How to Remove Clear Coat from Car – Step by Step Guide
Who doesn’t like a stunning looking car? Everyone does! A good looking car tells a lot about the owner’s personality. By saying good looking car, I mean a nicely painted car.
Doesn’t matter how expensive your car is, if the paint on it is not up to the mark, that will look awful. And to make sure that the paint stays safe and new, the manufacturer uses a clear coat.
With time clear coats fade as well and that is nothing unusual. And since a clear coat protects the actual paint of the car, keeping that protected and fresh is your responsibility. When the clear coat starts fading, the best decision is to remove that fully.
That being said, removing a clear coat from a car is not that easy, anything aggressive can pull off the actual car paint. There are some tricks, following that everyone can remove a clear coat from the car easily. And that is exactly what I am going to show you right now.
How to Remove a Clear Coat From Car
Before we head over to the removing process, let me tell you some dont’s that can hurt your car really bad. Removing the clear coat requires concentration and precision. If you are heavy-handedly sanding or buffing the car, that can hurt the actual healthy paint pretty badly.
Just remember, you should not hurry!
If it is taking time, let it be. Go slow and keep the process steady!
And another thing, be very careful when using solvents. I have seen some people using solvents to remove the clear coat. But I won’t suggest that. Not only, but a lot of professionals also don’t suggest that to the beginners.
When you have used any solvent, removing that too early won’t change anything. And then if you want for very long, the chemical can destroy the actual healthy paint of your car. Professionals know every solvent pretty well. They know exactly when to rinse.
Keep these in mind!
Required Equipment for the Process to remove clear coat
There is some equipment that you are going to need. Have a look at them and before you start the process, bring everything.
- Buffer with pads (motorized polisher also can do the work).
- Scratchpad or sandpaper (1000 to 1200 grit).
- Car washing items.
- Clay bar and lubricant (light grade).
- All the safety gears (goggles, helmet, apron, etc.)
A car washing item means all the things that you normally use to wash the car. Including,
- Decent size bucket.
- Car-safe sponge.
- Cleaning towel (microfiber).
- Car washing soap.
Step by Step Guide to Removing the Clear Coat
How hard or easy the process will be, that depends on the type of the coating. Some coatings are too stubborn to get off and some are easier to remove. However, this guide will show you removing the stubborn coating. Have a look!
Choose the right working area
Do not just get started anywhere. If you have a garage that is well-ventilated, then you can start the process there. But make sure, you have enough light and breath ability. Avoid the dusty area, otherwise, you will be breathing dust the entire time, so unhealthy.
Wash the area
If you want to remove the coating from a specific area of your car, then that area needs to be washed before removing it. Pick the bucket, pour water, and mix car washing soap. And with the sponge, rub the area with soapy water.
If you see the coat flaking badly and coating pieces are coming off, do not get surprised, that is usual. Just do not try to peel or pull the coating with anything. Let the coating come off in a natural way.
Rinse and dry the area
Once you have washed the area with soapy water, now rinse the section thoroughly and dry it off with the microfiber cloths.
Use the Clay Bar
As mentioned, pick a lighter grade clay bar. Squeeze and shape the clay bar until it gets soften completely. Lighter grade clay bars get soften quite fast. If you don’t want to use your bare hand, you can use gloves then.
Spray the clay bar lubricant properly on the washed area of the car. If it requires, spray twice but do it properly. After spraying, sweep the bar over the area in slow motion. Sweep side to side. And when you see the clay getting darker or dirtier, remold the bar and then again repeat the process.
Again wash, rinse and dry the area
When you are done sweeping the clay bar properly, now it’s time to wash, rinse, and dry the area again. Get the bucket, mix the soap in the water and again wash the sprayed area of your car. Clean thoroughly and dry it using a microfiber towel.
Pick the scratchpad or sandpaper
Time to get the big boys at the job. Have you purchased a big sheet of sandpaper from the store? If you did, then cut it to small sheets. Mix car soap in the water again.
Put the scratch paper or sandpaper, whatever you have picked in the bucket. Make sure they are submerged into the soap and water mixture, leave them there for 10 minutes.
Use the wet sand
When you are picking the sandpaper you left in the water, put another one or two, you will need it. However, now time to sand the area of the car. Before you start sanding keep a thing in mind, do not sand in random motions. Random sanding will cause you to have a very awful and uneven sanding.
Move the sandpaper in a circular motion, and make sure it covers the entire area. When sanding makes sure you press the full paper against the car surface. Try to give even pressure everywhere when you are holding the sandpaper. If it is difficult, you can use the sponge. Wrap the sandpaper on the sponge and rub.
The sandpaper needs to be wet completely, after rubbing for a while, if you see the paper is not wet then pick another paper form the bucket and use that.
After sanding for a while, if you see the smooth texture, then the area is coated free and is ready for further coating.
Conclusion
Wrapping it up! This is exactly how to remove clear coat from the car. Everything is written understandably, but if still, you are in any confusion do not hesitate to hit us through the comment section.
