Overspray Removal

[Knox5.0]

Ok, this has been bugging me and im trying to come up with the friendliest way to safely remove black overspray from the oxford white paint on my ride. Its not just in one spot, its like a mist on the entire car! It was there from one of the previous owners. I think they must have been spraying something else black and the overspray got all over the explorer.
Luckily its only visible up close but nevertheless still visible which is not acceptable for me. I have some 2000 grit wet/dry sandpaper. Would wet sanding be ok to do or would it likely scratch up my clearcoat? A professional buffer would probably take it off but i dont have one at my disposal.
Any other suggestions are welcomed as im kinda stumped here.

 

[Car-Dog]

Have you tried Rubbing Compound?

 

[Knox5.0]

Have you tried Rubbing Compound?

I havent tried anything yet. I wanted some opinions before i tried anything.

 

[Car-Dog]

I would def start with some rubbing compound and see what it does.

 

[Explorer Junky]

Well, if you are going to use 2000 grit, you will need a power buffer anyhow to remove those fine scratches. Specially if its all over the whole thing. Maybe borrow from someone or even a low speed grinder with variable speed with a buffing wheel on it? But, I would be real careful with that. Maybe able to rent one form a local place that rents power tools and such. get the good buffing compound followed by a quality polish. Never use the same bonnet for both compounds. Use separate ones. Good luck and use the lowest speed on the buffer not to burn through. and keep it moving and stay away from corners.

 

[Joe Dirt]

Try claybar first before sanding anything...

 

[Knox5.0]

Well, if you are going to use 2000 grit, you will need a power buffer anyhow to remove those fine scratches. Specially if its all over the whole thing. Maybe borrow from someone or even a low speed grinder with variable speed with a buffing wheel on it? But, I would be real careful with that. Maybe able to rent one form a local place that rents power tools and such. get the good buffing compound followed by a quality polish. Never use the same bonnet for both compounds. Use separate ones. Good luck and use the lowest speed on the buffer not to burn through. and keep it moving and stay away from corners.

Yeah thats why i was asking about the sandpaper. If its going to scratch my clearcoat then i really dont want to use it. If i can get my hands on a buffer then i'll just use it and forget the sandpaper all together. Im now thinking the clay bar may be the safest thing to do.

I do have some rubbing compound but that can scratch my clearcoat also if im not real careful with it. The thing is my paint finish is pretty good. Its just got a fine mist of what looks like overspray on it. I'd rather live with it than living with a scratched up clearcoat.

 

[vroomzoomboom]

Try claybar first before sanding anything...

x2 mothers clay bar works very good. if you have never polished a vehicle before using a buffer, i would stay away. you run the chance of burning threw the clear coat, and will have a whole new problem on your hands.

 

[Explorer Junky]

Yeah claybar! Forgo about that cool invention! Works great and won't do damage. I would still go with a fine rubbing compound and a good polish THEN wax! By hand as to not cause damage.

 

[Joe Dirt]

Chances are that the claybar will remove the overspray, and you won't need to use any other compounds. But, you might have some Meguiar's Scratch-X 2.0 handy, if the claybar doesn't take it off, the Scratch-X will, it's fairly abraisive, but will polish like rubbing compound won't. It's a working/reducing product, will work imperfections off, then haze, then polish with a microfiber. Good to go.

 

[Car-Dog]

Joe Dirt = Detailing King

 

[Joe Dirt]

Joe Dirt = Obsessive Compulsive Detailing King

Fixed that for you...

 

[Car-Dog]

:notworthy:notworthy:notworthy:notworthy:notworthy:notworthy:notworthy:notworthy:notworthy:notworthy:notworthy:notworthy:notworthy:notworthy:notworthy:notworthy:notworthy:notworthy

 

[toypaseo]

I have had good results from using Meguiar's Cleaner Wax to remove overspray, but that was some minor overspray, and not all over a whole vehicle. It did require some elbow grease.

I would be hesitant on starting with rubbing compound. I consider it too aggressive, and would be a swirl nightmare. Maybe polishing compound, but would that also be a swirl nightmare? I have only used polishing compound in small areas.

 

[Knox5.0]

Im going to try the clay bar and see how that goes. If that dont work then i might just have a professional detail shop buff it for me. That way if they screw up my paint they'll be responsible for it.

 

[Car-Dog]

I polishing compounded my whole truck to get rid of layers of waterspots left by the previous owner. Anyway as long as it is damp and you don't push to hard it shouldn't swirl.

 

[Knox5.0]

Ok, i was going to clay bar the paint and it turns out that my clay bar i had is no good anymore. Since i had some rubbing compound i thought i'd go ahead and test it in a small spot. It didnt work. For fear of leaving bad scratches i hardly used any pressure on the applicator pad. It left scratches anyway. Theres no way rubbing compound will take the overspray off without using some elbow grease and that in turn would leave horrible scratches. I honestly think its gonna have to be buffed to get the overspray off.

 

[sport97]

Ok, i was going to clay bar the paint and it turns out that my clay bar i had is no good anymore. Since i had some rubbing compound i thought i'd go ahead and test it in a small spot. It didnt work. For fear of leaving bad scratches i hardly used any pressure on the applicator pad. It left scratches anyway. Theres no way rubbing compound will take the overspray off without using some elbow grease and that in turn would leave horrible scratches. I honestly think its gonna have to be buffed to get the overspray off.

I have tried rubbing compound to removed over spray before and had no luck. I did not run into scratching problems, even on black paint. Our neighbor was spraying and got white over spray on the paint and the windows were open so its on the leather too

 

[Knox5.0]

I have tried rubbing compound to removed over spray before and had no luck. I did not run into scratching problems, even on black paint. Our neighbor was spraying and got white over spray on the paint and the windows were open so its on the leather too

So did you get the overspray off? What method did you use?

 

[sport97]

So did you get the overspray off? What method did you use?

I had no luck, that was the only thing we tried if i recall correctly. The rubbing compound may have gotten some of it off, but i know it wasn't all of it. It was actually my parents car. If it was mine I would have made the guy have it detailed.