Can rubbing alcohol be used on car paint? How to fix deep scratches on your car
Ir isopropyl alcohol isn't usually found on a store shelf.You can also see it as rubbing alcohol.They are usually found in the first aid section with strengths ranging from 70% to 99%.
When it comes to the detailing world, isopropyl alcohol is a pretty versatile product that can really help to bring restore the original surface of your vehicle when used with clays.There are a few reasons why you would want to use this product.
Most of the time,IPA is used to remove non-polar compounds, which are basically anything from fats to oils, to gasoline.
It is often used as a household cleaner.It can also be used to remove smells.Most detailers use it for its cleaning properties in order to remove substances that aren't easily removed.
When people need to remove a wax or sealant from the car prior to compounding/polishing is the most common use of isopropyl alcohol.
This is important for any kind of paint correction since the surface of the vehicle needs to be clean.
I wouldn't recommend hitting it with anIPA wipedown every time you wash because most car wash soaps do a good job of removing wax.
You want to make sure that the paint correction products are not interacting with anything other than the clear coat, when removing scratches or blemishes in certain areas of the vehicle.Like leftover wax.
I think this is one of the safest and most effective uses of isopropyl alcohol for non-detailers because it is an effective method for clearing up an oily or waxy windshield without applying products that just don't work well.
Many detailing sprays that I have used still leave streaks, which could be a result of the product being used or the oily substance on the windshield.Isopropyl alcohol is great for cutting through oil that you can't see or remove with other products.
It is not a big deal to use alcohol on clear surfaces like a headlight lens since you are not dealing with a clear coat.I would mix it with some water to make it easier to apply.
If you want to detail a vehicle with an old bumper sticker or decals on the back glass, you can use isopropyl alcohol.IPA is an excellent product for this type of application.
It helps if you let the alcohol penetrate into the paper and it will come off.Other products like Goof-off are a lot stronger and contain acetone, which will strip paint off from not-clear coated surfaces and any rubber or vinyl surface.The safer option for this isIPA.
Ipsen alcohol can be used between stages to eliminate dust in most headlight lens restoration kits.The dried on UV coating will leave a dusty white chalk on the lens.
When the headlight scratches are removed with the wet sanding process, the last step is to remove any compound, polish, or dust that may still be on the lens.
Once the lens is clear, it acts as a cleaning agent.If you want to clear up your headlights, watch my video here.
It's a good use for isopropyl alcohol to remove polish.If the polish hides the scratch, the surface may appear to be blemish free.
You can get a better idea of what the final result will be by using alcohol.When using Scratch Doctor over the counter, the scratches seem to disappear until several weeks later when the polish begins to wear off.
You can check to see if your compounding and polishing really did remove the scratch with a drop or two of IPA solution.
If the solution is mixed with water to the correct ratio, it's fine for vehicles.The clear coat can be softened over time.A lot of products can do this.
Some of the terminology and products used to protect clear coats can be confusing.I wrote an article about compound vs clay, Polish and glaze.There are 7 products to understand.
Many people advise you not to apply any IPA to a freshly painted surface or a vehicle with no clear coat.The clear coat can be affected by this.
When water is used, the risks go down a lot and it isn't as big of a deal as people think.If you are preparing the surface for paint, there are better alternatives.
If you are working in a body shop or painting large panels, you want to use a product like Prep-all, Blackfire Crystal Coat Paint Prep, or even Dupli-color paint prep because they are specifically designed for this type of application.
IPA solutions evaporate quickly and do not contain a surfactant, which will reduce the drag when applying it.
I've seen people use water with theirIPA mixes.It is not meant to be a paint-prep.
isopropyl alcohol is a good product for beginners because it is cheap and cleans better than other products.Make sure you do it right.
Thousands of people use alcohol in a variety of ways, although some prefer not to use it on paint.Regardless of what you decide to do, it serves a purpose for many detailers and car enthusiasts.