The Baggie test marred my paint

I've seen the baggie test mar paint... actually seen it a bunch of times. 99% of any car that I'm doing the baggie test on I'm already planning on claying and buffing out, so for me it's a non-issue. But "yeah" I've see when rubbing my hand over clear coat paint using a sandwich baggie has left very fine or shallow scratches in the paint and I still do the baggie test and I still show the baggie test.

If you discover the paint on your car is so soft that the baggie test creates marring or fine scratches then chances are claying it will do the same thing.

My permanent protocol is if I'm going to clay a car or mechanically decontaminate it in ANY way, I'm already planning and taking into account that I'm going to do at least one type of paint polishing process afterwards. That's just normal protocol now days. Keep in mind... what you're seeing is a characteristic of the paint, not the baggie nor the clay.

Maybe someone can contact all the paint manufactures and ask them what gives?



2old2change said:
You are checking for above surface contaminates , not sanding a painted surface. A light touch is all that is needed for the test.

Been doing this since 2005 and never seen it mar a surface.
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Correct and good tip to share Paul.

When doing the baggie test you're not supposed to scrub the paint with the baggie but use a light touch. The thin film of plastic will do the rest. (That is reveal what's really going on at the surface level).


2old2change said:
The thinner the bag the better.
Click to expand...

And to your point... due credit where credit is due...


Baggie Test Tip from Paul aka 2old2change


Here's a tip from my buddy Paul aka 2old2change that I use all the time. That is, when doing the Baggie Test to inspect for above surface bonded contaminants, purchase and use thin sandwich baggies, not the thicker style common to premium styles like the zip-lock type of sandwich baggies.

The thinner plastic works better to reveal contaminants on the surface better than thicker plastic. A simple tip that really does make a big difference.


Paul even sent me a box of some very inexpensive, Plain-Jane sandwich baggies to use in the studio... thanks Paul!

These are Kroger brand regular sandwich bags
MikesHandinBaggie.jpg




Use the right tool for the job and all that...


Sometimes the little things are the big things...






2old2change said:
The clear wrapper from a pack of smokes will also work in a pinch.
Click to expand...

I can remember seeing guys use the cigarette cellophane wrapper to inspect for contaminants for probably going back 2 decades now. Never really like the idea of using this type of stiff plastic but it does work very well.

:)
 
Thanks Mike! I feel honored that you took the time to post in this thread.

The paint on my car is very soft. I'm a relative novice to detailing and it took me forever to get the paint right. I've been very diligent in how I wash (2 bucket, typically a new wash towel every 2nd panel) and reseal the paint. It's paid off for sure.

What prompted me to use the baggie is that I needed to apply new sealant (Black Light) so I washed with CG Citrus wash, dried it off with a Vac & Blow and wanted to check the paint for contamination. I didn't feel anything with my bare hand so I grabbed a cheap Walmart baggie and proceeded to test. I didn't feel anything so I pressed down, which was my mistake. It gave me an excuse to pull out the PC and buff the horizontal surfaces with M205 and a white pad. :)
 
Hey Bill,

The bag you used didn't say "Coffee beans, imported from Columbia", did it?

Enjoy the quest...........elliot
 
Yep, thanks Mike for chiming in on this one. I've seen it mar the paint as well. As you said, it depends on the paint.

Heck earlier this week I marred my hood trying to get a small drop of crud off (a pencil lead sized drop of what I think was dried sap). It actually flaked right off but I wanted to get the left over circle cleared up. So I took a towel and ONR to loosen it, then another dab of ONR, and finally a towel to dry it. It was still sort of there, about 80% gone but I knew it was there and being as anal as I am about it...... Then I took one of the finger tip pocket type foam applicators to try a bit of Blackfire Polymer Spray on it to try and hide the remaining part and blend in with the existing BF Crystal Seal coating and it marred the crap out of it. :(

Ended up with a MF applicator pad and a drop of glaze to cover it up for the time being, (topping that with BF Polymer Spray).

Figure I'll have to buff the entire thing sometime soon to get it all back to even again. :rolleyes:
 
Bill220 said:
What prompted me to use the baggie is that I needed to apply new sealant (Black Light) so I washed with CG Citrus wash, dried it off with a Vac & Blow and wanted to check the paint for contamination.

I didn't feel anything with my bare hand so I grabbed a cheap Walmart baggie and proceeded to test.

I didn't feel anything so I pressed down, which was my mistake.

It gave me an excuse to pull out the PC and buff the horizontal surfaces with M205 and a white pad. :)
Click to expand...



Good to hear all turned out well. This has been a good thread and I'm sure a lot of other people will learn from it into the future...



:xyxthumbs:
 
Mike.Phillips@Autogeek said:
Good to hear all turned out well. This has been a good thread and I'm sure a lot of other people will learn from it into the future...


:xyxthumbs:
Click to expand...
Hi Mike...

I was wondering if there would be chance that you could include/consolidate the below information, [that you posted in this thread (Post #24)],
into this "How To Article" of yours: http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...nspect-above-surface-bonded-contaminants.html

IMO...It'd be nice to find such information in one designated area...
And...As always: Thanks in advance for your consideration.

:)

Bob

PS: Even a link in your "Baggie Test How-To Article" to your below Post #24 would be appreciated.


Mike.Phillips@Autogeek said:
I've seen the baggie test mar paint... actually seen it a bunch of times. 99% of any car that I'm doing the baggie test on I'm already planning on claying and buffing out, so for me it's a non-issue. But "yeah" I've see when rubbing my hand over clear coat paint using a sandwich baggie has left very fine or shallow scratches in the paint and I still do the baggie test and I still show the baggie test.

If you discover the paint on your car is so soft that the baggie test creates marring or fine scratches then chances are claying it will do the same thing.

My permanent protocol is if I'm going to clay a car or mechanically decontaminate it in ANY way, I'm already planning and taking into account that I'm going to do at least one type of paint polishing process afterwards. That's just normal protocol now days. Keep in mind... what you're seeing is a characteristic of the paint, not the baggie nor the clay.
When doing the baggie test you're not supposed to scrub the paint with the baggie but use a light touch. The thin film of plastic will do the rest. (That is reveal what's really going on at the surface level).
Click to expand...
 
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