Water spots that flash away, but can still be seen with from some angles

[rokketman]

I only see water spots when drying a wet car. They flash as I wipe the car down with w microfiber drying towel, and then are near invisible when the paint is dry? I can see them in fluorescent light or when sun hits the paint indirectly. What are these seemingly permanent spots?

Also, when I parked for 3 days by the ocean (saltwater), it stormed and hailed. I had some white, "water spot like" marks that WOULD rub off easily...anyone know what those spots were? Did they cause permanent damage since I did not wash car for 6 days after it stormed? They appeared to rub off easily, but did they cause any of the water spots in the first question?

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

They are probably what I call...


Water Spot Imprint Rings


Click the link below and scroll down till you see the red car and the water spots on it...

How To Remove Sprinkler Water Spots

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Since this was your first post to the forum...


Welcome to AutogeekOnline! :welcome:



These can normally be removed by machine polishing wit a medium to fine cut polish with a foam pad on a DA Polisher.


It's not that hard...


Note these people are not just "learning" on daily drivers aka new cars, they're learning on someone's "toys" or Special Interest Vehicles. More risk for me, more fun for them...



In the below live broadcast I show a 15 year old boy how to machine polish

Live Broadcast Video - 1965 Plymouth Valiant - Extreme Makeover

And in this one I show a 21 year old girl how to machine polish

Video & Pictures: 1965 Fastback Mustang - Gtechniq EXO Show Car Makeover!

Trista working with the rest of the team to machine polish this 1965 Mustang Fastback 2+2

Trista removing swirls on a show car...

And in this one I show a 80 year old man and a young lady and here boyfriend how to machine polish for their first time...

Video and Pictures - Two 1967 Camaro's - Show Car Makeovers!

PLUS you have everyone on this forum to help you along the way...

 

[rokketman]

Thanks for the welcome Mike...and thanks for the push to go ahead and get a machine...why not after seeing those pics!!!

I have purchased Chem Guys Water spot remover AND CG Citrus wash from autogeek....

• can I use any of these, or would they be too aggressive to start with
• would I need to use a machine buffer, and could I use one with these products (if they can even be used)

Thanks!

 

[swanicyouth]

You can usually remove them with a liquid cleaner wax by hand if you don't have a machine. However, machine polishing is the way to go. IME water spot remover (I use Duragloss) only works if the spots are pretty fresh (less than a day).

 

[rokketman]

okay, good heads up...

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Thanks for the welcome Mike...and thanks for the push to go ahead and get a machine...why not after seeing those pics!!!


I have purchased Chem Guys Water spot remover AND CG Citrus wash from autogeek....

• 
  
• can I use any of these, or would they be too aggressive to start with
• would I need to use a machine buffer, and could I use one with these products (if they can even be used)

Thanks!

IF the CG Water Spot Remover isn't removing the water post nor the CG Citrus Wash then you'll want to get a Medium Cut or Fine Cut Polish and machine apply with a foam pad.

I think I show something like that in the link I shared above.


IN my how-to book and in the below article I do my best to explain the different categories of abrasive type products.

Word Definitions - Compounds, Polishes, Glazes, Paint Cleaners and Waxes



Here's an example in this thread, the swirl remover we used was a Medium Cut Polish, the finishing polish we used was a Fine Cut Polish.


1939 Lincoln Zephyr - Swirls Removed - Modeled by Nicole



The Major Correction Step
(Page 102 and 103 of my how-to book)

After proving the Pinnacle Advanced Swirl Remover with a polishing pad on a DA Polisher was a combination that worked on this paint system Tommy and I went to work removing the swirls.

The Polishing or Minor Correction Step
(Pages 103 to 105 in my how-to book)

After wiping off any polish residues we moved onto the polishing step to really maximize the gloss, clarity and shine of the clear coat. For this we switched over to Lake Country Black Flat Foam Finishing Pads and continued using DA Polisher....

Here's Tommy using the Meguiar's G110v2 to safely polish the paint to a super high gloss!

How To wax and seal the paint
(Pages 106 to 110 in my how-to book)

Here's Nicole wearing a microfiber glove to hold the Souveran Paste Wax as she applies some wax to the face of Tommy's Lake Country Blue Foam Flat Finishing or Waxing Pad.

Next Tommy and I machine apply the wax to the entire finish...

What's nice about DA Polishers like the PC, Megs and Griot's units is they are light enough and compact in size enough that most people can easily hold them with one hand which makes machine applying the wax fast and easy.

And you're paint can look like this when you're done...

:xyxthumbs:

 

[rokketman]

okay, last question before I begin the process....I have some Ultima Paint Guard Prep...I assume that this will be stronger than CG water spot remover....and if it does not remove the spots...I will have to step up the abrasiveness...

Am I right in assuming that Ultima Paint Guard Prep is similar to a paint cleaner such as Pinnacle??

 

[jrs1418]

The white water spot like marks that rubbed away were probably salt since you're close to the ocean. Be careful rubbing them dry as they could scratch.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

okay, last question before I begin the process....I have some Ultima Paint Guard Prep...I assume that this will be stronger than CG water spot remover....and if it does not remove the spots...I will have to step up the abrasiveness...

Am I right in assuming that Ultima Paint Guard Prep is similar to a paint cleaner such as Pinnacle??

I think the Ultima Paint Guard Prep is a non-abrasive paint cleaner that preps the paint for application of Ultima Paint Guard.

IF so, it might work if the "imprints" are not etched or etched too deep into the paint.

Anytime you have a defect "in" the paint, the way you remove it is abrade the paint surrounding the etchings until the surface is level.

The trick to doing this is using products with good abrasive technology so that while you're abrading the paint to remove defects you're not at the same time leaving behind defects because the abrasive technology is not good.

swanicyouth suggested using a cleaner/wax and this can work. It depends upon if the cleaner/wax is non-abrasive or abrasive and if the imprint rings are TOPICAL or BELOW THE SURFACE.

Make sense?

Still.... you can't beat the gloss of a machine polished finish...

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Still.... you can't beat the gloss of a machine polished finish...

Like this...


1970 1/2 Camaro - Show Car Finish by Pinnacle

 

[rokketman]

makes a lot of sense. Thanks!

 

[rokketman]

Man that is a great looking car....I am somewhat anal about how my car looks inside and out (surprise surprise)...and use UPGP in addition to a wash every few days..2 bucket method...microfiber drying only..

These water spots are from when the car was sitting on the dealer lot...so I cannot wait to take them out and keep them out....

That being said, I really do think that car looks amazing...like it was made yesterday.

 

[rokketman]

* I should clarify that I only use UPGP every 3-6 months

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

These water spots are from when the car was sitting on the dealer lot...so I cannot wait to take them out and keep them out....

However and whatever you decide upon to attempt to remove the water spots, be sure to start out doing a TEST SPOT before applying "whatever you buy" to the entire car. Make sure your repair/restoration system works in one small area first.

See my article here as it will explain why and show you how to do a Test Spot.


How To Do a Test Spot
(and why it's so important)

That being said, I really do think that car looks amazing...like it was made yesterday.

The Camaro belongs to my buddy Tommy. We restored the finish to show car qualty here at Autogeek and now where ever and whenever he shows it he wins first place trophies.

Best of Show Win! - 1970 1/2 Camaro


We also restored the finish on his 1970 Barracuda and now whenever and wherever he shows it he wins first place trophies...


1970 Cuda wins First Place after Show Car Makeover at Autogeek!


Check out all the before and after pictures from this makeover. Tommy is a big Pinnacle fan and we used Pinnacle products on both of his show winning cars.



1970 Barracuda Extreme Makeover


Before

Completely filled with holograms from the mis-use of a rotary buffer!

After

 

[Setec Astronomy]

These water spots are from when the car was sitting on the dealer lot...so I cannot wait to take them out and keep them out....

I have also experienced these "phantom" water spots and it is very annoying. It may be that they are from the dealer, but also consider if you wash your car often and it's sunny or windy that they may be coming from the odd drops that dry while you are washing. A few odd drops every wash adds up to a lot of water spots over time, and they are usually not "major" spots because you rinsed and dried the car right after they occurred.