Spray Paint over Clearcoat

SDCoupe

Registered User
This one is for the detailing/paint specialists out there.

The previous owner of my SC decided to add some white racing stripes. The striping is some kind of rattle can paint that was applied over the clearcoat. I would like to remove the spray paint without destroying my clearcoat.
I was thinking clay bar and if that doesn't work power buffing.

Does anyone have any better ideas, warnings, or bad news for me?

So my question is how do I get this spray paint off without destroying my clearcoat?:confused:
 
Can you feel the height difference from factory clear to the spray bomb paint? If not then it has been cleared over also and you will have to repaint. even if you can feel the paint a lot of that type of paint is laquar an most likely have damaged the clear. to remove the paint i would start with a soft block and 1000 wet dry sand paper. if need be you could go with 800 grit but remember use caution. proceed with 1500 and then finish with 2000. Finaly buff and polish. if the paint didnot damage the clear you may be able to save the original paint. and do all the sanding wet. i am no expert this is just what i would try if it dosent work figure on repainting the complete panel.
 
In my experience, most spray paint will come off with a high-speed buffer, a wool pad, and an aggressive compound. After it is off, wash the area with soap and water, and then it it with the buffer again, this time with a foam pad and polishing compound.
 
Thanks for the ideas guys.

You can feel the height difference between the spray paint and the original clear. So it has not been clear coated.
Fortunately my bumper cover needs to be repainted and it also has the spray paint on it so I have a test panel to work on.

I will keep you updated as to what works.
 
Most aerosol paint is enamel. The SC factory paint should be base coat with urethane clear coat. The urethane is much more durable than aerosol paint. Which means a solvent will remove the aerosol without damaging the urethane clear coat. Don't know what solvent would work best but I would start with enamel thinner.

You won't be able to remove the stripe by buffing or sanding without damaging the clear coat. Keep in mind the clear coat depth is about the thickness of a human hair.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Bryan
 
no the factory paint job is supposed to be as thick as a sheet of typing paper or 3 to 6 mill. the clear coat is 2mill thick. that is if it's a brand new paint job from the factory. most aftermarket paint jobs are around the same. this was from my autobody text book from school.
 
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I dont think its brand new from the factory anymore :eek:
plus add 25 years of who knows what and a hair might be pushing it.
plus you dont know how they prepped it if they scuffed it your repainting but my guess is your going to have to repaint no matter what
I buffed my wifes car with a wool pad once and it burned right through so unless you really know what your doing I wouldnt touch it
 
Brad,
I'm fairly certain they didn't do any prep work as the stripes are already chipping and coming off without removing all of the old clearcoat.
I plan on repainting the car at some point but there are a large number of things that need to happen first.
I would like to do as little damage to the paint as possible while removing the rattle can stripes.
I'm not trying to shoot you down, I just want to say that I am okay with being a guinea pig. If it messes up the old clear I won't be out anything.

You do make a good point that no matter what I do there is a good chance that I could destroy the paint under the rattle can work.
 
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