Paint - Industrial Fallout/Rail Dust: Overview

9215oldsmobile01

NUMBER: 92-T-06

CORP.REF.NO: 131060

DATE: November 1991

SECTION: 10


SUBJECT: INDUSTRIAL FALLOUT/RAIL DUST
DAMAGE TO BASE COAT/CLEAR COAT PAINT
- FINESSE TYPE REPAIRS

MODELS/YEARS: ALL WITH BASE COAT/CLEAR COAT PAINT


The following information regards the use of finesse type repairs to environmental (industrial fallout) and rail dust damage of base coat/clear coat paint finishes 1992 (and previous) models with this type of paint.

Since the severity of the condition varies from area to area, PROPER DIAGNOSIS of the damage extent is CRITICAL TO THE SUCCESS OF REPAIRS. Diagnosis should be performed under high intensity fluorescent lighting, on horizontal surfaces (hood, roof, decklid) after they have been properly cleaned.

INDUSTRIAL FALLOUT (ACID RAIN):
There are three basic types of acid rain damage:
^ Surface level contamination, - may be repaired by simply washing the vehicle, cleaning the surface with a wax and grease remover, neutralizing acidic residue and finesse polishing.
^ Clearcoat etching, - slight etching still noticeable after the above washing and finesse polishing procedure.
^ Basecoat etching, - severe etching beyond the clearcoat into the basecoat.

PROCEDURES FOR SURFACE LEVEL CONTAMINATION REPAIRS:
1. Wash the vehicle with standard car detergent and water and dry thoroughly.
2. Clean the affected area with a wax and grease remover.
3. Neutralize any left over acidic residue by cleaning the damaged areas with a mixture of baking soda and water (one tablespoon per quart of water), rinse THOROUGHLY and dry the panels completely.
4. Apply a finesse type polish with a foam pad.

Clean and inspect the surface:
A. If the damage has been repaired, remove any swirl marks with a dual action orbital polisher and foam pad.
B. If some damage remains, proceed to step 5.

SLIGHT CLEARCOAT DAMAGE - WET SANDING, FINESSE POLISHING:
5. Select a small test area on a damaged panel.
6. Wet sand the damaged area with an American grade ultra fine sandpaper of 1,500 to 2,000 grit and a rubber sponge sanding block. During the wet sand process;
A. Use ample amounts of water
B. Go slow to prevent removing too much clearcoat.

Note: Be sure to use American sandpaper. European sandpaper has a "P" before the grit number and European grits do not align with American grits the majority of the time.

7. Remove the excess water with a rubber squeegee and inspect the area.
A. If this has repaired the damage, continue the sanding procedure on the entire panel, apply a finesse type polish with a foam pad and remove any swirl marks with a dual action orbital polisher and foam pad.
B. If (during the repair) it is suspected or observed that;
- etching has penetrated into the basecoat OR
- too much clearcoat has been removed during sanding OR
- base color is transferred to pad during polishing, THE AFFECTED AREAS MAY REQUIRE RECLEARCOATING/COLORCOATING OR REFINISHING.


8. In any case, once the proper repairs have been made, the final step in the repair process involves polishing the vehicle.

A WORD ABOUT CLEARCOAT THICKNESS:
The clearcoat on the vehicle is typically 1.5 to 2.0 mils thick (one mil equals.001" or 1/1,000 of an inch). At least one mil thickness is required to provide lasting protection to the vehicle basecoat.