Please Help! Is my paint screwed?
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,909
Likes: 4
From: Kalifornia
Please Help! Is my paint screwed?
So long story short... some dude put brake fluid (DOT 3) on my rear fender to try to fix a scratch. Now it looks like crap. Dude says it's not a big deal - just need to color sand and buff. I don't know what it means to color sand and I can't get ahold of dude to come and fix what he did. I am clueless when it comes to paint/polishing/detailing etc...
Can anyone help me? Am I screwed and need to have my tins painted? To top it off, I had a piece of cabinet drawer liner on top of the fender (to prevent my roll bag from scratching the paint - fvcking ironic, ain't it?) and - I'm assuming - the brake fluid melted some of the rubber/foam and now it's adhered to the fender.
Well, the pictures aren't real clear but you can see there are shiny areas and dull areas and generally looks like ***.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. And yes, I know I am an idiot.
Can anyone help me? Am I screwed and need to have my tins painted? To top it off, I had a piece of cabinet drawer liner on top of the fender (to prevent my roll bag from scratching the paint - fvcking ironic, ain't it?) and - I'm assuming - the brake fluid melted some of the rubber/foam and now it's adhered to the fender.
Well, the pictures aren't real clear but you can see there are shiny areas and dull areas and generally looks like ***.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. And yes, I know I am an idiot.
Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,909
Likes: 4
From: Kalifornia
Well, I didn't "let" him. He was doing some minor body work on the company pickup truck. I was going out on the bike and we were shooting the breeze while he admired the bike. He noticed a scratch on the rear fender and mentioned that brake fluid works great for that - his secret techinque, so he said. I was like, "Really? I thought brake fluid was bad for paint?"
I went inside to get something and when I returned, he had rubbed the brake fluid on the fender. I was pissed but he assured me that it would just take a little buffing and would look good as new. So I told him to get to it but he said that you needed to wait a while for everything to dry up. I had to leave for an appointment but since he was coming back another day to finish up the truck, I left.
"Dude" never came back and his phone # is no longer in service.
So - am I **** out of luck?
I went inside to get something and when I returned, he had rubbed the brake fluid on the fender. I was pissed but he assured me that it would just take a little buffing and would look good as new. So I told him to get to it but he said that you needed to wait a while for everything to dry up. I had to leave for an appointment but since he was coming back another day to finish up the truck, I left.
"Dude" never came back and his phone # is no longer in service.
So - am I **** out of luck?
6th Gear
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: Mechanicsburg, PA
Yea break fluid will kill paint and the only real way to get it off is to strip it down to the tin and start over. I am not sure in your case, but this is what my painter has told me since I have known him. Just my two cent.
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
From: Kennesaw, Georgia
A good paint shop (body shop) could put a layer of clearcoat on your fender that would restore the glossy finish without discoloring the paint. Alternatively, if you have an auto paint supplier in your area, someone there can sell you a small can and spray bottles that you could use to do it yourself. They are usually very helpful at giving you clear instructions on the "dos" and "donts".
Best of luck with it
Best of luck with it
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 583
Likes: 2
From: Eaton, OH
I'm not sure the foam is actually melted. My guess (for whatever you think that's worth) is that the foam just concentrated or enhanced the damage the brake fluid did by putting pressure and rubbing on the paint.
Before you went to the effort of getting it repainted I'd try using some regular polishing compounds to see if it would reduce the damage. It may not but if it did it would save you the money and effort it would take to repaint. Even if it didn't work it would only cost you a few dollars for the polish. If you don't have any polish ask some of your friends to see if they have any you can borrow to try in a small area.
Before you went to the effort of getting it repainted I'd try using some regular polishing compounds to see if it would reduce the damage. It may not but if it did it would save you the money and effort it would take to repaint. Even if it didn't work it would only cost you a few dollars for the polish. If you don't have any polish ask some of your friends to see if they have any you can borrow to try in a small area.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,909
Likes: 4
From: Kalifornia
Thanks for the ideas, Morris. Will I have to sand the surface first before trying the polishing compounds? Again, I know jack-**** about detailing...
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I agree with Morris, before you dish out the cash to repaint/reclear try some polishing compounds. The compounds already got some grit it so you don't have to sand anything. Use the compound, then polish, then wax. You might wanna borrow a dual action polisher/buffer.
And I hope you find that jackass.
If all else fails just use the HDR filter when ever you post pics..LOL...Sorry bro just had to throw that in.
Keep us posted
-Jo
And I hope you find that jackass.
If all else fails just use the HDR filter when ever you post pics..LOL...Sorry bro just had to throw that in.
Keep us posted
-Jo
