While touching up the underside of my new hood I ended up getting some light black spray paint mist on my 2 week old WHITE hood paint job. I thought I had everything covered but obviously I was wrong as some of what was floating in the air (no direct spray) ended up on my fender top and a very small section of my hood. Is there a way to safely remove the spray paint? I was going to use some 3M adhesive remover or some non abrasive cleaner wax. Any ideas appreciated</SPAN>
x2. That would be the best method. But if you have some enamel reducer just lightly dampen a soft towel and it'll wipe off. Scary, I know, especially if you've never done it before but I do it all the time and never had a problem.
Before going to enamel reducer, which will reduce both paints and may turn them gray, I would try a very weak alcohol. We use Methyl Hydrate for some painted parts we use in our shop. You would have to use ALOT of elbow grease to damage the paint with this stuff.
x3 for a claybar - it is a very mild abrasive that will remove the black overspray from the white surface. Try a small 'test area' first, but it should remove the surface contaminants without damaging the fresh paint. I would try it first, before using any 'solvent' based cleaners on your fresh uncured paint !! :TU:
Clay bar is the safest way. I went to the griots site and got some after I got my car back from the body shop. It was astounding how much stuff the clay took off without harming the paint at all.
Yes definitely solvents as a totally last resort. As mentioned above, claybar is the best way. In Fact I Found a write up with pretty well your EXACT scenario, and the results were very good. http://blogs.carcraft.com/6652222/editorials/clay-bar-paint-rehab/index.html
I personally would use white polishing compound, if the clay bar doesn't work. I'm not clear in my mind how a clay bar would remove paint- it's for much softer stuff. If a clay bar works, be sure to let us know. BTW, if your car is painted with lacquer (the factory paint), and the black you sprayed is enamel, paint thinner, or as has been mentioned, enamel reducer, will remove the black without damaging the lacquer. Paint thinner is not a solvent for lacquer. Another option would be to gently block sand with something like 2000 grit. You could wet sand until the black is removed, without damaging the white...except that it might need a little polishing, after.
I believe it worked (done in garage) but took 3-4 times. It's been raining and dreary so I won't be absolutely positive until the sun returns.
"It" covers a lot of ground. Clay? 2000 grit? Methyl Hydrate(=methanol)? Inquiring minds want to know.
I had the exact same problem. I used Mothers clay bar system. It blew my mind on how easy the over spray came off. Clay bar,for sure.
