Bird Crap Etching....
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 567
Likes: 5
Bird Crap Etching....
I wax my car every week and have coats of Rejex on my car too. Today a bird crapped on my car and I got home within 15 minutes of that happening and it already etched a stain in my apint. Itried to claybar it but the stain still remains. Any ideas on how to remove the stain for a novice detalier? Any products that may help? Thanks for the help...I am so pissed!
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,608
Likes: 202
From: Long Beach California
Same thing happened to me: black Vette, several coats of Rejex, and then bird drop etching. I got a Porter-Cable random orbital buffer and it took them right out. Forget trying to do it by hand.
Perhaps you can find a "Black Friday" sale price on one.
Perhaps you can find a "Black Friday" sale price on one.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,732
Likes: 44
From: Richmond TX
The PC will take care of it. Maybe someone in your area can help you. I have done that same thing for a few guys. Where are you located? It happens. You are ahead of the game with the paint protected so well. Usually a mild compound and an orange pad will clear it up. Then wax the area.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 158
Likes: 23
I had that happen a couple years back. 15 minutes to drive home and clean it off was too long - like yours - I couldn't make the stain go away.
I ended up going to a body shop to get it buffed out. The guy there said some of those birds are so bad that on some cars they end up having to go all the way down to bare metal.
I guess I was lucky they could just buff it out.
I ended up going to a body shop to get it buffed out. The guy there said some of those birds are so bad that on some cars they end up having to go all the way down to bare metal.
I guess I was lucky they could just buff it out.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 567
Likes: 5
Is a Porter Cable Random Orbital easy to use. I am not a professional Detailer and have never done anything but by hand. I am so freaked out by swirls, that is why I have never bought one. Which is the best one or the easiest to use? Thanks for your help!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,749
Likes: 50
From: Westmont Il.
Almost impossible to harm the finish with a PC. Here's a great offer from forum vendor Autogeek. Today only 25% off and free shipping. Use code BLACK25
http://www.autogeek.net/
&*^%$# birds.
http://www.autogeek.net/
&*^%$# birds.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 18,093
Likes: 1,585
Almost impossible to harm the finish with a PC. Here's a great offer from forum vendor Autogeek. Today only 25% off and free shipping. Use code BLACK25
http://www.autogeek.net/
&*^%$# birds.
http://www.autogeek.net/
&*^%$# birds.
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Racer
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 275
Likes: 1
From: Phx Az
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,732
Likes: 44
From: Richmond TX
Just about the only way to damage your paint with the PC is to drop it on the car. I had my first PC for over 5 years and detailed about 100 vehicles a year. It's a lifetime purchase for the home user. A little expense getting set up, but well worth it. All those coats of wax will go and off on so much easier. Adam's, Autogeek, etc have great packages. I have purchased from both for many years.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,732
Likes: 44
From: Richmond TX
As soon as it hits the paint, it starts eating the clearcoat. You can also do a search for dual action polishers. There are alot of videos out there. You will be comfortable with it in no time. Some of the polishers out there are re-badged Porter Cables. Not a bad thing just don't pay more than you should. I have also purchased from Griot's but have never looked at their polishers.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,608
Likes: 202
From: Long Beach California
You are more likely to cause swirls waxing by hand. Check out Porter-Cable or Griot demo videos on YouTube. Super easy and I'm just an average guy. No detailing experience necessary.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 366
Likes: 0
From: Portland Oregon
Had the same thing happen when I stopped for lunch in Redding CA. coming home from the bash..A seagull nailed the rear deck and zr-1 spoiler. I washed it off right away at a gas station up the road ,the damage was done,It actually swelled the clear coat . I hand rubbed it out when I got home.I spent a half hour ,it looked fine . a week or so later I was able to see it again...I don't know what those birds eat but it was caustic. I rubbed it out again using 3m compound and haven't seen it since.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,996
Likes: 77
From: Louisville KY
Birds have only one hole, therefore their pee and poop comes out together. It is a acid type solution that is why it etch's so quickly. Bird poop also has grit in it due to their digestive process, so use lots of water, put a wet rag on the poop and let it set for a few minutes. Do not rub hard or you will scratch you finish.
The porter cable polisher is the best. I bought mine in 03 when I got my new C5. It is now 11 years old and hundred s of polishes due to our 4 kids and their spouses, plus our cars. Still woks perfectly.
The porter cable polisher is the best. I bought mine in 03 when I got my new C5. It is now 11 years old and hundred s of polishes due to our 4 kids and their spouses, plus our cars. Still woks perfectly.
Drifting
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,632
Likes: 25
From: Columbus Ohio
Heck with the Porter Cable, go big or go home and get the Flex 3401. Ordered mine today from auto geek.
The Porter Cable is a nice unit and will do the job. It is just less powerful than the Flex and takes more time. I am keeping my PC unit to polish the granite countertops in my kitchen, bathrooms and bar area of the man cave.
The Porter Cable is a nice unit and will do the job. It is just less powerful than the Flex and takes more time. I am keeping my PC unit to polish the granite countertops in my kitchen, bathrooms and bar area of the man cave.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,732
Likes: 44
From: Richmond TX
Heck with the Porter Cable, go big or go home and get the Flex 3401. Ordered mine today from auto geek.
The Porter Cable is a nice unit and will do the job. It is just less powerful than the Flex and takes more time. I am keeping my PC unit to polish the granite countertops in my kitchen, bathrooms and bar area of the man cave.
The Porter Cable is a nice unit and will do the job. It is just less powerful than the Flex and takes more time. I am keeping my PC unit to polish the granite countertops in my kitchen, bathrooms and bar area of the man cave.
The Flex does work faster but it will burn the paint. Especially on sharp edges.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 922
Likes: 2
From: Resume Speed Tennessee
Been lucky with my paint so far... No bird crap etching yet. Learned to soak, soak, soak when I tried to wipe away dried poop and wound up at a body shop getting the hood polished. Good tip: keep a spritzer bottle of water with a couple of drops of quality car wash solution mixed in. That dissolves and lifts better than plain water. Works well on bugs too.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 991
Likes: 263
From: Vancouver, Washington
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 229
Likes: 18
Have the same problem with my black '05- have been hit multiple times and a couple of times it etched the paint- if you don't get it off quick its bad news. Especially in summer sun, the temperature of that black paint is unbelievable. Tried to polish it out by hand but to no avail. I'm reluctant to try buffer - afraid I'll burn the paint- will take it to the body shop soon so they can try and polish it out. I hope it is just the clear coat and not the base color! What I don't understand is my black Escort and Altima (daily drivers) sit out everyday and get hit daily and it just washes right off and never seems to etch the paint. Is it something about the paint GM uses?