Getting Clay out of PPF

chilly

chilly

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I’m embarrassed to admit it but at some point I got too close to one of the thick PPF rock panels on my Tacoma while claying

I noticed a faint line of yellow clay today and it’s been there for over a year

I’m thinking a bamboo skewer and a microfiber towel run carefully along the edge

“Tooth Pickery” as Jim White calls it

But is there anything I could pretreat it with to soften the clay that won’t compromise the PPF adhesive?


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chilly said:
I’m embarrassed to admit it but at some point I got too close to one of the thick PPF rock panels on my Tacoma while claying

I noticed a faint line of yellow clay today and it’s been there for over a year

I’m thinking a bamboo skewer and a microfiber towel run carefully along the edge

“Tooth Pickery” as Jim White calls it

But is there anything I could pretreat it with to soften the clay that won’t compromise the PPF adhesive?


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What about spraying a ton of clay lubricant on it and then trying to remove it with a fine, soft detailing brush?
 
joebruin77 said:
What about spraying a ton of clay lubricant on it and then trying to remove it with a fine, soft detailing brush?
Click to expand...

I thought of that but thought about how clay lube is designed NOT to let clay break down and how car soap solutions will often break clay down

I will certainly try that as a least aggressive approach and go from there

Thanks
 
Maybe you can find out what soaps will break down clay and use that as a softening agent? IIRC Power Clean will break down clay.
 
Rsurfer said:
Maybe you can find out what soaps will break down clay and use that as a softening agent? IIRC Power Clean will break down clay.
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I think that’s the safest approach

I have OPC so I’ll try that first

I’ll put bits of clay in with some and just see what happens

I remember a long time ago using something as clay lube that just turned it to a stringy mess

Wish I could remember

I’m NOT trying any kind of solvents or Tarminator or stuff like that around PPF

Thanks Ron


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The skewer method is your best shot... I do it all the time - clay, polish, wax residues.
 
2black1s said:
The skewer method is your best shot... I do it all the time clay, polish, wax residues.

If you are going to try to dissolve the clay the first solvent I'd try would be mineral spirits.
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You don’t think that would get up and under the PPF?


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chilly said:
You don’t think that would get up and under the PPF?


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I edited my previous post and deleted the mineral spirits method after reading your last post where you said you're not trying any solvents.

That's ok... the skewer method is the best anyways and that would be my first choice.
 
I’ve used wooden skewers with the rounded off edges and held it parallel to the edge,never pushed into the seam. It may take a few gentle tries but it’ll work. My installer gave me some XPEL PPF Cleaner and I used that. I also ran some tape along the seam in case the skewer snapped, I didn’t want to take a chance of scuffing the film
 
I appreciate the input

I’m ready to take a careful approach and get more aggressive if necessary

I’ll report back


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I tried OPC at 3:1 which is what I keep mixed up and it didn’t seem to help soften the clay

I tried OPC straight and it possibly helped a bit

I decided to soak a small piece of clay in each solution overnight and the 3:1 didn’t phase it but the straight OPC actually softened it almost to the point of dissolving

I’m going to keep working on it with a boars hair brush and straight OPC and see if enough application cycles will remove it all

At this point it’s a science experiment because it’s keeping me entertained

Thank god I’m not getting paid by the hour

Carry on


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Keep us posted as I am going to get the front end of Car Coated in PPF ( when ever it shows up). I do like your DOE ( design of experiment) / plan of attack
 
Roger that

Hope you get your car soon




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I haven’t actually worked with PPF to know but I would worry about Goo Gone affecting the PPF adhesive.
 
dgage said:
I haven’t actually worked with PPF to know but I would worry about Goo Gone affecting the PPF adhesive.
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That’s my worry as well

The truck is 4 years old and all the PPF is intact

I can live with a tiny bit of clay left over better than I could live with lifting PPF


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chilly said:
That’s my worry as well

The truck is 4 years old and all the PPF is intact

I can live with a tiny bit of clay left over better than I could live with lifting PPF


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Just pretend that it's not there.:laughing:
 
Rsurfer said:
Just pretend that it's not there.:laughing:
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Well the older I get the worse my vision gets

Pretty soon it WON’T be there

lol




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