Epoxy paint spatter removal

[Anatol]

We have just picked up a contract to sort a large number of cars that have been contaminated with epoxy paint spatters from the car park overhead beams being resprayed.

I have Dodo Juice's purposeful purple clay on the way to test it, and the techs are resigned to quite a few hours of very tedious work claying the cars, wetsanding some areas, polishing up, and where necessary resprays of affected panels.

Any suggestions from those in the know on the most effective alternative ways to remove fully-cured epoxy paint dots if the aggressive clay can't manage it would be appreciated. My expectation is that any solvent aggressive enough to attack the epoxy will also most likely damage the automotive paint finish.

Experienced detailers in the Cambridge area interested in helping with some of the labour-hours on a subcontracted basis, please also let me know.

Tol

[paintman]

Might sound a bit horrendous but I had something similar to remove from a silver Golf a couple of years ago. Solvent wouldn't touch it, wet sanding did but would have taken hours. A trial on a few spots with a single side razor blade in a holder - so virtually running it flat on the clearcoat - worked very well with very few scratches which easily polished out. It IS risky but worth a try.
You could also consider a run razor or a nib file.

Edited by paintman on Monday 12th October 19:35

[Anatol]

Thanks for the suggestion. I'd already decided to do that on the glass, but was wary on the paintwork. There's a run razor and a nib file in the toolkit - we'll try them on some test patches...

Tol

[belleair302]

Is it not worth chatting to one or two of the major paint companies or industrial solvent suppliers to see what's available and what may or may not be suitable?

[Anatol]

I've spoken to a few - the solvents they offer for removing epoxy paint are serious paint strippers.

An epoxy coating is hardened with the same isocyanates compounds that cure a modern 2k factory clearcoat. Anything likely to act on the epoxy would also likely strip the original finish, to say nothing of any aftermarket paintwork the vehicles may have had.

Hence I'm leaning towards a mechanical method of removal...

Tol

[spearsy]

Clay bar has always worked for me, its hard going but safe , the only problem i have had in the past is it wont come off the exterior plastics and rubber, i had a product made for this otherwise its new trims and window seals for the insures. how many cars are you talking?

Edited by spearsy on Tuesday 13th October 17:21

Edited by spearsy on Tuesday 13th October 17:22

[Anatol]

4 confirmed, but the contractor reckons at least as many again might "come forward".

Tol

[belleair302]

How about warming up the epoxy paint, before claying or 'blading'. Hairdryers all round, maybe a heat gun but held away from the clearcoat!!!

Am I barking up the wrong tree?