Help, rubbed off clear coat!

jbsali · 05-02-2008, 08:59 PM

I was using a paint thinner to take off the spray on tint off my taillights and it wore off some of the clear coat on my car. Is there any kind of product i can use to blend it/ fix it?. It basically looks like really fine scratches if anything.

kenchan · 05-03-2008, 04:20 PM

maybe use some clearbra over it to cover it up... (?)

or take it to a bodyshop to get another coat of clear over the entire
bumper or where ever you accidentally removed the clear.

if you know wat you're doing with paint, then i would recommend a
mild polish to smooth out and then put a sealant over it, but you may
end up removing the basecoat next.

I Vtec, do you? · 05-03-2008, 06:42 PM

If it looks like fine scratches, then you probably didn't take off your clear coat. Just roughed it up a bit. An abrasive polish might bring it back to life. Try some scratch-x apply 3-4 coats of it and see if it improves.

***NitrousG35*** · 05-03-2008, 11:25 PM

Jeremy, good point. If it looks like scratches, then the clearcoat must still be there. It should be machine polished to try and bring clarity to the surface first. If the polishing doesn't change anything, then the clearcoat may be damaged.

Usually paint thinner, if it is automotive quality, should not remove the clearcoat.

Once, my dad spray painted wrought iron railings with black oxide spray paint. My custom painted black VW Scirocco was completely covered with paint as it had drifted into the garage and settled on the paint. I was so angry that my dad had left the garage open. I got some 3M paint thinner and went to work. It removed all the black oxide spray paint and left the finish looking just fine. I polished and waxed and it looked the same as before.

I Vtec, do you? · 05-03-2008, 11:48 PM

Yep. I wet-sanded down a rock chip I tried repairing and the surrounding area looked awful. Completely dull and flat. I put on some rubbing compound and it fixed it up pretty well. Once I get my PC going on my car, I'm sure I'll have it near-perfect. I think the OP is fine, just needs some elbow grease to get it back

05-02-2008, 08:59 PM	#1 (permalink)
jbsali Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Vancouver Posts: 238 Joel iTrader: 0 / 0%	Help, rubbed off clear coat! I was using a paint thinner to take off the spray on tint off my taillights and it wore off some of the clear coat on my car. Is there any kind of product i can use to blend it/ fix it?. It basically looks like really fine scratches if anything.

05-03-2008, 11:25 PM	#4 (permalink)
*NitrousG35* Mr. Cowl Induction Join Date: May 2007 Location: To Infiniti and beyond... Posts: 8,061 Call me Bill iTrader: 1 / 100%	Jeremy, good point. If it looks like scratches, then the clearcoat must still be there. It should be machine polished to try and bring clarity to the surface first. If the polishing doesn't change anything, then the clearcoat may be damaged. Usually paint thinner, if it is automotive quality, should not remove the clearcoat. Once, my dad spray painted wrought iron railings with black oxide spray paint. My custom painted black VW Scirocco was completely covered with paint as it had drifted into the garage and settled on the paint. I was so angry that my dad had left the garage open. I got some 3M paint thinner and went to work. It removed all the black oxide spray paint and left the finish looking just fine. I polished and waxed and it looked the same as before. __________________ Last edited by NitrousG35; 05-04-2008 at 12:39 AM.

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05-03-2008, 04:20 PM	#2 (permalink)
kenchan Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Midwest Posts: 2,064 iTrader: 1 / 100%	maybe use some clearbra over it to cover it up... (?) or take it to a bodyshop to get another coat of clear over the entire bumper or where ever you accidentally removed the clear. if you know wat you're doing with paint, then i would recommend a mild polish to smooth out and then put a sealant over it, but you may end up removing the basecoat next.

05-03-2008, 06:42 PM	#3 (permalink)
I Vtec, do you? Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: mn Posts: 7,062 iTrader: 6 / 100%	If it looks like fine scratches, then you probably didn't take off your clear coat. Just roughed it up a bit. An abrasive polish might bring it back to life. Try some scratch-x apply 3-4 coats of it and see if it improves.

05-03-2008, 11:48 PM	#5 (permalink)
I Vtec, do you? Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: mn Posts: 7,062 iTrader: 6 / 100%	Yep. I wet-sanded down a rock chip I tried repairing and the surrounding area looked awful. Completely dull and flat. I put on some rubbing compound and it fixed it up pretty well. Once I get my PC going on my car, I'm sure I'll have it near-perfect. I think the OP is fine, just needs some elbow grease to get it back