Hard water spots or something else?

[brady_f]

What exactly are these? Look like hard water spots however they seem to be almost baked into the paint. Won't rub off by hand. Haven't tried taking the Flex to them yet....??? Any suggestions on how to take them off?

 

[brady_f]

Hmm...doing a little reading and they may be below surface water spots that have etched the paint. One user said that hydroflauric (sp?) acid would do the trick with a simple wipedown. Any comments on that?

 

[mbkite]

What helps me with paint defects is a 30 dollar radio shack microscope
their are 2 models if you decide you want one
i have both but would get the least powerful one.
the stronger one will not work.
this microscope light up and you can rely see whats going on.

 

[RTexasF]

Use the Flex?

 

[brady_f]

Use the Flex?

Yeah planning on it, however the entire truck was already 95% corrected before the water spots showed up. Just trying to see if there was another way to remove them without having to use the rotary on it.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

It's really hard to tell from those pictures what you are talking about. It looks like really small pinpoint spots which would perhaps indicate acid rain damage rather than water (mineral) spotting.

If they are not etched in, a chemical method would be indicated, however, that would NOT be hydrofluoric acid, one of the decon systems that uses oxalic or other acid would be. However, if they are etched in the only way to remove them will be to mechanically level the surface.

 

[Rob T]

Is this your vehicle? Are you familiar with the vehicle? When did these spots show up? How old is the vehicle?

Bigger pics would also be helpful.

 

[Dubbin1]

Have you tried to do a test spot with clay?

 

[jsgntulok]

Considering they might be water spots, mineral deposits, have you tried white vinegar? Not overly agressive and just might work.

 

[tuscarora dave]

Do you have any Pro Polish? If they are just deposits PP will remove them rather easily with the Flex and a white pad.

 

[brady_f]

Is this your vehicle? Are you familiar with the vehicle? When did these spots show up? How old is the vehicle?

Bigger pics would also be helpful.

It is my vehicle, however I just purchased it within the past few months. There were lots of etched in water spots when I purchased it, however I thought I polished all of them out. I will see if I can grab some bigger pictures.

Have you tried to do a test spot with clay?

I will clay it today and see if it will take them out

Considering they might be water spots, mineral deposits, have you tried white vinegar? Not overly agressive and just might work.

Haven't tried that. Will give it a shot today. Should it be dilluted at all?

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Haven't tried that. Will give it a shot today. Should it be diluted at all?

Use it straight, the white distilled vinegar.


Here's the deal, in order to remove water spots you first have to determine which type they are, vinegar won't remove a Type II or Type III water spots, only Type I.

In this article I talk about removing water spots by hand but once you read the article and determine which type of water spots you have then you can choose the right approach to remove them.

How to remove water spots by hand


Here's a portion of the above article, do click the link and read the entire article.

First you need to determine which type of water spots you have,

Type I Water Spots
Type I Water Spots are primarily a mineral or dirt deposit laying on the surface of paint. Type I Water Spots can be the results of minerals suspended in city water or well water that are left behind after the water evaporates off the finish. This can happen by washing a car but not drying the water off the paint or if a sprinkler goes off next to the car covering the car with water drop that are not dried off the paint. Type I Water Spots can also be dirt or pollution particles left behind after water from rain or inclement weather evaporates of the finish. Type I Water Spots can also be Type II Water Spots in that the water can leave both a deposit on the surface and an etching in the finish. Another way people describe mineral deposits is to refer to them has Hard Water spots, or spot left by “hard water.


Type II Water Spots
Type II Water Spots are actual etchings or craters in the paint because something corrosive in a water source has landed on the paint and was not removed before a portion of the paint was eaten or dissolved by the corrosive substance.


Type III Water Spots
Type III Water Spots are spots that look faded or dull and are found primarily found on single stage paints after a water source lands on and then pools on the paint and is usually left to dwell on the surface for some measure of time before it evaporates or is wiped-off the surface. Type III Water spots can also happen to clear coat finishes too but it’s not as common because I Type III Water Spot is either a stain or fading. Clear coats don’t stain as easily as single stage paints because they are not as porous or permeable. Clear coats can’t technically fade because they are clear to start with, there’s no color to fade.​

Step by Step Procedures for removing Type I Water Spots by Hand
Different types of water spots are removed differently, so it’s important to try to diagnose which type of water spot you have first as this will help you understand the removal process and products and tools needed. The easiest type of water spots to remove are Type I and the most difficult to remove are Type II and Type III


Pictures

Type I Water Spots

Type II Water Spots
I took this photo myself when I helped Alex Fong from Corvette Forum remove a zillion Type II Water Spots out of the clear coat finish on his Corvette.

Photo Courtesy of MeguiarsOnline.com

Here's a close-up of the same photo, if you look closely you can see the edges are angled downward as this is an actual etching "into" the clear paint.

Type III Water Spots