Removal of small spec road grime
Thread Starter
|
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 557
Likes: 0
From: New Orleans, LA
Removal of small spec road grime
Ok folks. I'm about ready to put my first coat of wax on my Oxford White '03 F-150 SCrew and had a basic question. During routine car washing I usually have small (only visible if your nose is about 4-5 inches away) specs of road grime (tar, yellow and blue dots). Most of the time they come off with some hard rubbing or the use of a wetted fingernail and some soap. Sometimes I catch them, sometimes not. Long story short, I have these specs clustered all over the vehicle and was wondering what would be the easiest way to remove them without having to kill myself rubbing at them. I haven't tried anything like a standard Bug-n-Tar remover as I didn't feel comfortable with using that all over the place. I was wondering if using a pre-wax cleaner would work, or if I just go ahead and wax the truck, the specs would come out with the wax. I normally stick with Mother's products and plan to use Mother's orginal wax cleaner product (pink stuff). Does anyone have some suggestions?
Thanks a bunch,
Tony
P.S. I picked up my first bottles of Lexol Leather Cleaner and Conditions during a recent trip to Key West, FL. I'm in love! It's ashame it's not available at retail here in Louisiana.
EDIT: I dumped the Mother's product and decided to go with a Meguiar's #7 and #26 wax.
Thanks a bunch,
Tony
P.S. I picked up my first bottles of Lexol Leather Cleaner and Conditions during a recent trip to Key West, FL. I'm in love! It's ashame it's not available at retail here in Louisiana.
EDIT: I dumped the Mother's product and decided to go with a Meguiar's #7 and #26 wax.
Last edited by TonyPTX; Feb 29, 2004 at 12:35 PM.
Moderator &
Senior Member
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 31,440
Likes: 4
From: The Bluegrass State
Tony,
First, glad you like the Lexol. To date, it's certainly one of my favorite leather products!
Secondly, what you've described sounds like the perfect scenario for clay.
Try doing a search for claybar or clay and you're going to get a BUNCH of hits...
Feel free to ask additional questions...
RP
First, glad you like the Lexol. To date, it's certainly one of my favorite leather products!
Secondly, what you've described sounds like the perfect scenario for clay.
Try doing a search for claybar or clay and you're going to get a BUNCH of hits...
Feel free to ask additional questions...
RP
Thread Starter
|
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 557
Likes: 0
From: New Orleans, LA
RP,
Seems you have a thing for clay after reading a lot of the previous posts
I'll try the clay, but am having problems finding Meguiar's clay. Local shops here have Mother's clay. Would it be a bad idea to mix a Mother's clay application (with the Mothers Showtime as clay lub) and then follow up with Meguiar's #7 Glaze and #26 Wax?
Anyone have any good sources for the Meguiar's clay (other than online), i.e. like Wal-Mart? (I've checked my local Pep-Boy's, Autozone, and Advanced Auto Parts w/no luck)
Tony
Seems you have a thing for clay after reading a lot of the previous posts
I'll try the clay, but am having problems finding Meguiar's clay. Local shops here have Mother's clay. Would it be a bad idea to mix a Mother's clay application (with the Mothers Showtime as clay lub) and then follow up with Meguiar's #7 Glaze and #26 Wax?
Anyone have any good sources for the Meguiar's clay (other than online), i.e. like Wal-Mart? (I've checked my local Pep-Boy's, Autozone, and Advanced Auto Parts w/no luck)
Tony
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 4,867
Likes: 0
From: NH
You can use any clay you want without any worry one brand will affect another brands wax/polish. Just stick with a good quality brand such as Meguiars, Mothers, Zaino etc.
Below is an excerpt from a previous post I wrote in regards to using Zaino. So it will give you some idea, just substitute the word Zaino for what ever brand of clay you’re using since they are all used the same way. As far as the Zaino car wash just substitute that for what ever car wash you use…
Below is an excerpt from a previous post I wrote in regards to using Zaino. So it will give you some idea, just substitute the word Zaino for what ever brand of clay you’re using since they are all used the same way. As far as the Zaino car wash just substitute that for what ever car wash you use…
2. Get a 20oz size or so plastic spray bottle. Fill it 2/3 full of clean water. Put about half a cap (from the Zaino car wash bottle) of the Zaino car wash in with the water. Put the spray nozzle back on and mix solution.
You will use this to lubricate the paint when claying the truck.
3. Use the Zaino, or any good brand of clay. If it is the Zaino clay it comes with two pieces in the bottle. Take one and separate it into 2 pieces. Main reason for doing this is IF you DROP it on the ground you MUST throw the clay away. Do NOT bother trying to get the dropped clay clean because you will never get all the little dirt specks out, some you won’t see but if you try to use it after dropping on the ground you WILL see nice little scratches in your paint.
Now with your piece of clay in hand, spray the mixed solution on an area of about 1 sq foot. Spray generously (the solution is cheap so don’t worry about over kill) if you spray to lightly if will dry up quick, which makes it easy for the clay to STICK to the paint (no problem) except when it sticks you’ll most likely to drop it. Move the clay back and forth until it feels smooth or feels like it needs more lubrication. You will know if you are picking stuff up because it feels a bit rough, or kind of like clicking while you go back and forth. When it is real smooth you know the area is done. You may also find most the truck feels smooth as you clay, but down around the fenders, bottom of the door etc will most likely be the areas that need the claying.
As your claying you want to turn the clay frequently, knead it where you’re turning the area of the clay you used into itself to expose an area of clay that has not been used yet. If you use the same area of the clay, especially after you feel a rough spot on the paint surface you will be dragging the stuff you picked up across the paint. Myself I would recommend after you do 1 – 2 areas to knead the clay and use and area that hasn’t been used yet.
4. After you finish claying wash the truck again, this time use the Zaino car wash.
You will use this to lubricate the paint when claying the truck.
3. Use the Zaino, or any good brand of clay. If it is the Zaino clay it comes with two pieces in the bottle. Take one and separate it into 2 pieces. Main reason for doing this is IF you DROP it on the ground you MUST throw the clay away. Do NOT bother trying to get the dropped clay clean because you will never get all the little dirt specks out, some you won’t see but if you try to use it after dropping on the ground you WILL see nice little scratches in your paint.
Now with your piece of clay in hand, spray the mixed solution on an area of about 1 sq foot. Spray generously (the solution is cheap so don’t worry about over kill) if you spray to lightly if will dry up quick, which makes it easy for the clay to STICK to the paint (no problem) except when it sticks you’ll most likely to drop it. Move the clay back and forth until it feels smooth or feels like it needs more lubrication. You will know if you are picking stuff up because it feels a bit rough, or kind of like clicking while you go back and forth. When it is real smooth you know the area is done. You may also find most the truck feels smooth as you clay, but down around the fenders, bottom of the door etc will most likely be the areas that need the claying.
As your claying you want to turn the clay frequently, knead it where you’re turning the area of the clay you used into itself to expose an area of clay that has not been used yet. If you use the same area of the clay, especially after you feel a rough spot on the paint surface you will be dragging the stuff you picked up across the paint. Myself I would recommend after you do 1 – 2 areas to knead the clay and use and area that hasn’t been used yet.
4. After you finish claying wash the truck again, this time use the Zaino car wash.
Moderator &
Senior Member
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 31,440
Likes: 4
From: The Bluegrass State
It's not that I have a thing for it, just sounds like it might be the right solution for what you've described. 
The Mother's Clay should work out just fine... I've heard several people talk about how they liked the results!
RP
The Mother's Clay should work out just fine... I've heard several people talk about how they liked the results!
RP
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 3,053
Likes: 0
From: Aggieland, TX
I had the same problem...several people here suggested WD-40, worked well enough for me.
Before shots:
I dont think it would cause any damage to your paint as long as you wash the area soon after and put your favorite wax/sealant/whatever on. It's been a few months since I did this and I haven't noticed any issues on the areas.
Before shots:
I dont think it would cause any damage to your paint as long as you wash the area soon after and put your favorite wax/sealant/whatever on. It's been a few months since I did this and I haven't noticed any issues on the areas.
Thread Starter
|
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 557
Likes: 0
From: New Orleans, LA
Dial 911!!!
Someone stop and call the Police....MY TRUCK'S BEEN STOLEN!!!
Heh....
Thanks Johngs for the pictures. That's the exact kind of stuff I'm talking about (not as bad though).
I'll try the clay option first and if that doesn't work, maybe some bug and tar remover, and then finally the "Water Dispersant Formula #40 (a.k.a. WD-40 for those of you who didn't know what it stood for).
Thanks for all the advice. I'll get my results back to you guys this weekend when I plan on doing an exterior detail.
Tony
Heh....
Thanks Johngs for the pictures. That's the exact kind of stuff I'm talking about (not as bad though).
I'll try the clay option first and if that doesn't work, maybe some bug and tar remover, and then finally the "Water Dispersant Formula #40 (a.k.a. WD-40 for those of you who didn't know what it stood for).
Thanks for all the advice. I'll get my results back to you guys this weekend when I plan on doing an exterior detail.
Tony
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 557
Likes: 0
From: New Orleans, LA
Thanks for all the suggestions...
Let this be MY testimonial to the benefits of clay. My side mirrors (along with other parts of my truck) used to look like Johngs above. But with a little elbow grease and 6 hours of detailing (wash, dry, clay, wash, dry, glaze, wax)...your side mirrors TOO can look new again...
Thanks go out to RP on this one...
Peace
TonyPTX
Thanks go out to RP on this one...
Peace
TonyPTX