I'm not so sure about CarPro Eraser...

[timaishu]

In Mikes book he talks about using an alcohol solution of I think 10%. I forget his reasoning for why it is bad to use higher ratios.

 

[Ron Atchison]

Something like Kleen-strip Prep-all no good for this purpose for some reason?

Not that I know of. That is exactly what it is designed to do. Can you imagine if it had adverse effects and you used it just prior to spraying on new paint. That would sure cause a lot of headaches for the paint industry.

I agree with you also Mark that you shouldn't use anything on the paint that is going to cause problems, but IPA swelling the paint????? I can't see how IPA actually does that and if it does it has to be microns. As fast as the stuff evaporates I just have a hard time believing it can swell the paint in that short amount of time to the point that you are worried about it swelling out defects to the extent that you can no longer see them, but come back a few days later….Where is this documented or is it just something someone heard from someone one time?

 

[IID]

Eraser has <30%, which is too high, IMO.

I've used Eraser since it's public release on dozen(s) of vehicles and have yet to have any issues or repeat customers where I polished the paint and hazing had re-appear.
But if your concerned with the <30% IPA,take some distilled water and mix half and half.Then you would have <15% IPA.

 

[RFulmer]

Not that I know of. That is exactly what it is designed to do. Can you imagine if it had adverse effects and you used it just prior to spraying on new paint. That would sure cause a lot of headaches for the paint industry.

I agree with you also Mark that you shouldn't use anything on the paint that is going to cause problems, but IPA swelling the paint????? I can't see how IPA actually does that and if it does it has to be microns. As fast as the stuff evaporates I just have a hard time believing it can swell the paint in that short amount of time to the point that you are worried about it swelling out defects to the extent that you can no longer see them, but come back a few days later….Where is this documented or is it just something someone heard from someone one time?

One source, as far as Menzerna goes, is the guy from Optimum Polish who post here, which is competition to Menzerna so I wouldn't take that as a very reliable source. He said that you should check your paint 5 days after using Menzerna 85RD to see what it's true results are and before comparing it to one of Optimum's products (I don't remember which one).

I'm a novice when it comes to paint correction, but if I have to take out a microscope to see problems with my paint then I don't consider them problems at all. I use Eraser and it does what it's supposed to do very well and it evaporates so fast that I can't see it doing enough damage in the normal lifetime of my paint job for me to worry about it. I guess if I were really worried about it I could dilute the Eraser with water, but then I might as well mix up my own brew.

 

[toycar18]

I haven't had any problems with it. Works just fine. Carpro Eraser evaporates extremely fast as does IPA. Sorry buy I don't see how this would cause any damage could even be possible.

 

[XLNTShine]

I've used Eraser since it's public release on dozen(s) of vehicles and have yet to have any issues or repeat customers where I polished the paint and hazing had re-appear.
But if your concerned with the <30% IPA,take some distilled water and mix half and half.Then you would have <15% IPA.

That was going to be my question, I assume Eraser can be diluted with water. I haven't looked at the MSDS but if someone has it do we know that water is the carrier for the IPA in eraser? I would assume so, but there is always a chance its another solvent correct?

 

[mg6045]

That was going to be my question, I assume Eraser can be diluted with water. I haven't looked at the MSDS but if someone has it do we know that water is the carrier for the IPA in eraser? I would assume so, but there is always a chance its another solvent correct?

anything that has IPA in it has to be water based.

 

[WRAPT C5Z06]

But if your concerned with the <30% IPA,take some distilled water and mix half and half.Then you would have <15% IPA.

Great idea, Chris! :dblthumb2:

 

[mg6045]

sounds like lots of FUD marketing going on with all these scare tactics.

Ive used eraser on my vehicle and did not have defects re appear a week later. interestingly enough, I used to use IPA in high dilutions and never had defects reappear either. The problem with IPA in high dilutions is that it is said that it could soften the paint which would allow for micromarring.

as said before, if your polishing a car, you are heating the paint, which is causing it to swell. No biggie. once it cools all is well, check for defect removal, and your home free.

 

[WRAPT C5Z06]

The problem with IPA in high dilutions is that it is said that it could soften the paint which would allow for micromarring.

There been some leading chemists that have said no higher than ~15% IPA. I would think the chemists that recommended this, would also be referring to softening the clearcoat from <15% IPA. Eraser is double that, if not more.

 

[Bacon]

as said before, if your polishing a car, you are heating the paint, which is causing it to swell. No biggie. once it cools all is well, check for defect removal, and your home free.

A car in the hot sun get a lot hotter than when polishing; dont things expand when they get hot?

 

[WRAPT C5Z06]

A car in the hot sun get a lot hotter than when polishing; dont things expand when they get hot?

Absolutely.

 

[Jeff120]

I've used Eraser since it's public release on dozen(s) of vehicles and have yet to have any issues or repeat customers where I polished the paint and hazing had re-appear.
But if your concerned with the <30% IPA,take some distilled water and mix half and half.Then you would have <15% IPA.

That sounds like a good option, then you have twice as much product as well! But then you may as well just make your own IPA solution anyway.

What else is in Eraser that makes it better in terms of IPA? Myself I dont mind IPA, other then the smell after awhile.

 

[umi000]

Not that I know of. That is exactly what it is designed to do. Can you imagine if it had adverse effects and you used it just prior to spraying on new paint. That would sure cause a lot of headaches for the paint industry.

I agree with you also Mark that you shouldn't use anything on the paint that is going to cause problems, but IPA swelling the paint????? I can't see how IPA actually does that and if it does it has to be microns. As fast as the stuff evaporates I just have a hard time believing it can swell the paint in that short amount of time to the point that you are worried about it swelling out defects to the extent that you can no longer see them, but come back a few days later….Where is this documented or is it just something someone heard from someone one time?

One good article by Mike - How to Mix IPA for Inspecting Correction Results

Most recommendations I’ve read are:

Dilute IPA by 50% with water or 1:1

• Diluting 91% IPA 1:1 or by 50% with water would give you approximately a 45% dilution of IPA to water solution.

• Diluting 70% IPA 1:1 or by 50% with water would give you approximately a 35% dilution of IPA to water solution.

• Diluting 50% IPA 1:1 or by 50% with water would give you approximately a 25% dilution of IPA to water solution.

After talking to my chemist friends, they all felt that these dilution levels were overkill and too strong for removing residues after compounding and/or polishing paint. Most quality name brand compounds and polishes are water soluble and don't need a strong solution of Isopropyl Alcohol to dissolve, emulsify and loosen any leftover residues on the surface.

Their recommendation was for approximately a 10% dilution of IPA to water solution. The reason for this recommendation besides their chemistry background, is that a strong solution of IPA can stain and even soften some clear coat paints.

High Solids Clear Coats paints are "Alcohol Friendly", meaning products like Isopropyl Alcohol, can and will penetrated into, soften, wrinkle and/or stain the paint. To avoid any of these problems, a 10% dilution of IPA to water solution is recommended and adequate to remove any compounding and polishing residues without risking any danger to your car's paint or your customer's car's paint.

There have been other references on other forums, by people in the paint industry and with chemistry backgrounds.

 

[toycar18]

One good article by Mike - How to Mix IPA for Inspecting Correction Results



There have been other references on other forums, by people in the paint industry and with chemistry backgrounds.

Thanks for the info.


Has anyone EVER had swelling occur using IPA???

I know chemists may make recommendations but real world is different than a lab.

Real world and theory are BOTH important!!!

 

[VW 91]

Mark have you tried any paint safe APC's? I would assume that OPC at 10:1 would cut down any polishing oils and not swell paint. P21S TAW also comes to mind as it very paint safe, and an effective cleaner.

 

[Twister]

Mark have you tried any paint safe APC's? I would assume that OPC at 10:1 would cut down any polishing oils and not swell paint. P21S TAW also comes to mind as it very paint safe, and an effective cleaner.

Then you would need to rinse after you use those.. I'm looking to avoid rewashing the car as I'm sure most of us would want to avoid adding steps to the process unless needed.

 

[WRAPT C5Z06]

Then you would need to rinse after you use those..

True.

I think IPA @ 10% is just fine, but IPA tends to be grabby at times, therefore a greater chance of marring the paint when wiping off.

I'm very curious to know what's in Griot's Pre-Wax Cleaner.

 

[rwright]

I don't work on Concours D'Elegance cars so I'm cool with Eraser, Griot's Pre-Wax Cleaner, IPA, solvents, etc.

Great topic Mark, maybe this will rival the leather thread! :righton:

 

[umi000]

Thanks for the info.


Has anyone EVER had swelling occur using IPA???

I know chemists may make recommendations but real world is different than a lab.

Real world and theory are BOTH important!!!

In the article, Mike mentioned that he had paint wrinkling because of IPA:

In the last year, I used some 70% IPA to chemically strip paint while doing some polish comparison testing, and where I had used painter's tape to tape off specific sections for the test, after wiping the area with straight 70% IPA, some of the IPA penetrated between the tape and the paint and dwelled there while I continued testing. When I removed the tape, there was a visible place where the clear coat paint wrinkled-up from too long of exposure to the high concentration of IPA.