Does anyone know how to get compound out of etched bugs???

Buff-N-Glo

Buff-N-Glo

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I've been having problems with my compound filling in the etched bug marks on the hood of some of the cars, causing them to turn white and look 10x worse than they really are. And I've have very little success using mineral spirits, and goo gone to remove them. Is there a good way or technique for removing compound out of etched bug markings?
 
One thought would be to use a APC with a soft bristle brush like one that has boars hair bristles to it, there's also peanut butter, along with claying
 
This must be done as you go

Once the compound is dried in the pits and etching, it is very difficult to remove without marring the paint finish

Next time you do a paint correction, the solvents in the polish will soften the compound residue that is in the defects. As soon as you finish a section, hit it with Meguiar's D114 Rinseless Wash or CarPro Eraser to make sure any residual polish is removed.


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What about a toothpick? Can I just go in there and pick out the edges with a toothpick? I mean the paint is already etched anyway. A toothpick dipped in some mineral spirits should work.
 
Buff-N-Glo said:
What about a toothpick? Can I just go in there and pick out the edges with a toothpick? I mean the paint is already etched anyway. A toothpick dipped in some mineral spirits should work.
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There's always Q-Tips dipped in isopropyl alcohol.

Bill
 
jamesboyy said:
One thought would be to use a APC with a soft bristle brush like one that has boars hair bristles to it, there's also peanut butter, along with claying
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Why on earth would you use peanut butter for this??

I'm also dubious about claying, as a pit with polish in it is effectively a sub-surface contaminant. APC with a brush sounds like the way to go.
 
Buff-N-Glo said:
What about a toothpick? Can I just go in there and pick out the edges with a toothpick? I mean the paint is already etched anyway. A toothpick dipped in some mineral spirits should work.
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BillE said:
There's always Q-Tips dipped in isopropyl alcohol.
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Buff-N-Glo said:
Have you tried this? This works good?
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If you want to work on spots individually, knock yourself out. I would use a brush, or a MF towel, to be able to cover more surface area. Unless you are talking about 1 or 3 isolated spots. I'd skip the toothpick idea, that sounds dangerous to me.
 
Buff-N-Glo said:
I've been having problems with my compound filling in the etched bug marks on the hood of some of the cars, causing them to turn white and look 10x worse than they really are. And I've have very little success using mineral spirits, and goo gone to remove them. Is there a good way or technique for removing compound out of etched bug markings?
Click to expand...
use a non caustic apc,Presoaking the area then use a soft bristle toothbrush and scrub it out then rinse.
 
But I already polished it and put a layer of sealant, going back at it with a brush and apc sounds like a bad idea!
 
Buff-N-Glo said:
But I already polished it and put a layer of sealant, going back at it with a brush and apc sounds like a bad idea!
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A worse idea than leaving the spots filled with polish? If that is your concern than just use the toothpick/Q-tip method. Or gently use APC and a towel and then go back over that small area with your sealant, overlapping onto the untouched areas.
 
Try steam. This has worked very well for me in the past.
Good luck
 
The thing that always makes me scratch my head about this kind of thread is here is a pro detailer in FL with a website and everything asking about bug etches that everybody in FL gets during love bug season...didn't he encounter this on his own car before starting his own business?

I know there's no rule about how many cars you have to have detailed before starting your own business and I'm sorry if that sounds harsh, but it's a disconnect for me.
 
Thanks for the replies everyone, sometimes after you have worked 8 hours on a car it's hard to think straight. Now I can go back with a little more confidence and make the job right, thanks for the comments.

ShineDoc said:
Try steam. This has worked very well for me in the past.
Good luck
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Very good idea thanks:xyxthumbs:

Setec Astronomy said:
The thing that always makes me scratch my head about this kind of thread is here is a pro detailer in FL with a website and everything asking about bug etches that everybody in FL gets during love bug season...didn't he encounter this on his own car before starting his own business?

I know there's no rule about how many cars you have to have detailed before starting your own business and I'm sorry if that sounds harsh, but it's a disconnect for me.
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Go ahead and keep scratching your head then. Because I will always look for ways to improve and will probably need help in the future. I'm not some master detailer that knows every aspect of everything that has to do with detailing, nor do I claim to be. Why do you think I'm part of this board asking for help? Why are you on this board? If you are some master detailer that never makes mistakes then good for you, but I will always admit my faults and look for ways to improve. I have nothing to hide....
 
Setec Astronomy said:
Why on earth would you use peanut butter for this??
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I've actually found peanut butter and an old tooth brush to be really effective at getting dried wax/sealant off pebble textured plastic trim. I believe it has something to do with the oils in the peanut butter.

I don't know how well it would work on compounds/polishe residue in this instance if things like QD, APC and Goo Gone already failed.
 
Desertnate said:
I've actually found peanut butter and an old tooth brush to be really effective at getting dried wax/sealant off pebble textured plastic trim. I believe it has something to do with the oils in the peanut butter.
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I think it has something to do with the oils in the peanut butter saturating the dried wax/sealant and making you think you got it off. You're hiding the problem, not removing it.
 
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