Etching from Bird Droppings...
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Pro
Joined: Mar 2004
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Etching from Bird Droppings...
I left my car outside last night because I planned on driving it this morning. It only has 180 miles on it so far and I was going to add to that number today.
This morning a bird had already bombed the front bumper with a good solid hit and there was a small drip of a more liquid poop on the back deck. When I cleaned off the small drip on the deck I could see that it had etched the paint. I used some polish on the spot which made it look a little better, but didn't take it out. The etched spot isn't very noticeable, but the polish left a cloudy spot where i used it. :rolleyes: I'll have to try to get the cloudy spot out later. I was so disgruntled I just put the car back in the garage this morning instead of driving it.
Here are my questions...
What should I use to bring out the cloudy spot back to a high gloss wet shine like the rest of the car has?
I've seen all the debate on here about Zaino, NXT and others. Does any one of them seem to provide better protection from bird dropping etching, or are the bird droppings something that nothing can protect your paint from?
[Modified by Donovan 572, 4:05 PM 4/28/2004]
This morning a bird had already bombed the front bumper with a good solid hit and there was a small drip of a more liquid poop on the back deck. When I cleaned off the small drip on the deck I could see that it had etched the paint. I used some polish on the spot which made it look a little better, but didn't take it out. The etched spot isn't very noticeable, but the polish left a cloudy spot where i used it. :rolleyes: I'll have to try to get the cloudy spot out later. I was so disgruntled I just put the car back in the garage this morning instead of driving it.
Here are my questions...
What should I use to bring out the cloudy spot back to a high gloss wet shine like the rest of the car has?
I've seen all the debate on here about Zaino, NXT and others. Does any one of them seem to provide better protection from bird dropping etching, or are the bird droppings something that nothing can protect your paint from?
[Modified by Donovan 572, 4:05 PM 4/28/2004]
Safety Car
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 3,525
Likes: 0
From: Kenton TN
Re: Etching from Bird Droppings... (Donovan 572)
Use 3M Swirl Mark Remover to remove the haze of the bird droppings and marring from the other polish you used and then finish with your choice of final finish wax or durable polish and you should not be able to tell where the damage was.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 20,318
Likes: 1,905
From: Huntingdon Valley Pa/ Town of Webb NY
Re: Etching from Bird Droppings... (Donovan 572)
No product will protect from the acid in bird droppings, our shops used Meguiar's for 10 years, we also used Liquid Glass, when you get into the time of the years where the birds start eating berries all you can do is get it off your car as soon as possible, not wax or Zaino will stop the etching if allowed to sit on your car and bake on. :(
Intermediate
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
Re: Etching from Bird Droppings... (hcvone)
The best thing you can do is wash the vehicle with a good acid neutralizing car wash. One that is not only Ph neutral but also has acid neutralizer.
Depending on how much damage the dropping has caused it is possible that it may only be clowding the surface of the clear. I would recommend using a micropolish where the abrasive is more like a ballbearing vs Texas Tack. Take your time and work it.
If that Works Great
To protect against Bird Droppings and their corrosive nature there is no subsitute for a high quality paint sealer that specifically contains Acid Deturents. Which means they will not readily break down when exposed to acid rain bird droppings and bug splatter.
Do this and you should not have any future problems
The best medicine is to wash you car once a week with a good Ph Neutral Soap. This will wash away any acidic compounds which can cause damage to your paint film. do not use Dish Soap or any Self serve or Full Serve Car Wash. It is not unusual for there Ph to be in the range of 13-14 which is simular to the Ph of a Strong Degreaser.
Depending on how much damage the dropping has caused it is possible that it may only be clowding the surface of the clear. I would recommend using a micropolish where the abrasive is more like a ballbearing vs Texas Tack. Take your time and work it.
If that Works Great
To protect against Bird Droppings and their corrosive nature there is no subsitute for a high quality paint sealer that specifically contains Acid Deturents. Which means they will not readily break down when exposed to acid rain bird droppings and bug splatter.
Do this and you should not have any future problems
The best medicine is to wash you car once a week with a good Ph Neutral Soap. This will wash away any acidic compounds which can cause damage to your paint film. do not use Dish Soap or any Self serve or Full Serve Car Wash. It is not unusual for there Ph to be in the range of 13-14 which is simular to the Ph of a Strong Degreaser.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,909
Likes: 4
From: Ponte Vedra Beach / London State: Dazed and confused
Re: Etching from Bird Droppings... (TLL)
Quote: The best thing you can do is wash the vehicle with a good acid neutralizing car wash. One that is not only Ph neutral but also has acid neutralizer.
~One man’s opinion / observations ~
I know of many pH balanced (neutral) car wash concentrates but I haven’t seen one that says it contains an ‘acid neutralizer’, do you have a brand name?
~Hope this helps~
Experience unshared; is knowledge wasted…/
justadumbarchitect *so I question everything*
~One man’s opinion / observations ~
I know of many pH balanced (neutral) car wash concentrates but I haven’t seen one that says it contains an ‘acid neutralizer’, do you have a brand name?
~Hope this helps~
Experience unshared; is knowledge wasted…/
justadumbarchitect *so I question everything*
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,906
Likes: 554
From: Scottsdale AZ
Re: Etching from Bird Droppings... (TOGWT)
I feel your pain! The same thing happened to my Lemans Blue 04 last week. Used 39009 on a microfiber towel. Rubbed in circles over the etching for about 15 min, followed by a coat of Zaino. It did come out though. Good luck! It will come out.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 473
Likes: 2
From: Columbus Ohio
