Removing Overspray paint from truck?

[Texas Z]

Over the weekend I washed my truck and found that there is overspray paint over the entire truck.  The paint is white so it is very noticeable and when I run my hand across the paint it feels like sandpaper.  The paint is not latex because I scrubed and scrubed and nothing came off.  I had to use a razor blade to get it off the windows.  Anybody have any suggestions on how to remove the overspray without damaging the trucks paint or clear coat.

 

Thanks

[bstewart]

Have you tried a clay bar?

[Texas Z]

No I haven't.  What is a clay bar and what will it do?

[MarkD]

Clay bar will/should take it off.  I took aerosol primer off of my wifes maxima with it.

[Texas Z]

Where do you get a clay bar?

[c4cruiser]

No I haven't.  What is a clay bar and what will it do?

A clay bar is just like the name; a piece of clay similar to kid's clay.  When you rub the bar over the finish, it picks up any contaminants such as dirt, rail dust or tar.  It's used with a lubricant of some sort like a detail spray or just a mix of car wash soap and water.  Clay bars can be pretty expensive, about $20 for a 8 ounce container but there is enough material to do a truck 3-4 times before you have to toss it.

 

Meguiar's make a clay bar as does Mother's.  Griot's Garage has an excellent clay bar and it's the one I use ( http://www.griotsgarage.com)  Some of the Meguiar's clay bars had a problem with their material and the clay would stick to the paint finish and was a real PITA to remove.

 

Do you have any idea what the paint overspray is?  Latex paint should come off just by using a fingernail to scrape it.  If it is an oil-based paint or an automotive-type finish and it is on heavy enough, you may have to have your truck wet-sanded and buffed out.  IMHO, that would help any factory finish anyway!!

 

Spray an area to be clayed with the lubricant and then rub the bar fairly gently in a back and forth motion on the finish.  Wipe the area dry with a clean soft towel and you should feel a very smooth surfance that feels like a fresh wax job, but without any rough surface. You'll know the bar is working if the finish is free of any roughness at all.  Just make sure that the clay is kept well-lubricated so clay does not stick to the finish.

 

I would start by washing the entire truck with Dawn dishwasing soap.  It will remove all of the wax and provide a clean surface to start.  Use a road tar remover to take off any tar, grease, oily film or bugs.  Then start with the clay bar doing fairly small areas at a time especially if you are using a detail spray to lube the clay.  You don't want that stuff to dry on the finish without buffing.

 

If the clay bar seems to work to take the overspray off, do the entire truck.  Wash it again with your favorite car wash soap, use a good polish and then follow with a high quality wax.

[Tweeter400]

I used to detail at a chevy dealership and we use to use the clay bar to remove overspray on body shop vehicles. It is amazing at what a clay bar will take off!! Definitly do the whole vehicle because it will also take dirt out of the paint.

[bstewart]

Just follow the instructions that c4 cruiser gave you.  I use Mothers and it works well.

[TxDoc]

I have easy access to Mother's brand clay bar:

 

CALIFORNIA GOLD®

CLAY BAR PAINT SAVING SYSTEM

 

You've heard about clay bars-professional detailers, body men and your car buddies all talk about how well it works. Now use the clay bar everybody wants. Created to lift the particulate debris and contaminants that washing can't, our exclusive Paint Saving System will remove embedded grains of metal, tree sap, airborne environmental deposits and paint overspray. Better yet, our clay bar isn't hazardous to your paint-it's just firm enough to pick up the bad stuff, without being too aggressive. Use Mothers® Clay Bar to get rid of paint-fouling grime and pave the way for complete waxing.

 

#07240 includes 80 gram Clay Bar, 16 oz. Showtime® Instant Detailer, 4 oz. Original Formula Carnauba Cleaner Wax.

[CapnDean]

Dupont 3812 enamel reducer:

 

 

That's the ticket.  Use it just like you would acetone.

 

If you had a good coat of wax on your truck beforehand you will simply wipe it down with this and then re-wax it.

 

DO NOT use a razor blade.  I would not use clay bar until AFTER I had used the 3812.  Remember...any time you rub on your truck with anything harder than a diaper....you risk putting scratches in it.

 

(Noooo...CapnDean knows that clay bar won't hurt your paint...but it is more abrasive than what you need at this point!)

[Polaris Man]

My dad owns his own exterior painting business, and we have had to clean some cars over the years. We mainly used three different chemicals when cleaning them, try paint thinner first and see if it does anything. If not we use Xylene, you can get this at any paint store, or if its really tough coming off we use a product called Clean Cut, it is pretty strong stuff and would only use on a vehicle that has clearcoat. You might not be able to find it though, we get it from a small local paint store. Xylene is your best bet. Use clean rags and be patient with it. Wash good afterwards and wax it then. Dont try buffing with overspray on it still, this will make matters worse.

[DuckhunterInTN]

This may sound crazy, but the best, quickest stuff that I have ever seen to get off overspray (especially if it is not too old) is bug and tar remover.  Just use your normal washing mitt and have water handy.  Don't leave it on your paint for over 10 minutes, and rinse it off as you use it.  

 

I ran over a full spray can of silver paint one time in a brand new black truck and it blew up all down the passenger side  The best thing I could find was that and it worked like a charm.

 

Another thing that works at least as good if not better, at least on normal rattle can paint, is WD-40.

[timk49]

Hi Texss Z,

 

Sorry to hear about the overspray on your paint job. I  have used a particular brand of products to wash and wax my vehicles and have found no other products that can compare.

The line of products comes from Global Performance Products and includes the everything you will  need to get that overspray off of yout paint.

Start With a clean surface. You can use the car shampoo that can be purchased from Global but any mild cleaner will work. Then use the clay lubricated with the cly lubrication. You can clay a whole truck in 15 minutes. It is fast and easy. I have used it on my wifes new Eterra and on my Silverado 2500 HD. A month ago the City hired a contractor to apply a slurrey to the road everyone in my neighborhood uses to get to the freeway. Two days after the application it rained and we all got out vehicles coated with a black ter type spray. I used the Clay to clean it off my truck with no problem. The neighbors got free car washes some of them two free washes and still have the tar on the paint.

I use the Product called "Der Real Stuff" to coat the vehicle after I have clayed it. It is great for cleaning and polishing at the same time.It leaves the best shine I've ever seen and protects for many months. Try it.

Check out the following website for info and ordering their products.

www.4realstuff.com

 

Ihave nothing to do with the company I just love their products.

 

Good Luck let me know how it turns out.

[CapnDean]

Hey Tex;  

 

Let us know how it turns out...boy if you follow ALL the advice posted here you shouldn't have to wash your truck for a couple of years!

[Texas Z]

I am going to try the clay bar method first.  I don't want to use any chemicals on the paint unless I really have to.  I went by a few auto part stores last night and I found the Mother's Clay Bar kit TxDoc was talking about for $14 bucks.  I also found a overspray paint removal product at Napa.  It is a chemical that you wipe on and wipe off and it states that it is safe for clearcoats.  That will be my last resort.  I am not going to be able to do it until after X-mas, I don't know if that will cause more damage.  

 

I will let ya'll know how it goes.  

 

Thanks for all the advice.

 

WAX ON, WAX OFF!!!!!!!