How to remove graffiti on cars?

Lone Ranger · #1 27-02-2007, 08:38 PM

Does anyone know how to remove graffiti on cars? It is a metalic spray from a can and seems to have blended in well with the car paintwork. I guess I have no alternative but to take it to the panel beaters?

A few cars in the complex had their car tagged by graffiti last night with "Fully Blown" "Fully Stylish" written all over it in bright orange/brown. Mine didn't cope it too bad with just a squiggle all along the side.

Any tips on DIY without wrecking the paintwork would be appreciated.

BIG PETE??? suggestion?

Cheers, LR

Stu_000 · #2 27-02-2007, 08:56 PM

One thing I do know Carol is you must get it off ASAP before the paint has fully cured ie today. The longer you leave the harder it will be to sort.

I'd love to get hold of graffiti vandals and put the can where the sun don't shine

HTH

Nath_18 · #3 27-02-2007, 09:35 PM

keep the effected area out of the sun! The sun loves to bake things like paint, bird crap and graffiti onto cars reaaal nice.

I guess you could start with something like a mentholated spirit. If that doesn't work I'd suggest you get hold of a cut and polish agent and really work the area over. Being VERY careful though as it will cut right through to the base coat if your not careful!

Try this method first though. It seems to be the best way of removing it your self.

1. Lightly wash affected area to remove overlying dirt with a standard wash (no wax)

2. With a cotton cloth dipped in womens nail varnish remover with acetone carefully rub out the spray paint. Careful to stop when you see the original paint.

3. Then wash acetone off with water immediately.

4. Do SMALL areas at a time

5. Repeat until majority of spray has come off, there will be some speckles where the spray has gone peripherally-leave it, you'll get more acetone on the original paint than on the spray.

6. Once majority is off, wash again.

7. Then using Maguire Scratch X do the whole area focusing on where the spray is left.

8. Repeat step 7 till no spray left.

9. Now you've got a good surface to apply your usual coloured polish / wax.

It does take time but it certainly worked for me, and the bonnet now looks as good as new as in doing so have removed minor scratches too.

Hope this helps...Word of warning test a little of the acetone on the least obvious part older car paints may bleed off......

If it doesn't work though don't panic. If its only a small area it wont cost you allot of money to have repaired.
Theres plenty of mobile paint repairers around now. Id suggest you go see a professional spray painter first though or even Get hold of your insurance agency and see what there policy is regarding vandalism to cars. If your excess costs more than the repairers quote just take it to the work shop...

Hope this helps mate!

cheers, Nathan

Lone Ranger · #4 27-02-2007, 09:47 PM

Thanks Nath, I will give it a go tonight, I've got some metho. No women's nail polish remover

and will go get some acetone from Bunnings. Sounds easy. My car will be baking in the carpark all day today.

Many thanks, Carol

metrofish · #5 27-02-2007, 09:50 PM

grab some prepsol made by solver paints . its a wax and grease remover used by panel beaters . i used to use it to remove graffiti from signs and shop fronts itll do the job for you and shouldnt affect your paint

PEDHAR · #6 27-02-2007, 10:26 PM

Hi carol, i am a panel beater and i will try to call you, but PLEASE DONT do anything until we speak, sometimes you can do more damage than good.

Pete

Acanthopagrus · #7 27-02-2007, 11:03 PM

If you have a sufficient amount of wax on the car then there should be a hope some barrier.

PADHAR sounds like he will be able to offer a solution.

PEDHAR · #8 28-02-2007, 12:02 AM

Acanthopagrus, I tried sending you a pm about the hard drive but your box is full.

Acanthopagrus · #9 28-02-2007, 01:58 AM

fixed

Lone Ranger · #10 05-03-2007, 03:10 AM

Thanks to our panel beaters on site, BIG PETE and Pedhar, the graffiti on my car has been removed. Fortunately out of 5 car, I was the least hit. Both recommended a cutting compound and I got the Kitten Cutting Compound and it worked like magic. Didn't affect the paintwork at all.

This is my car, already have cleaned ....

Lone Ranger · #11 05-03-2007, 03:15 AM

Didn't get a photo of the other cars except for one. This one isn't too bad, 2 cars copped it real bad. An old combi had recently had a new paintjob done in glossy black only to be spray "Fully Sic Mate" on the whole of one side. The Bora got the whole front and back sprayed including the bonnet the front vents, all lights and both number plates. Well this guy cleaned it with some strong chemical and the chemical ended up removing the colour of his number plate so now he had a number which can't be seen as the background is the same colour as the numbers! Oh well must be still cheaper than claiming insurance on it.

Anyway, hopefully these little darlings (I'm being sarcastic) will get what they deserve one day.

Thanks again guys for your help.

Acanthopagrus · #12 05-03-2007, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Anyway, hopefully these little darlings (I'm being sarcastic) will get what they deserve one day.

Wonder what they would have done in the 1950s if they had been caught?