So i haven't washed my car for about a week. When I did the other day there was some tree sap on it. I couldn't get all of it off. I just needs some sugestions on to remove it please.
Gotta a heat gun? that works great! you can even use a razer blade.
a razer blade has two sides, one side is a little rough but the other side is a bit smoother. Slightly bend the razer blade, rought side being the inside. With the smooth side go very evenly with the paint. do that jsut do light passes and the tree sap will come off.
It might leave very fine scratches, just depends on how you do it. just a very soft cut will take that away
Im a bit iffy about the razor. The sap isn't very gunky anymore, It's more of a crust now. Is there like a solvent or chemical solution that can take care of it?
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Joined: 10/4/2004 From: Westville, IL Status: offline
If the sap isn't that bad you can use a cleaner wax or even use a claybar to remove the wax. I would try the clay first. I get sap off all of the time with a claybar.
I would take it to a self-serve car wash with a hot water pressure washer, and try to work the sap off that way. Just get right on top of it with the pressure washer and the heat should take it off.
And if there's any stain or anything, try rubbing compound.
Gotta a heat gun? that works great! you can even use a razer blade.
a razer blade has two sides, one side is a little rough but the other side is a bit smoother. Slightly bend the razer blade, rought side being the inside. With the smooth side go very evenly with the paint. do that jsut do light passes and the tree sap will come off.
It might leave very fine scratches, just depends on how you do it. just a very soft cut will take that away
While you may want to take a heat gun and a razor blade to your car please don't tell someone here to do that. It is totally irresponsible and someone will damage thier car following this advice.
You say you are a detailer in another post. No detailer I know would take a heat gun or a razor blade to paint, not even in the fender wells.
Posts: 216
Joined: 12/29/2004 From: New Hampshire Status: offline
DO NOT use a pressure washer or razor blade on your paint. Good christ, people -- what are you thinkning?
Rubbing alcohol sometimes works. (WD40 as mentioned above, works too.). If the sap is dried on, you may have to soak it a bit to soften it up. (you'll also be taking off the wax, so make sure you re-wax afterwards.) A clay bar will take of the final residue, but don't just use the claybar on the glob of sap or you'll end up scratching the hell out of your paint.
< Message edited by langod -- 2/12/2007 3:41:48 PM >
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Just one question who is a detailer and who is not. have have been doing this for some time now and if you can't handle a heat gun or a stupid little razer blade on clear coat then i don't know what to say. you shouldn't be detailing your cars.
And if i am so stupid then why the hell does it work on all the cars that i do.
and why the hell whould you say to use clay bar on sap!! thats the way to go... right!! do you even know what clay bar is used for and the purpose of it? oh yeha and just use wax!! right? do down play down grade me. i know what i am doing and if i didn't then why and i getting so may car and havign them go on showroom floors.
if you can put small ass scratches on THE CLEAR COAT then you should never, no one should ever wet sand cars....
People... i know that i am doing, just just pus out because it sound out there but it works!!
wanna talk or whatever you wanna do why not just email me
Just one question who is a detailer and who is not. have have been doing this for some time now and if you can't handle a heat gun or a stupid little razer blade on clear coat then i don't know what to say. you shouldn't be detailing your cars.
A detailer would have known to offer assistance using the least aggresive methods first. Please don't use a label to tout yourself on your first run here. We are all here to help each other. While I may not have been detailing as long as you, or detailing cars that I can't spell the names of I would never take a razor blade or a heat gun to someones car.
With all the experience you claim, you should know that it is a bad idea to tell someone over the internet to use these items on your car. If these are the types of tools that you use you should have learned first hand from someone and understand that it is a method best taught in person.
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ORIGINAL: Cobra4187 And if i am so stupid then why the hell does it work on all the cars that i do.
I don't beleive anyone called you stupid. You must be lucky scraping a razor blade on a any cars paint and not have a scratch.
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ORIGINAL: Cobra4187 and why the hell whould you say to use clay bar on sap!! thats the way to go... right!! do you even know what clay bar is used for and the purpose of it? oh yeha and just use wax!! right? do down play down grade me. i know what i am doing and if i didn't then why and i getting so may car and havign them go on showroom floors.
I believe the folks that responded with the suggestion of using clay bar knows what a clay bar is for and how to use it. I have read their previous posts and these folks have some sort of experience. It was stated that if the sap is dry to use a clay bar. It certainly will not harm the paint finish in the hands of an "amateur" like a heat gun and a razor blade would.
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ORIGINAL: Cobra4187 if you can put small ass scratches on THE CLEAR COAT then you should never, no one should ever wet sand cars....
The point of detailing is to reduce or minimize defects. Scratching your paint with a razor blade is just the opposite. Wet sanding - Leave that to the pros.
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ORIGINAL: Cobra4187 People... i know that i am doing, just just pus out because it sound out there but it works!!
I'm having a hard time reading this statement but I'll try. You are trying too hard to sell yourself with the "I know what I am doing" pitch. I don't believe anyone said you did not know what you are doing. As I mentioned before using your techniques is something that would have to be taught to someone, in person, not over a message board.
Why did you not just suggest something easier than anyone could do to their car and not worry about damaging the paint finish in the first place? As mentioned earlier -
Mineral Spirits.
WD-40
Bug and tar remover.
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ORIGINAL: Cobra4187 wanna talk or whatever you wanna do why not just email me
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Joined: 10/4/2004 From: Westville, IL Status: offline
I totally agree with everything Stickman said.
I've detailed for years and own a detailing business. For someone that isn't a pro I would definetely not recommend using a razor blade. I think Cobra was talking about a plastic razor blade though. I do know some people that use those to remove tar and such.
It really just depends on how bad the sap is. You do want to use a cleaner like Stoner Tarminator,Mineral Spirity,WD-40, etc to get the major part of it off. If the sap is a small amount a claybar will do the trick. I do it all of the time without scratching the paint. Also like I said before, if the sap isn't bad at all a cleaner wax will do the trick.
Cobra-nobody is trying to downgrade you. We are just saying that it wouldn't be a good idea for someone with very little experience to try. It is cool that we have another detailer on here that has experience and can help people out. Let's not let this ruin things on here. This is a great site with a lot of awesome people. Sorry if you got offended. Anytime you want to talk shop feel free to e-mail me.
you say to leave thing like wet sand to the pro. then send your cars to the pros!
i an just here to help some people. i am not telling all of the people to do it and try it.
i will do this though. i can't really explain the things that i do in to words but i will write and take pics of the things that i am talking about and let you have a better understanding on what i am talking about.
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DO NOT use a pressure washer on your paint. Good christ, people -- what are you thinkning?
Rubbing alcohol sometimes works.
LOL, what are you talking about? Rubbing alcohol? Have you ever heard of paint thinner? It's just alcohol. Let's all pour paint thinner on our cars! If anything is going to eat through clear coat and into the paint, rubbing alcohol is the stuff.
As for not using a pressure washer, again, what are you talking about? It's paint, buddy, not skin. Don't use a pressure washer on your skin. As for a car, that's perfectly fine. All that car washes have is pressure washers. Tens of thousands of people use pressure washers every single day and their paint is fine. I've always washed all my vehicles with a pressure washer, sometimes every single day for months on end, and never, ever had a problem in any way.
Pressure washers are perfectly fine. Rubbing alcohol is absolutely not. Any more 'expert' cleaning advice you'd like to give out, genius?
DO NOT use a pressure washer on your paint. Good christ, people -- what are you thinkning?
Rubbing alcohol sometimes works.
LOL, what are you talking about? Rubbing alcohol? Have you ever heard of paint thinner? It's just alcohol. Let's all pour paint thinner on our cars! If anything is going to eat through clear coat and into the paint, rubbing alcohol is the stuff.
Isopropyl alcohol (about 87% alcohol) [or rubbing alcohol(about 68 to 71% alcohol)] is commonly used in detailing. Usually a 1:1 ratio with water is used after polishing to help remove any oils from the polish in order to promote sealant / wax bonding with the surface. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isopropyl_alcohol
A paint thinner is a solvent which evaporates quickly. Mineral spirits is also a solvent and basically in the same family.
I believe the solvent to keep far away from your painted surface is Acetone.
A quick search on any detailing web site will show the use of the products on paint with no effect.
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Joined: 3/31/2005 From: Indianapolis, IN Status: offline
First of all, before you guys get into a big pissing match over the pressure washer arument - the pressure washer that was mentioned here was the CAR WASH pressure washer, which is made for car washing. Thats a big difference compared to a gas engine pressure washer
And COBRA - while I have no reason to doubt your experience, before you continue on with your arguments and further invest your time into the pics and stories you mention - PLEASE for the love of god learn the speak/type. Your posts are nearly impossible to even understand what the hell you are saying
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ORIGINAL: Cobra4187 People... i know that i am doing, just just pus out because it sound out there but it works!!
i an just here to help some people. i am not telling all of the people to do it and try it.
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Tree sap - 
the only problem we have here is snow & salt 
