Removing paint overspray from vehicles can be a very tricky process. Here’s a quick overview on how overspray incidents occur and the best methods for removing overspray.
How Overspray Occurs
Overspray usually occurs when contractors are painting taller buildings. Painters typically utilize spray guns to paint buildings. When contractors paint in higher up locations overspray paint easily becomes airborne. This airborne effect is generally compounded with higher than normal winds. Once overspray paint gets in the air it can travel great distances. In the largest overspray claims cars can be affected with overspray several miles away from the initial paint source.
What Does Overspray Look Like?
Overspray is a thin mist of paint that binds to the surface of a car. You may notice tiny white dots over the car and windshield, or a rough texture when you run your hand over your car.
Overspray on Vehicles
Once overspray is airborne it will typically began landing on nearby surfaces, such as windows, rooftops, and vehicles. Most people don’t notice overspray on their buildings or windows, but it is often very noticeable on the surface of a car. Overspray binds to a cars clear coat due to the binding agents in the paint. Once overspray paint binds to a car it is very difficult to remove it. Below are some standard methods for removing overspray.
Overspray Removal
There are 3 ways to remove overspray from a vehicle:
- Repaint
- Sand and buff the clear coat
- New Technology
Repainting
Repainting is by far the most costly and least efficient way to remove overspray. This would require stripping the vehicle’s paint, smoothing its surface and repainting it. It would require hours of work and would not be guaranteed to look factory new.
There are several reasons why repainting outside of a factory is a bad idea. It’s almost impossible to get a cars surface as smooth as it was in the factory, it’s even more difficult to match paint colors and lastly most detail shops don’t have the same technology and heating tools needed to insure a strong clear coat. Repainted surfaces tend to crack, rust and peal faster than original factory ones. Furthermore, repainting does not solve the problem of paint on the cars windows, plastics and mirrors, so other methods will still need to be applied.
We never recommend repainting a vehicle.
Buffing/Sanding
Most detail shops prefer to use automated tools to remove overspray. This includes high powered buffers. These tools can be effective in removing certain types of overspray, but require hours of labor and are very aggressive on vehicle clear coats. They also often miss small corners and detail areas of the cars surface. Because it can negatively impact a cars clear coat, we don’t recommend this method either.
New Technology
Their is a third way to remove overspray, and that is the Detail Masters way. We revolutionized the way vehicles get restored through dozens of patents and unique solutions. We approach each vehicle gently, insuring that the original factory paint and clear coat remain 100% intact. We help owners avoid costly detail shop estimates and repainting. Our methods are guaranteed to be faster, safer and more affordable. To learn more about our technology contact us.
