Mooser Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 I've got to go and try to clean off a car that's in a friends shop. Problem 1 - the car is in a back corner and cannot move (no hose washing) Problem 2 - the car is covered in a very fine layer of "dust". Problem 3 - The "dust" is grit from metal grinding done in another part of the shop that has settled on most everything around I was going to bring a couple of buckets, lots of towels and do a low pressure air-blow off and then rinseless wash. Unless anyone want's to talk me into another option M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 hemi1300 Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 If the dust/grit is metal particles like u say I would be very cautious doing anything other than a normal 2 bucket wash, as the metal particles could do some damage if wiped on the paint. Will let the experts recommend their advice though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Mooser Posted December 21, 2015 Author Share Posted December 21, 2015 No hose or drains in the garage so a regular wash isn't possible. M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Ricky Bobby Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 (edited) Very easy - Take a 1 Gallon Garden Sprayer with diluted Rinseless 1:16 or 1:8 dilution works fine) pre soak the junk out of the car until all the loose surface grit is dripping and running off the paint. Take a bucket of towels with Rinseless wash and execute a GDWM on the vehicle, this way you arent introducing old dirt to clean bucket of towels - Dry as normal and enjoy a scratch free cleaning Edited December 21, 2015 by Ricky Bobby Dan@Adams and pirahnah3 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 mc2hill Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 (edited) Good plan Mooser. Pre-rinse the car as much as possible. I use a 1/2 gallon sprayer filled with Rinseless wash (at wash strength). I would try to soak it enough to get the 'dust' to rinse off. If no sprayer, really soak the towels, and wring them out over the car. Get as much 'dust' off a possible before touching with the towels. Switch sides of the towels and towels more often that usual. Good Luck! edit: Darn you Rick Bobby, beat me to it! Edited December 21, 2015 by mc2hill pirahnah3, Dan@Adams, Ricky Bobby and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 TheWolf Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 Keep in mind that your towels will end up with metallic contamination that may not wash out easily. Tiny metal shards from grinding may get stuck in the MF like the hook side of Velcro. Dan@Adams, pirahnah3, rkj4243 and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Ricky Bobby Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 ^Agreed I would probably use some cheaper new costco specials for this job, and just use them once and throw them out when done Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 butters Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 Here's a question - why mess with it? If it were my car, I would just leave it until I could take it out and put a pressure washer to it. Building up a thicker layer of dust isn't going to do any more harm, right? Dwhite0960, Ricky Bobby, Odds and Ends and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Chris@Adams Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 If you aren't careful you may induce scratches....dust is no problem at all for our WW and RCW however metal shavings are a whole different thing..... Dan@Adams 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Mooser Posted December 21, 2015 Author Share Posted December 21, 2015 Here's a question - why mess with it? If it were my car, I would just leave it until I could take it out and put a pressure washer to it. Building up a thicker layer of dust isn't going to do any more harm, right? Under closer to normal circumstances I'd agree. But they paint and weld and all kinds of stuff in this shop and normally this car is covered. Someone left the cover off and they were grinding some metal bars in the back of the other bay and before anyone noticed it was too late. Can't put the cover back on without cleaning, can't leave it uncovered or it'll get way worse stuff on it soon. I think it's gonna be just fine. The grit is from the grinding wheel I'd say (nothing stuck to a magnet and they were grinding cold rolled steel rod ends) and it's a super fine layer that appears to be just sitting there, so it's a matter of floating enough product on there to try to protect the paint (bright white thank goodness) I've got a supply of ok quality MF clothes that are about to become shop rags Thanks to all TheWolf and Dan@Adams 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Chris@Adams Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 Good luck! Dan@Adams 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Dan@Adams Posted December 22, 2015 Share Posted December 22, 2015 Everyone has already said what I was going to, but please let us know how it works out for you. I agree with Wolf and Ricky Bobby in that if you are getting even tiny metal particles in these towels, I would either discard them as shop rags when done, or wash them several times and do the blank CD-R test before putting them on paint again pirahnah3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Dwhite0960 Posted December 22, 2015 Share Posted December 22, 2015 I'd say bust out a leaf blower or compressor to try and blow all the junk off at least savings are just scratch city in my eyes lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 teamcrossworks Posted December 22, 2015 Share Posted December 22, 2015 I'd say bust out a leaf blower or compressor to try and blow all the junk off at least savings are just scratch city in my eyes lol Agreed! Use compressed air to blow off the majority of dust and grit then go on to the waterless wash method. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Mooser Posted December 22, 2015 Author Share Posted December 22, 2015 Agreed! Use compressed air to blow off the majority of dust and grit then go on to the waterless wash method. I'd say bust out a leaf blower or compressor to try and blow all the junk off at least savings are just scratch city in my eyes lol That's the plan, low pressure blow off first, trying not to turn it into a sand-blaster LOL Anyway, I'll let you know how it works out, hopefully back this afternoon. After the initial WTF!, now that I've actually had a look and thought it over I don't foresee any issues. Worse comes to worse it's a correction (minor) in the spring M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Mooser Posted December 23, 2015 Author Share Posted December 23, 2015 And it's done. Everyone's happy, zero drama, zero mess, zero damage, and eight new meguires shop towels. For future reference, grinding dust, like most things when in fine enough form.... actually floats!!!!! Blew the car off with compressed air (lowest pressure their regulator went was 30psi) Went and started to pre-saok the car with a 8:1 rinseless and you could actually see the grit/dust run with the solution. Lightbulb.. grabbed a bottle of rinseless at 16:1 (clay lube) and soaked the car from top down (used two bottles). Used the compressed air again to push the remaining solution off. Car looked real good, gave it a quick "normal" rinseless once over and it's as good as it's gonna get. Honestly the towels would probably be just fine after a wash but they were nearing their life cycle anyway so now they'll be "good" shop towels. Gotta like it when something that appears daunting actually goes your way M TheWolf, LT1xL82, mc2hill and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 pirahnah3 Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 glad it worked out for the best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Ricky Bobby Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 Awesome - exactly the process I would have used! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Question
Mooser
I've got to go and try to clean off a car that's in a friends shop.
Problem 1 - the car is in a back corner and cannot move (no hose washing)
Problem 2 - the car is covered in a very fine layer of "dust".
Problem 3 - The "dust" is grit from metal grinding done in another part of the shop that has settled on most everything around
I was going to bring a couple of buckets, lots of towels and do a low pressure air-blow off and then rinseless wash.
Unless anyone want's to talk me into another option
M
Link to comment
Share on other sites
17 answers to this question
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now