Removing Overspray
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio Texas
Removing Overspray
I bought a 2003 Anniversary Edition from a young couple who had it painted and had a disappointing job done one it. Not even the correct Corvette white. I bought it for $9,000 with 50k on it, but it had some issues but I corrected most of them. I lost my wife in January and really needed this car like a hole in the head, but the couple lived across the street from me and needed money. The car has taken my mind off all the hurt and has been a work in progress. When they painted the car they didn't even tape it correctly and they got overspray on the exhaust tips. I would guess they are stainless steel. Does anyone know how to get the overspray off. Appreciate your help, Chuck
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
you can use something like Barkeeper's friend
It wont scratch stainless and it is a polish too..
you can find it in grocery stores, where they have cleansers,, Bon Ami Cleanser is a similar product but the Barkeeper's friend is a better product because it has more polish..
You can also use lacquer thinner but it is dangerous to use.. one drop on your paint and you've made a small problem a bigger one... You can Use Mother's Billet polish found at auto stores like Pep Boys.. or autoZone.
I edited this post to include by condolences for your loss. My apologies for not expressing this most important point.
We are here to help and support fellow Corvette enthusiasts through the good and bad.
Best regards
Bill aka ET
It wont scratch stainless and it is a polish too..
you can find it in grocery stores, where they have cleansers,, Bon Ami Cleanser is a similar product but the Barkeeper's friend is a better product because it has more polish..
You can also use lacquer thinner but it is dangerous to use.. one drop on your paint and you've made a small problem a bigger one... You can Use Mother's Billet polish found at auto stores like Pep Boys.. or autoZone.
I edited this post to include by condolences for your loss. My apologies for not expressing this most important point.
We are here to help and support fellow Corvette enthusiasts through the good and bad.
Best regards
Bill aka ET
Last edited by Evil-Twin; Oct 9, 2011 at 07:41 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 943
Likes: 3
From: casa conejo california: my casa sue's casa
A non-abrasive metal polish with very fine(0000)steel wool should do the trick. 
Note: try a small inconspicuous area underneath to see how it fairs before you do the entire tip.
Note: try a small inconspicuous area underneath to see how it fairs before you do the entire tip.
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First off, sorry for the loss of your wife. 
If you have the stock exhaust on the car, the tips are chrome plated. Use something like lacquer thinner on a rag to get the overspray off.
If you have the stock exhaust on the car, the tips are chrome plated. Use something like lacquer thinner on a rag to get the overspray off.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio Texas
Thank you!!!
A thank you to all for your advise and your kind words. I'm 59 and starting life all over again is something I never thought I would have to do. We fought metastatic melanoma for 3 years and in May of 08 they only gave her one year. So to say the least, I was blessed with more time with her. I will look forward into getting this car into shape with the help of friends like you. Again, thank you and take care. Chuck
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,146
Likes: 203
From: Edmonton Alberta, Canada
Hello Chuck, Canada calling..... Sorry for your loss, good thing for the Corvette you need something to fill your void and it is the perfect companion. Overspray issues are a simple fix especially on tail pipes. The heart is another issue. Wishing you a fix for the hole in your heart...... unfortunately nothing on the forum for that! We all especially at later stages of life all have a cross to bare. Wishing you all the very best and enjoy your new ride that in reading your post needed some love too, good thing for you and the Vette. Greetings, Rob (just another forum member, and have a 2003 vert also)
Greetings, Rob (just another forum member, and have a 2003 vert also)
Last edited by El original; Oct 9, 2011 at 01:36 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 5,245
Likes: 25
From: Blue Ridge Georgia
This forum is great, and not only for help with your Corvette. We have many forums and we are all proud of our membership here. You will not find anyplace on the net with nicer members than ours. I feel for your loss, let us help. You might check out the Off Topic forum, anyway welcome to our forum. Good Luck.
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St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Oldtimer
Overspray problems !
you can use something like Barkeeper's friend
It wont scratch stainless and it is a polish too..
you can find it in grocery stores, where they have cleansers,, Bon Ami Cleanser is a similar product but the Barkeeper's friend is a better product because it has more polish..
You can also use lacquer thinner but it is dangerous to use.. one drop on your paint and you've made a small problem a bigger one... You can Use Mother's Billet polish found at auto stores like Pep Boys.. or autoZone.
I edited this post to include by condolences for your loss. My apologies for not expressing this most important point.
We are here to help and support fellow Corvette enthusiasts through the good and bad.
Best regards
Bill aka ET
It wont scratch stainless and it is a polish too..
you can find it in grocery stores, where they have cleansers,, Bon Ami Cleanser is a similar product but the Barkeeper's friend is a better product because it has more polish..
You can also use lacquer thinner but it is dangerous to use.. one drop on your paint and you've made a small problem a bigger one... You can Use Mother's Billet polish found at auto stores like Pep Boys.. or autoZone.
I edited this post to include by condolences for your loss. My apologies for not expressing this most important point.
We are here to help and support fellow Corvette enthusiasts through the good and bad.
Best regards
Bill aka ET
Likewise, I am sorry for your loss. If the car is a 50th Anniversary model, then it is painted "Anniversary red" but if it's white it's a 2003 Corvette. And it does not have the 1SC option. But any of the items suggested above will clean up the exhaust tips.But I have a feeling from your post that you have other 'Over-spray' problems. If so, the I would suggest using 2000 grit sand paper with only the slightest of pressure to sand/polish out any over-spray areas. This is an art that is learned by body men over years of doing it, but in the short course, take a half of a sheet of 2000 and wet it real good and then use a sponge and flood the area of over-spray and use the 2000 only about a minute on the affected area and once done, flood the area again and feel with your finger tips if there is any rough surfaces, if so try it again BUT for less than a minute, keep doing this till it feels smooth or when you flush the area and it come up looking smooth and water tend to sit on it or if a vertical area it has a glean to it. If so stop and move on to the next affected area.
Just move slowly and be ever so careful not to rub too hard on any painted surface as you are going to use polish to finish off the over-sprayed area in the end. Good luck with the car, I have a 50th. Anniversary coupe myself and keeping the red paint clean and good looking is sometimes frustrating. But I live close to "County Corvette in West Chester, PA (One of the forums sponsers)to help me if I need anything. Once again, I am sorry for your loss, we are both the same age and I know it can seem like it's the end of the road when you lose your best friend, but each day the sun will rise, and there will be more challenges to tackle. There are a lot of things to take your mind off your loss, find them. Good luck and may god bless you !
Racer
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 344
Likes: 14
From: Minneapolis MN
I too am sorry for your loss, must be tough.
To echo what others have said, Laquer thinner or fine steel wool will take it right off... EASILY. Not much of an issue with that area.
If you have it on the rest of the car or any painted surfaces here is a good read about safely removing it:
http://www.detailedimage.com/Ask-a-P...ay-w-hd-video/
Good luck
To echo what others have said, Laquer thinner or fine steel wool will take it right off... EASILY. Not much of an issue with that area.
If you have it on the rest of the car or any painted surfaces here is a good read about safely removing it:
http://www.detailedimage.com/Ask-a-P...ay-w-hd-video/
Good luck
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,012
Likes: 15
From: Jensen Beach FL
I am also sorry for your loss. My prayers are with you.
Try this test. Put a plastic sandwich bag over your hand and feel the paint. If you have over-spray on the paint also you may wish to clay bar the entire car. It will look much nicer. Meguiars gives you two bars and the detail spray to use with the clay bar or you can use car wash and water with the clay bar or do like I did and use Dawn dish detergent to remove all old wax and then use the Zaino system or other top quality wax.
Try this test. Put a plastic sandwich bag over your hand and feel the paint. If you have over-spray on the paint also you may wish to clay bar the entire car. It will look much nicer. Meguiars gives you two bars and the detail spray to use with the clay bar or you can use car wash and water with the clay bar or do like I did and use Dawn dish detergent to remove all old wax and then use the Zaino system or other top quality wax.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio Texas
Removing the Exhaust Tips?
I tried lacquer thinner, it helps some. The end of the tips caught some of the direct spray and there seems to be some baked on black residue also. Can the tips be removed, it seems it would make the job a lot easier. I'm going now to buy some of the steel wool and give it a try. The underside of the tips are a little easier to clean and the chrome is coming back with the thinner, but still difficult. Again, I really appreciate all the kind words, you are all definitely a blessing to me. Chuck
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio Texas
Confused?
Likewise, I am sorry for your loss. If the car is a 50th Anniversary model, then it is painted "Anniversary red" but if it's white it's a 2003 Corvette. And it does not have the 1SC option. But any of the items suggested above will clean up the exhaust tips.But I have a feeling from your post that you have other 'Over-spray' problems. If so, the I would suggest using 2000 grit sand paper with only the slightest of pressure to sand/polish out any over-spray areas. This is an art that is learned by body men over years of doing it, but in the short course, take a half of a sheet of 2000 and wet it real good and then use a sponge and flood the area of over-spray and use the 2000 only about a minute on the affected area and once done, flood the area again and feel with your finger tips if there is any rough surfaces, if so try it again BUT for less than a minute, keep doing this till it feels smooth or when you flush the area and it come up looking smooth and water tend to sit on it or if a vertical area it has a glean to it. If so stop and move on to the next affected area.
Just move slowly and be ever so careful not to rub too hard on any painted surface as you are going to use polish to finish off the over-sprayed area in the end. Good luck with the car, I have a 50th. Anniversary coupe myself and keeping the red paint clean and good looking is sometimes frustrating. But I live close to "County Corvette in West Chester, PA (One of the forums sponsers)to help me if I need anything. Once again, I am sorry for your loss, we are both the same age and I know it can seem like it's the end of the road when you lose your best friend, but each day the sun will rise, and there will be more challenges to tackle. There are a lot of things to take your mind off your loss, find them. Good luck and may god bless you !
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,828
Likes: 14
I hate cancer
Chuck, our thoughts and prayers are with you. I am a 15 year cancer
survior and know first hand the devistation it can cause.
While I you have recieved advice on the overspray I thought I would pass along a way you could help in eliminating this desease.
Go to: http://www.facebook.com/ihatecancer
survior and know first hand the devistation it can cause.
While I you have recieved advice on the overspray I thought I would pass along a way you could help in eliminating this desease.
Go to: http://www.facebook.com/ihatecancer
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 943
Likes: 3
From: casa conejo california: my casa sue's casa
I tried lacquer thinner, it helps some. The end of the tips caught some of the direct spray and there seems to be some baked on black residue also. Can the tips be removed, it seems it would make the job a lot easier. I'm going now to buy some of the steel wool and give it a try. The underside of the tips are a little easier to clean and the chrome is coming back with the thinner, but still difficult. Again, I really appreciate all the kind words, you are all definitely a blessing to me. Chuck
mik
