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Question - Small cloudy spot in clearcoat

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UrbanmanUSA
7/14/2007 1:32:15 PM
Had a black spot of really sticky, ugly gunk on the paint (tar or sap or something industrial), tried all kinds of regular cleaners, nothing worked.  Then used some polishing compound, worked nicely to remove the gunk - but now I have a little cloudy spot. 
 
You can only see the cloudy spot (about the size of a dime) when you look from a certain angle, and the light is hitting it a certain way.  Flourescent light especially seems to make it visible.  Really small, yes, but it is annoying me.
 
I have seen several products in the store that claim they can 'erase' little scratches in the clearcoat (which is what the cloudy spot is, I imagine - a bunch of really minor little abrasions in the surface of the clearcoat). 
 
Question is: Have any of you had success dealing with minor scratches or cloudy spots in your clear coat?  What product/process would you recommend?
badassgurl1030
7/16/2007 4:15:31 PM
i know what u mean my door got scratched one time and they had to repaint it and everything i have agrey mica color, anyway they did not do a good job cuz from acertain angle under the sun it looks like it's smudge correct? i think u might end up needing to buff it or something... don't take my word for it though because i am not sure.
neonix
7/17/2007 12:48:02 PM
What kind of compound did you use to get the "gunk" off? It's a possibility that the compound put tiny scratches on your clear coat.
 
I have yet to find a product that claims to remove small scratches that actually works, I'm convinced there isn't one out there (hopefully someone can correct me). I guess really the question is how brave are you? You could always try wet sanding it, and buffing it. But if you're not careful, you'll end up making it worse.
neonix
7/17/2007 12:48:07 PM
EDIT: Double post owns me.
UrbanmanUSA
7/17/2007 7:01:31 PM
As I said in my post, Neonix, I used polishing compound.  And, as I said in my post, it probably is minor abrasions.  Barely noticeable, but there.
 
Yes, bagurl, it looks like a smudge.
 
I don't want to do an experimental "wet sand" especially since when I used the polishing compound, I used plenty of water, and ended up with the result I have.
 
Any success stories out there?
badassgurl1030
7/18/2007 10:32:41 PM
well try to post ur pic on here... i think we are both in the same situation. i am gonna get mine buffed next week or so cuz the people did not do a good job... anyway i'll let u know
Oh6sixXx
7/20/2007 10:37:22 PM
its very possible that the spot your describing is an area of the clear coat that has been eaten away by the gunk on your car. just like when you get bird droppings on it and it bakes into the paint by the sun..it actually eats into the clear coat.i know you dont want to get into sanding but, sand it down lightly with 1500 grit wet sand paper and buff it out with a cutting compound then a light compound then go to a  polish. if not have your local body/detail shop do it for you. . i work at a body shop, so i do this kind of thing every day .good luck
UrbanmanUSA
7/21/2007 8:40:38 AM
Oh6sixXx ... thanks for the post ... when you say a cutting compound and a light compound and go to polish ... can you provide some SPECIFIC recommendations as to what products to use? 
 
I have seen that Turtle Wax has some products ... 1) a polishing compound specifically for clearcoats, and 2) a "Scratch and Swirl" remover polish specifically for clearcoats.  What do you think of these possibilities?
Oh6sixXx
7/21/2007 9:09:49 AM
at the shop we use 3M 05934 Perfect It III rubbung compound for cutting out the 1500 grit sand scratches, but that still leaves extremely slight scratches from the grit in the compound so you move on to the fine compound (we use Ardex 4203 1500 PLUS Finishing Material) on a yellow/white foam pad that removes those marks and leaves a swirl free finish then go to a polish (Ardex 4204 2500 PLUS Foam Pad Finishing Material) on a gray foam pad fallow up with a nice coat of GOOD wax and your done. you can order these products online through 3M and Ardex websites. there are other products out there but this is what i use. this should all be done with a buffer 2500 RMP for the compounding and 1000-1500 rpm for the polishing. if you do need any additional info PM me. hope this helps, Nick.

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