Our Community is 940,000 Strong. Join Us.


polish debris in panel lines


kaho
12-29-2009, 04:37 AM
Whenever I finish polishing a car body with sandpaper and polish I always end up with debris stuck inside the panel line gaps. These include some clearcoat off the orange peel that has been sanded flat and most polishing compounds, which turn white as they dry. My old way of getting rid of them was to run a corner of paper through the panels lines but often it is impossible to get them out this way. On white cars it seems fine that I don't clean out all of them but on darker colored cars the white debris stand out like a sore thumb and even with the black paint wash they often resurface after the black dries. Soaking the body into water/hand soap mix didnt work. I had been contemplating soaking the body in more aggressive cleaners like dish detergent or windex, but although I am using 2K clearcoat (which I think should be fine soaked in most liquids except brake fluid), I am afraid even a mild detergent may attack the styrene underneath.

Can anyone give me some ideas of cleaning the polish/sanding clearcoat debris out of panel lines efficiently?

klutz_100
12-29-2009, 04:44 AM
Presumably they are clean before you lay the clear coat?

I have always found that a toothpick carved to a flat, bevelled chisel shape more than effective at getting gunge - usually wax deposit - out of panel lines (but I guess you have already tried that?)

tonioseven
12-29-2009, 07:52 AM
I use a soft-bristled toothbrush to gently coerce the debris from the panel lines. Doing this under running water helps.
sam-r350 UP.Browser/6.2.3.8 (GUI) MMP/2.0

The Yes Man
12-29-2009, 08:48 AM
Presumably they are clean before you lay the clear coat?

I have always found that a toothpick carved to a flat, bevelled chisel shape more than effective at getting gunge - usually wax deposit - out of panel lines (but I guess you have already tried that?)

I do exactly the same with the toothpick, i also wet the end slightly.

stevenoble
12-29-2009, 11:40 AM
Use a toothbrush or toothpick and detergent. You won't harm 2K clear with dish washing detergent, it won't even touch it.

kaho
12-29-2009, 12:22 PM
I am pretty positive that the body was clean before the clear coat was applied; there were no residue to be seen after the painting and clearcoat step in panel lines.

I will try the detergent today.

Veyron
12-29-2009, 12:52 PM
I use a toothbrush made for babies.

I put the body in a bowl of soapy water for a minute then gently scrub the panel lines. Run hot water over the brush to soften the bristles even more if they feel too stiff.

If the brush leaves any marks in your paint...get better paint.

kaho
12-29-2009, 08:32 PM
ok toothbrush for babies...um I didn't know these existed, I just knew there are different sizes and softness, I will go take a look.

Nope my old hard bristle toothbrush did not scratch the clearcoat even with moderately high force. However such thing did happen back when I was using tamiya TS13!

rallymaster
12-29-2009, 08:53 PM
There might be another possibility if you're afraid to give your paint a too agressive treatment with toothbrush.
I use a coton earstick slighty wet applied in all panel lines, grilles etc after having polished my bodies and parts.
That may be a solution too.

Entau
12-29-2009, 11:35 PM
i use those very small dental brush to clean compound left on the panel lines, soap & bubbles make it easier to be remove
http://images.chemistdirect.co.uk/images/productimages/large/tepe_interdental_brushes_purple_5408.jpg

Add your comment to this topic!