rain spots

what is the best product to get rain spots out of the paint and windows when doing detailing?

Well it will depend. If there are not to many or "deep" rain spots attached to the paint or windows you may use a clay bar...If there are to many and to "deep" you can use 2000 wetordry sand paper from 3m..but then you will need to apply rubbing compound,a swirl mark remover and some other products in order to acomplish the detailing.
Actually Im using 3000 perfect it system from 3M and I can say that this is a very good system.

regards
Renato Rios
M&M detailing and car care center
Avenida Independencia Poniente # 2201. Arcadia Tehuacan Puebla Mexico 75760
rrios@mmcar-care.com.mx

I think it's wise to start with the easiest methods and go from there.

1. wash the car.
2. clay the car and dry it.
3. prep for wax (tar/sap removal)
4. try a liquid cleaner wax by hand first. I like Meguiars #66.
5. if that doesn't take out the water spots, try applying the wax with an orbital polisher.
6. If the orbital polisher doesn't do it, you should skip right to a buffered compound and a rotary buffer with some type of cutting pad, followed by a machine glaze applied with a polishing pad, followed by a wax for maximum protection after the surface correction is completed.

Renato was basically right, but he skipped a few steps, going from clay right to wet sanding.

Good luck!

Glass is a lot easier. If soap/water doesn't work, try some rubbing compound and "OO" steel wool.

Renato

Check out our website for the best detail products in the industry. www.detailplus.com

We offer excellent prices on clay too, plus the new Sponge Clay Pad.

Whatever you need amigo.

Saludos

Don Bud Abraham
DETAIL PLUS SYSTEMS
buda@detailplus.com

Some of these methods seem pretty harsh and I would'nt want to do some of them in front of a customer. Try mixing some plain wheel acid at about a 2 to 5 ratio with water. Apply like wax to windows and cars painted surface, then send it through your tunnel. Takes about 20 minutes and is very effective for light to medium water spots. We charge $100 a ticket for car dealers who parked thier cars by a hard water sprinkler all the time. You should test an incospicous area any time you try a new method or new product.

No one should have hydroflouric acid in their business, whether a car wash or detail shop.

It is a killer and the benefits are far outweigh by the dangers.

And, even the manufacturers would tell you to not use it on glass. Acid rain, which is nowhere near as harsh as hydroflouric acid, will etch glass, what do you suppose that HF would do to glass?

Back to the dangers, this stuff is really dangerous to people. Penetrates the skin and de-calcifies the bones; will blind you; can destroy lung tissue, etc. etc.

A story in PCWD magazine cited a situation where a person was filling drums with HF and the hose broke and spray on him. He doused himself with water and then drove to the hospital. He died the next day from heart failure and severe respirtory problems both brought on by the exposure to HF Acid.

Is it really worth it?

Regards
Bud Abraham

I use the Car Bright Version of the Acid, we dilute it about 65% water. We buy 5 gallons at a time mainly for our detail shop. Main use is for highly tarnished Chrome wheels. Ive never had any problem with etching of the glass. We also take the required safety measures by using safety goggles and chemical resistant gloves. When used improperly I could see the danger, but at a properly mixed ratio with trained professionals this is a very safe process. I still appreciate your concern.

Bud,

While I can agree with your comments on safety, sometimes it is necessary to use the right product to get the optimal result.
Training and the use of PPE (personal protection equipment) should be in use.
How does one determine what the spots are? Is it acid rain, hard water or just dried rain.
Most people can't figure it out and do more work than is needed.
I had a dealer/customer that had a horrible problem with calcium buildup on his lot cars, after it rained and the sun came out, forget about it!
The rain caused problems, the area is known for hard water and the simple fixed became a simple sprayed on solution of a calcium/rust/lime remover.
Washed, sometimes clayed, rewashed and waxed back to as new.
Rubber gloves with a little elbow grease went a long way.
Educate yourselves on what the best way to remove the problem is.
If not, the cure can be worse than the cause.

The best thing to do is simply contact your chemical supplier and ask them for "water spot remover."

As stated water spots are only the minerals in the water that have dried on the surface. All you have to do is re-liquify them and wash off the residual.

Of course you will have to neutralize the acidic surface with an alkaline and then rinse and then wash.

Water spot removers are acidic, but certainly not hydroflouric acid.

The dumbest thing for a detailer to do is to become a mixologist and start mixing up their own formulas and concoctions. Very dangerous for both the vehicle and the human.

Regards
Bud Abraham

Guys,
Car Brite makes a product specifically for the removal of acid rain or hard water deposits called Surface Clarifier. The product does not contain hydrofluoric acid rather it uses oxalic acid. This product works great if the spots have not been allowed to penetrate into the clear coat of the vehicle. If this is the case it would be necessary to remove a small layer of clear in order to get to the level of penetration of the spot. This can be done two ways either through wet sanding or the use of a high speed buffer and buffing compound keeping in mind this will require multiple steps or stages to get proper results. Please let me know if I can help further.
Thanks,
Jason Abney
The Valvoline Company
Regional Sales Manager Appearance Business
Car Brite and Eagle One Car Wash

E111 SURFACE CLARIFIER
DESCRIPTION:
A concentrated, acid-based liquid cleaner that safely and effectively removes water spots from painted, chrome and glass surfaces.
KEY FEATURES:
• Clear liquid
• Contains acid
• Concentrated
KEY BENEFITS:
• Low usage cost since it's concentrated and mixes with water
• Quickly removes stubborn water spots from a variety of surfaces