Superficial to Moderate Acid Rain Damage:
REPAIR PROCEDURE FOR SUPERFICIAL TO MODERATE ACID RAIN--DAMAGE:
COLOR SANDING AND POLISHING
MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES NECESSARY:
^ # 1500 or # 2000 grit wet-dry sandpaper which has been pre-soaked in clean water.
^ Soft foam rubber hand-sanding pad
- 3M P/N 051144-05530, Meguiar's P/N E7200 or equivalent.
^ Liquid automotive washing soap
^ Water pails
^ Baking soda
^ Rotary buffer, speed range 1200-2500 rpm (dual-action buffers may not adequately remove sanding scratches).
^ Buffing pads
- 3M P/N 051144-05700 or Meguiar's "Hi-Tech Finesse" Polishing Pad or equivalent.
^ Polishing compound
- 3M "Finesse-It II" P/N 051144-05928 or Meguiar's Mirror Glaze # 2 Hi-Tech Cleaner & # 9 Hi-Tech Swirl Remover or equivalent.
CAUTION:
To minimize the possibility of burning through or hazing the paint, the following procedure should only be performed by personnel having prior experience with power rotary buffing.
REPAIR STEPS:
1. Move vehicle out of direct sunlight and allow paint surfaces to cool if necessary. Dark painted colors become warmer in direct sunlight and require a longer period to cool off.
2. Mix liquid automotive washing soap in a pail of clean water. Follow manufacturer's mixing instructions and allow wet-dry sandpaper to soak for several minutes in pail.
3. With vehicle surfaces cool, wash with soap and water and then neutralize with a baking soda and water solution (one (1) tablespoon baking soda to one quart of water), followed with a thorough fresh water rinse.
4. Using a # 1500 or # 2000 grit wet-dry sandpaper with a foam rubber sanding pad, carefully sand the affected paint areas. Be sure to dip pad and paper in water frequently to prevent clogging of paper. During this process, also wipe down each sanded area frequently to determine if spots have been removed.
NOTE:
When performing the above procedure, be sure to measure paint film thickness before, during (continuously) and after sanding with a Coating Film Thickness Gauge to prevent excess paint removal. A magnetic coating thickness gauge like the ELCOMETER 211 or equivalent is an ideal instrument to monitor paint film thickness during the color sanding operation. Consult your local paint or tool jobber for pricing and availability. Remove no more than 1/2-mil on clear coats, and no more than 1-mil on solids. Also be certain to always sand in one direction and never in a circular pattern.
5. After affected areas have been sanded, install one of the recommended buffing pads and set buffer to a speed in the range of 1200-1750 RPM for a Meguiar pad, 1500-2500 for a wool pad.
6. Based on manufacturer guidelines, apply recommended polishing material sparingly to about a 2-sq. ft. section of the affected panel and wipe buffer pad once across the area. Start buffer and polish area until haze of polish material is almost gone.
CAUTION!
USE ONLY LIGHT PRESSURE ON THE BUFFER TO PREVENT BURNINGTHROUGH DAMAGE TO THE PAINT SURFACE.
7. Carefully inspect the polished paint area for remaining acid spots. If any are found, further sanding and polishing is necessary.
8. Proceed to polish and if necessary, re-sand the remaining affected areas. Be sure to continuously measure the paint film thickness during sanding to prevent excess film removal. Remove no more than 1/2 mil on clear coats, 1 mil on solids.
9. If the Meguiar's # 2 Hi-Tech Cleaner is used, the # 9 Hi-Tech Swirl Remover should also be used to produce a final finish. Always use a clean buffing pad when switching between polishing materials.
10. Apply and buff a non-silicone glaze to the polished areas if necessary to obtain a high gloss appearance.