[ktrvn]

Recently debadged the car and got all the residue off, but there is still a shadow outline left on the car. I tried using more goo gone and rubbing alcohol but it's still there. Do I just need to wait and it will go away over time? It's not super noticeable and its very faint but you can see it in certain angles in the light.

[mbanks21]

Clay and polish

[ktrvn]

Originally Posted by mbanks21

Clay and polish

Will give this a try. Thanks!!

[SteveInfante]

Originally Posted by Kyletrann

Will give this a try. Thanks!!

Unfortunately that can't be polished out. The paint that was covered by the badge has been effectively protected from the sun's UV rays. The rest of your paint has been faded a bit. I had the same issue on the detail wagon.

[ktrvn]

Originally Posted by SteveInfante

Unfortunately that can't be polished out. The paint that was covered by the badge has been effectively protected from the sun's UV rays. The rest of your paint has been faded a bit. I had the same issue on the detail wagon.

Well that sucks I just picked up a clay kit /: I'll clay the car anyways for good measure but if that doesn't do it then what's the next step?

[mbanks21]

Clay and polish can only help. You're trying to even out the clear around the spot. There shouldn't be a huge difference in the paint from the sun. Let's see a picture

[ktrvn]

Originally Posted by mbanks21

Clay and polish can only help. You're trying to even out the clear around the spot. There shouldn't be a huge difference in the paint from the sun. Let's see a picture

It's not too noticeable all, just a very faint outline. Probably more noticeable to me because I'm the one who debadged it. I'll take a before and after picture once I clay it tonight

[sean2648]

You absolutely can polish it out. I can't tell you how many customers' cars I have debadged and gotten rid of the residue and "ghosting" of the letters. Or they debadged it themselves and then came to me because they couldn't get the gunk or lettering to go away.

It is pretty common.

I don't know what kind of products you have at your home or how well you take care of your own car. But just get some rubbing compound, and some polish and a microfiber towel. You could skip the claybar if you dont care too much about the spot, it's just an added extra precaution step basically. You can just buy these products, doesn't have to be too fancy, I'm listing these because walmart, advanced, autozone will have these and they are cheap (which is what you need for just a debadge section):

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...21edf47cd3dcef

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...7b58ef2437c17a


Step1. Wash the area down and make sure its clean.
Step2. If you aren't claying, just spray some alcohol to make sure its clean
Step3. Spread the rubbing compound over the letters and rub it in. Wipe it off, see how much of the letter outline remains. If a lot, repeat another pass of rubbing compound. If it looks mostly gone and your paint just looks faded, then you're good to move on.
Step4. Spread the polish now, rub it in. Wipe it off, paint should look good.
Step5. Enjoy your debadged car. Put some kind of wax or sealant over that spot or do it when you do your entire car.

That should do it, if you can't figure it out from this, I'd gladly send you a video of me doing it on a customers car to help you out. It should take you 10 mins max to do this. No tools, less than 10$.

[SteveInfante]

Originally Posted by Kyletrann

Well that sucks I just picked up a clay kit /: I'll clay the car anyways for good measure but if that doesn't do it then what's the next step?

Can you make it less noticeable, absolutely. Can you see it in certain light, also a yes. Will anyone else notice, most likely no.

[Billfitz]

Rubbing it out may work. If it doesn't it's because the discoloration caused by UV exposure is a bit too deep into the paint. In that case wet sand the area with 3M Trizact 3000 grit. Sand it by hand, only enough to de-gloss the paint. A dozen or so swipes is usually enough. Water the sandpaper, not the paint. Give it a few swipes, then wipe it dry to see the result. After de-glossing repeat the rubbing out procedure. If it's still not perfect that means the UV damage extends too deep into the paint to remove entirely.

[ktrvn]

Forgot to take before and after pictures but the clay barring helped quite a bit. There's still two faint smaller inner circles from the 8, but it's hardly noticeable! Thanks for the help everyone!

[sean2648]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

Rubbing it out may work. If it doesn't it's because the discoloration caused by UV exposure is a bit too deep into the paint. In that case wet sand the area with 3M Trizact 3000 grit. Sand it by hand, only enough to de-gloss the paint. A dozen or so swipes is usually enough. Water the sandpaper, not the paint. Give it a few swipes, then wipe it dry to see the result. After de-glossing repeat the rubbing out procedure. If it's still not perfect that means the UV damage extends too deep into the paint to remove entirely.

^

this is the end-all solution, but most people are too afraid to take sandpaper to their paint, unfortunately.

[BeerHerder]

Try Meguiar's Scratch X 2.0. It's basically a super light rubbing compound. Worked for the ghosting on my car and pretty cheap.

[ktrvn]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

Rubbing it out may work. If it doesn't it's because the discoloration caused by UV exposure is a bit too deep into the paint. In that case wet sand the area with 3M Trizact 3000 grit. Sand it by hand, only enough to de-gloss the paint. A dozen or so swipes is usually enough. Water the sandpaper, not the paint. Give it a few swipes, then wipe it dry to see the result. After de-glossing repeat the rubbing out procedure. If it's still not perfect that means the UV damage extends too deep into the paint to remove entirely.

So I went ahead and did this method but used regular 3M 3000 grit instead bc I couldn't find the one you mentioned at my Home Depot. Did I overkill it? How can I fix this hazy area? I did maybe 20 front and back strokes in total

[ktrvn]

Originally Posted by glm409

Now you need to use rubbing compound and then a polish before your final coat of wax or whatever you use on your car.

Thanks! Do you mind linking some products i could use that are affordable and can be found at local stores? Sorry, I'm VERY new to this kind of stuff lol.

Also, picture is posted to you can see!

Edit: I sprayed mothers cmx ceramic spray coating on it already... not sure if thatll affect anything

[ktrvn]

Is Meguiar's ultimate compound good enough to bring the area circled in red back to normal?

[Billfitz]

Follow the procedure in post #8, except for the claying, which the wet sanding made unnecessary.
Home Depot is not where you buy auto sanding and polishing products. Go to an auto supply store, like AutoZone.

[ktrvn]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

Follow the procedure in post #8, except for the claying, which the wet sanding made unnecessary.
Home Depot is not where you buy auto sanding and polishing products. Go to an auto supply store, like AutoZone.

Totally overlooked that post lol..

So I did wet sand it and it looks like what he described in step #3 as the paint looking faded (from my picture above).

Can I skip the rubbing compound and just polish basically?

[mbanks21]

Originally Posted by Kyletrann

Totally overlooked that post lol..

So I did wet sand it and it looks like what he described in step #3 as the paint looking faded (from my picture above).

Can I skip the rubbing compound and just polish basically?

No, polish will not remove wet sand marks. Meg's UC should work fine

[ktrvn]

Originally Posted by mbanks21

No, polish will not remove wet sand marks. Meg's UC should work fine

Gotcha. I'll either use Meg's UC or the turtle wax rubbing compound and then after that I'll use the turtle wax polish. All with a microfiber cloth which should be okay?

[Billfitz]

When compounding by hand I use a paper towel. I use microfiber with polish and sealer.

Can I skip the rubbing compound and just polish basically?

Stop trying to take shortcuts. The results will only be as good as the amount of effort you put into it. Even compound and polish won't give the best possible result. That comes with heavy cut compound to remove the sanding marks, a light cut compound to remove the heavy cut compound marks, then polish to remove the light cut compound marks, with a sealer to protect the paint. Even with all that fixing a spot the size of yours should take a half an hour, tops.

[ktrvn]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

When compounding by hand I use a paper towel. I use microfiber with polish and sealer.
Stop trying to take shortcuts. The results will only be as good as the amount of effort you put into it. Even compound and polish won't give the best possible result. That comes with heavy cut compound to remove the sanding marks, a light cut compound to remove the heavy cut compound marks, then polish to remove the light cut compound marks, with a sealer to protect the paint. Even with all that fixing a spot the size of yours should take a half an hour, tops.

No shortcuts are trying to be taken. I did not understand the process and I'm trying to learn. I mistook the rubbing compound as having the same effect as sanding it, but thank to everyones help I now realize the compound is to remove the sanding marks.

I will go ahead and proceed with using a heavy cut compound, then light cut, then polish/sealer. Will be doing this all with different microfiber cloths to ensure they're uncontaminated.

I appreciate everyone who is sharing their knowledge