Permanent marker on paint

Permanent marker on paint

Author
Discussion

Nezquick

Original Poster:

1,461 posts

126 months

Monday 7th July 2014
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Some scrote has gone down my wife's car doors with permanent marker. Is there any easy way of getting it off? Will it just polish out?

Thanks

Crafty_

13,286 posts

200 months

Monday 7th July 2014
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I would think you'd be able to buff it off with a DA easily enough.

I'm wondering if claying it would work...

Chris_VRS

1,892 posts

193 months

Monday 7th July 2014
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Presuming it's a modern car with a lacquered finish!? Some thinners or panel wipe should do the trick. Failing that a lightly abrasive polish would work. Autoglyms super resin polish if your shopping on the high st.

mybrainhurts

90,809 posts

255 months

Monday 7th July 2014
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Have you touched it yet?

This happened to my son's car. Turned out to be a joker with some grease.

Nezquick

Original Poster:

1,461 posts

126 months

Tuesday 8th July 2014
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Yes it's definitely permanent marker. I tried rubbing it to see what it was and it wouldn't budge. I'll give the above suggestions a try and see what I can do with it. Annoying though.

It's a 2007 118d. Silver in colour - it shows up quite badly!

dbfan

183 posts

123 months

Thursday 10th July 2014
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This may sound daft but may work!

I used to work in schools (with Nobo boards that use wipe-off markers). Every so often, some teacher would pick up a permanent marker and make a mess on the board (a Chemistry teacher did this with the first electronic "Interactive" board!). As a science technician in the first school, we used to supply lots of alcohol to clean the mess. One of the deputy heads came rushing in one day and asked for some Lynx! Apparently it does a better job (and supposedly smells better!). To be fair, I suspect that any similar spray will to the same job - but most of the male school kids (over)use Lynx!

As I say, it might be worth a try before using cutting compounds etc.

The other "trick" is to go over the mark with another permanent marker pen and wipe off immediately - the solvent is supposed to loosen the original ink and make it easier too wipe off. That never worked for me.

The Interactive board had strict instructions as to what could be used to clean such marks (the base is touch-sensitive) and I do hate the smell of baby wipes - though they may work for you!

Robb F

4,568 posts

171 months

Thursday 10th July 2014
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Isopropanol or similar will take it off very easily without touching the paint.

There is absolutely no reason to start polishing anything.

BritishRacinGrin

24,701 posts

160 months

Thursday 10th July 2014
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When I used to clean cars for a living I had a tub of Swarfega hand cleaning wipes which would remove light overspray, road tar, tree sap etc etc. I'm pretty sure they'd remove black marker without resorting to abrasive polishes and cutting compounds. I Imagine the wipes were impregnated with some kind of solvent, most likely alcohol.

http://www.rapidonline.com/mechanical-fastenings-f...

71tuscan

138 posts

182 months

Friday 11th July 2014
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Just use WD40, window spray or diesel on a microfiber cloth. Absolutely no thinner or other solvents!

Tyre Tread

10,534 posts

216 months

Friday 11th July 2014
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Brake cleaner.

LaurasOtherHalf

21,429 posts

196 months

Friday 11th July 2014
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dbfan said:
This may sound daft but may work!

I used to work in schools (with Nobo boards that use wipe-off markers). Every so often, some teacher would pick up a permanent marker and make a mess on the board (a Chemistry teacher did this with the first electronic "Interactive" board!). As a science technician in the first school, we used to supply lots of alcohol to clean the mess. One of the deputy heads came rushing in one day and asked for some Lynx! Apparently it does a better job (and supposedly smells better!). To be fair, I suspect that any similar spray will to the same job - but most of the male school kids (over)use Lynx!

As I say, it might be worth a try before using cutting compounds etc.

The other "trick" is to go over the mark with another permanent marker pen and wipe off immediately - the solvent is supposed to loosen the original ink and make it easier too wipe off. That never worked for me.

The Interactive board had strict instructions as to what could be used to clean such marks (the base is touch-sensitive) and I do hate the smell of baby wipes - though they may work for you!
Deodorants used to work when I was a kid, not sure if they still do mind

dbfan

183 posts

123 months

Saturday 12th July 2014
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They did five or six years ago, though there are a lot of "fancy" 48hr ones about these days that may not be so good - I gather the cheaper stuff is better.

gp3000000

103 posts

134 months

Sunday 13th July 2014
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Robb F said:
Isopropanol or similar will take it off very easily without touching the paint.

There is absolutely no reason to start polishing anything.
Sound advice - Deodorants, SRP, petrol, thinners, will all probably work however the rule is to use the least abrasive substance you can that will take off the marks.

Isopropanol, also known as Isopropyl Alcohol, is available cheaply on ebay, and will take any pen marks off in seconds by dissolving the ink. It won't touch your lacquer, but some of the things suggested on this thread could dull your lacquer if left on too long, especially thinners and if your car has had any smart repair or alloy wheel refurb using 1k (single pack) paint thinners would be a disaster, as it would dissolve the paint. Isopropanol is safe on every cured or dried painted surface (on your car) and as an aside, is an excellant degreaser too (it's probably what's in panel wipe)

t400ble

1,804 posts

121 months

Sunday 13th July 2014
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Brake cleaner works fine

I use it all the time

Tyre Tread

10,534 posts

216 months

Sunday 13th July 2014
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Isopropyl Alcohol is available at chemists. They may ask what you want it for and may refuse to sell it but usually as long as you don't look like you won't drink it they'll let you buy some.

Nezquick

Original Poster:

1,461 posts

126 months

Monday 4th August 2014
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Thanks for all the help - got some Isopropanol (from Maplin) and i'm going to give it a try when I get 5 minutes.

I'm assuming I won't need much....and is it best to use a normal microfibre colth?

julianm

1,535 posts

201 months

Wednesday 6th August 2014
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Methanol or ethanol ( methyl / ethyl alcohols) will be fine. Wet a bit of tissue with gin & It`ll be off straight away without damaging the paint at all. It might remove the last polish you applied a bit.

PHuzzy

2,747 posts

172 months

Wednesday 6th August 2014
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Dry wipe marker over the top of the permanent marker and wipe straight off. Always works.

Mech Tech RAF

90 posts

128 months

Monday 11th August 2014
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sounds daft but most screenwash mixtures actually have a high alcohol content (degreasing agent) so worth a go as the thing you ideally need is neat IPA (isopropanol/isopropyl alcohol as mentioned above).