Sand Everywhere

[2fast55]

I took my truck camping at the dunes this last weekend, and we had a gnarly windstorm that blew wet sand everywhere. Now there is sand still stuck to the paint, even after 100 miles of freeway driving. How can I get it off without scratching too much? I'm going to have to polish it anyway, but I don't want to make my job any harder than it has to be.

[Bill-V8V]

I would start with a foam gun and hopefully that will take a good portion of it off. If that didn't work I would try clay next. Lets see what other tips and tricks other members offer up :xfingers::xfingers:

[Team Adam's]

I'd fire up a pressure washer and see if I couldn't forcibly remove the embedded particles.

[Krzdimond]

pressure washer

[SonicHD]

Or an air hose to start with maybe? You certainly dont want to brush it off!

[Team Adam's]

Correct. In this situation clay is a last resort, you'll want to remove the particles first.

[2fast55]

I know it's not embedded enough for clay, I'm just afraid to start washing away because I know that as soon as I touch it it will scratch (and get all stuck in the mitt and/or towels). I'm not ready to buy a foam gun yet, but I think the pressure washer may be the way to go here.

[Bill-V8V]

Great advice everyone :thumbsup::thumbsup:

[Team Adam's]

Josh,

Can you take a picture of it?

[jjwvette]

pressure washer

[2fast55]

Here's a crappy cell phone pic of it half buried in the campsite.

And some good closeups of the hood.

There is some salty water spotting because I was less than a mile from the beach all weekend, but thats not a problem. It's due for the full detail treatment this week before a show Saturday. We had all kinds of weather, from wind and hail to sunshine and everything in between, so it's kind of salt-glued to the surface. I'm not about to start wiping at it with anything, I already have enough scratches to polish out.

 

Looks like the pressure washer is the way to go then.

Edited March 30, 2009 by 2fast55

[Team Adam's]

Oh wow! Pressure washing and let us know!

[SonicHD]

WOW you werent kidding Josh! Not a good sight on a recently painted vehicle!

[2fast55]

Pressure washer was the ticket here. Blasted it off, then washed and dryed with the method in the videos.

The water spotting even came off with the wash because it was mainly just salty residue from the air. I have a little spotting left because of hard water from our well, and sometimes I get lazy and don't dry, and the only scratches left were already there. It will be perfect by the end of the week after clay, polish, and wax.

 

And now my hands smell good from the car wash and detail spray. I recognize the scent of the car wash shampoo, I just can't place it.

[Team Adam's]

[70'sChevyGirl]

Looks great now. :rockon: Nice job.

 

 

 

 

That vacation spot looks like a ton of fun.

[Bill-V8V]

Much better :2thumbs:

[SonicHD]

That vacation spot looks like a ton of fun.

 

 

Oh it is! Got some of the best dunes anywhere here in Oregon. Miles and miles of em!

[2fast55]

That vacation spot looks like a ton of fun.

Oh it is! Got some of the best dunes anywhere here in Oregon. Miles and miles of em!

Yeah! There's a good reason I was willing to sacrifice a ton of detail work for a weekend of playtime. Nothin like having camp set up in the middle of the riding area. Makes lunch/gas stops more of a quick pit stop instead of having to ride some long access road back to a campground. Now that I know I can clean it up fairly easily, I'm gonna be back out there more often.