Removing spray paint from car???

[wilke3169]

Does anyone have any recommendations? My daughter ran over a can of spray paint in her garage. It did quite a number as you can see. Any suggestions on removing this? It happened this morning so it has had a day to dry/cure...

[red-beard]

Lots of work with a clay bar

[Zeke]

Forget about the wheel, just repaint it. On the body, I'd test a little alcohol first. Not likely to do much unless the spray can had water borne paint in it. Don't know too much about today's clear coats, but older CC's and single stage would hold up to a mild wipe of lacquer thinner. The sooner the better. Then polish.

Of course the best answer is to take it to a pro detailer.

Now!

[redstrosekNic]

Originally Posted by red-beard

Lots of work with a clay bar

+1

My Maxima got orange overspray all over it when my dad and I were painting an engine block. The clay bar took everything off with ease. Your case is worse, but I think it will work with patience.

[Oh Haha]

+1 on the clay bar.

I would also suggest you contact Juan Ruiz here on Pelican. He may have a faster or easier solution. He is a detailing maniac!

[targa911S]

try some mineral spirits.

[Hugh R]

Start with mineral spirits and then move up to isopropyl alcohol, then things like goof off, or acetone and lacquer thinner test in a less noticeable area first. Enamel reducer will take off the paint.

[Zeke]

I find enamel reducer a lot less aggressive than lacquer thinner. Acetone ruins paint even though lacquer thinner is part acetone.

While we're on the subject, the other main ingredients to lacquer thinner like tolulene and xylene are possibilities. Goof Off scares me. I've had that sch!t dissolve several things.

I keep about 12 different solvents on hand from paint prep to pool paint thinner, carpet adhesive cleaner, POR 15 thinner (which IIRC is tolulene), MEK, and the usual like turpentine and the rest of the thinners. Where one fails, another may do better.

[dipso]

Mineral spirits wont do anything to dried paint, alcohol won't do anything either. Goof off is for latex.
Lacquer thinner might remove it. Anything stronger will definitely remove the white too.

I don't see a problem of getting it off the rim. Soak it and it should come off, lacquer thinner is hot.
When I say hot, I don't mean temperature wise. Hot is a rating system for solvents.

You don't have to remove the rim to soak it. just keep it wet for a while, the lacquer will keep evaporating so keep reapplying. A spray bottle will work good. Use nylon scrubbing pads.
As far as the car goes, the problem is the lacquer thinner by the time it soaks enough to soften the green paint. it will probably be softening the white too. that will be a problem.

You could test it on a small section first, but buffing it out would probably work the best.

[CHICKS]

3m adhesive remover. I slid my Tahoe down the corner of the garage leaving red on the side, and the 3m adhesive remover took off the red paint, and didn't hurt the Tahoe paint at all.

They sell it at wall mart.

[Shuie]

Wd40?

[kaisen]

Goof Off..... you can buy it in aerosol cans at WalMart

It really works. No kidding.......try it

I use it ALL the time on paint transfer and overspray on automotive paint

[repp]

go to a automotive paint supply store and ask for wax and grease remover.......
they should have a few different makers, ask for the stronger brand....................
do not bother with the other stuff it will bite you in the long run.
20 years experience restoring cars and other crap.

[wilke3169]

Thanks for all of the help. The problem is that she is 3 hours away so all I can do is suggest. I advised her without seeing the pictures to get a clay bar. She bought this but I am not sure if she tried it yet or not.
I will let you know the outcome.
Oh, I did give her the link to this thread.
The original color is actually silver.

Thanks Again,

[Rusty Heap]

Was she texting at the time of driving out of the garage?

Just kidding,

A co-workers' brain dead teenager son backed THROUGH the wood roll up garage door in a rush to get to work.

WTF?

Didn't check to see if the door was open before putting car in reverse and stepping on the go foot stick?

Yes Jeff Sabin, your DNA in your son is alive? and well.???

[rsNINESOOPER]

almost all spray paints are lacquer based these days.

I have used lacquer thinner for years and years to remove over spray, graffiti, tar, etc from cars and had only one instance where it attacked the finish in any way. That was on an 89 speedster with a custom metallic nitrocellulose paint job, no one knew.

If it's factory paint I wouldn't hesitate to use lacquer thinner at all. It will be the quickest and easiest way to remove the spray paint. Forget repainting or clay bar unless you like spending time and or money.

Saturate a soft cloth with the lacquer thinner and gently wipe off the spray paint while turning the cloth frequently to use a clean area of the rag as you go. The wax will be stripped off as well but that can be re applied of course.

I worked in a Porsche restoration shop for three years and this is how we did it.

Paint shops love this kind of thing cause they can shake you like a money tree.

[KFC911]

A vandal hit my old SC400 (pearl white w/ clearcoat) with blue spray paint down the side while my ex g/f was at work one day. Non-acetone fingernail polish removal was what worked for me the next day after trying alcohol & Goo-gone. Worked fantastic...YMMV.

[mph911]

We have a bug/insect repellant in Australia called Aeroguard. I work in the film industry and have watched the Art Dept remove graffiti with it. Maybe try an aerosol insect repellant..

[chuckr]

Get this from Wal-Mart AutoZone ect.. Does the job! I keep a bottle with my detailing supplies and use it often !

[Head416]

A buddy of mine had his truck tagged. Used a little cleaning wax and a little elbow grease and it was good as new.