold the clay often.

Halfords and other motor factors do a Meguires kit for around £20 which is fairly safe and well regarded.

[deano78]

Originally Posted by Grey Ghost

I would say a machine polish by an expert would be the best way to deal with this problem.
I'm sure the likes of Deano75 will be along to confirm or deny. And advise the best option.

thanks for putting 3 years on me there.

clay should shift it. there are varying grades of abrasivness to tackle most jobs. failing that a decon kit would work but would only suggest that as a last resort.

only prob with using a heavy duty clay is that it will leave its own marring on the paintwork that will need machine polishing out.

[GreyGhost]

Originally Posted by deano78

thanks for putting 3 years on me there.

I actually took them off. You are most welcome.

[Leander]

Originally Posted by deano78

thanks for putting 3 years on me there.

clay should shift it. there are varying grades of abrasivness to tackle most jobs. failing that a decon kit would work but would only suggest that as a last resort.

only prob with using a heavy duty clay is that it will leave its own marring on the paintwork that will need machine polishing out.

Thanks deano78. Looks like I know what my options are now. It just amazes me those tiny spots of white can cling on so tightly. Glue would come off more easily....