How do I remove baked on polishing compound?
Discussion
On the car's fourth - and increasingly irritable - visit to the body shop they polished areas of orange peel. Afterwards I found they hadn't masked anything and so there are dots of polishing compound everywhere. This was during the hot spell so it has baked on and doesn't want to come off. I see that I can polish it off the bodywork but does anyone know how to clean it off areas like body rubbers (which i guess are neoprene) and the wiper arms which are awkward to get at.
The bodyshop has only started recently and I had hoped to give them a good write up. The £600 estimate to put straight a few rust spots and dings turned into three bills totalling £1,000. I won't be taking it back for them to sort out.
The bodyshop has only started recently and I had hoped to give them a good write up. The £600 estimate to put straight a few rust spots and dings turned into three bills totalling £1,000. I won't be taking it back for them to sort out.
Panel wipe would clean it off.
Halfords sell these for £1.50
Halfords sell these for £1.50
Edited by hexstatic on Sunday 30th July 12:43
Panel wipe would clean it off.
Halfords sell these for £1.50
Halfords sell these for £1.50
Edited by hexstatic on Sunday 30th July 12:46
White Spirit took the compond off rubber and plastic but wouldn't touch it on paintwork. Although, I do wonder, as I use bumper care and vinyl food (or whatever it's called) whether the compound wasn't as well stuck to the plastic as it is to the bodywork.
Halfords paint prep wipes are best so far.
Off Topic: what are the magic words you have to say to a bodyshop to have them do what you want? Knowing they do good work but will also do a cheap job if you insist, I said to them, "I'd like a nice job, if you come across something that looks like more work and more money than we've discussed, call me and I'll probably say yes."
That didn't work.
Halfords paint prep wipes are best so far.
Off Topic: what are the magic words you have to say to a bodyshop to have them do what you want? Knowing they do good work but will also do a cheap job if you insist, I said to them, "I'd like a nice job, if you come across something that looks like more work and more money than we've discussed, call me and I'll probably say yes."
That didn't work.
Spies hecker 7010 is really what i would go for not cheap but will definitely remove any silicone and oils etc. left on the surface. Depending how anal you are then it is perfect to consider waxing or sealing on.
Chances are they have used an overly aggressive compound (possibly G3 or 3m Fast Cut Plus) at excessive rate or poorly angled machine poliser failing to keep it in contact enough of the time. Although i wont deny you can use techniques such as edging using tip of the pad across smaller surfaces, but that takes greater skill and reduced speed. Usually ironically the compound has not been worked enough or refined via another means lewving holograms (more like Zorro marks in some cases).
As for the quality of the job it really depends on the quality and training of the staff. Some at one site may care others may not. In my experience the best bit is to come across as an anal owner who likes the job done well and stress the importance of the job to them. My front bumper from a recent unfortunate incident came out well from a insurer approved place where some online reviews are negative.
Flipside i have had some work done by a bodyshop that has worked on 3 of my cars and the final time i ended up fixing the mistakes myself.
There really is no guessing but trying some of the above should help but is not 100% chance or guarantee. Remember that there could be 3 or 4 people working on the car from the guy doing stripdown, to the sprayer to the guy finishing and then putting it back together. The one with the most influence over the end result is still the sprayer mind but the others do play a role in that process and end result. The biggest bit I find peeing off though is poorly sprayed (or prepped) panels or lazy halfwits not putting things back properly (i appreciate trim clips may get damaged but replace the b
ds if they are or at least fit them).
Chances are they have used an overly aggressive compound (possibly G3 or 3m Fast Cut Plus) at excessive rate or poorly angled machine poliser failing to keep it in contact enough of the time. Although i wont deny you can use techniques such as edging using tip of the pad across smaller surfaces, but that takes greater skill and reduced speed. Usually ironically the compound has not been worked enough or refined via another means lewving holograms (more like Zorro marks in some cases).
As for the quality of the job it really depends on the quality and training of the staff. Some at one site may care others may not. In my experience the best bit is to come across as an anal owner who likes the job done well and stress the importance of the job to them. My front bumper from a recent unfortunate incident came out well from a insurer approved place where some online reviews are negative.
Flipside i have had some work done by a bodyshop that has worked on 3 of my cars and the final time i ended up fixing the mistakes myself.
There really is no guessing but trying some of the above should help but is not 100% chance or guarantee. Remember that there could be 3 or 4 people working on the car from the guy doing stripdown, to the sprayer to the guy finishing and then putting it back together. The one with the most influence over the end result is still the sprayer mind but the others do play a role in that process and end result. The biggest bit I find peeing off though is poorly sprayed (or prepped) panels or lazy halfwits not putting things back properly (i appreciate trim clips may get damaged but replace the b
ds if they are or at least fit them). 
Now you tell me.
It's okay, the car has not rusted away due to a lack of paint. I should have stressed that a very light wipe was all it took.
As the test area I cleaned one evening looked fine today I did a bit more. Despite this apparent success I will be buying new wipers and arms. Along the road to cleaning all those nooks and crannies madness lies.
It's okay, the car has not rusted away due to a lack of paint. I should have stressed that a very light wipe was all it took.
As the test area I cleaned one evening looked fine today I did a bit more. Despite this apparent success I will be buying new wipers and arms. Along the road to cleaning all those nooks and crannies madness lies.
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