Sap Spot :(

[phil]

Hey Dr. Jones,
Can you recommend anything to help remove sap spots that won't damage the paint on the car.

Phil

[DrJones]

The best thing for Sap, bugs and anything else that has managed to stick to your paint, is a bug and tar remover product (if it hasn't been there very long and hasn't been dried on by the sun). Or if it's being a little stubborn you want to clay it. It seems like a few people have heard of claying, but aren't quite sure of exactly what it is, or affraid to use it on their own paint. I'll do a write up on it tonight to shed some light on the subject.

You might also try some warm water, a little dawn and a sponge. Though from my expierence clay is what usually does the trick.

[phil]

unfortunatley(sp?) the sap is dried on. it sat under a tree four a few months b4 i bought it a year ago and i have been trying eversince then to get them off. i got most of them off by scrubbing the hell out of it, but i am worried that it might scratch the paint if i keeo doing that.

[DrJones]

interesting fact... if you think that sap is stuck on there just immagine what would happen if you had pure carnauba on your paint.

Carnauba is what is found in all natral waxes, but it is actually much much harder than concrete in it's natural form. Most waxes today contain between 1-3% carnauba content, however there is one company out there who uses much more (>50%). That wax must be melted by hand and applied to the surface, which seems like a dumb idea to me. It must also then be buffed off imediatly. If you let it sit on there and harden, you have a HUGE mess. The company says it's what makes there wax so good and that's how they can justify charging hundreds (that's right, hundreds) of dollars for a little 8 oz container. You think a little spot of sap is bad... try having your car covered in that stuff.... that is why we all must:

Resist Zymol!!

[Bedlam]

Originally posted by DrJones
Resist Zymol!!

It smells really good! I dont mind using it so much actually..at least the stuff they sell in the stores. Of course, I know better than to use it now..but I still liked how it worked on my cars in the past. Its not THAT bad..did I mention it smells really good? ;)

-Bedlam

[DrJones]

just curious... were 'resist' banners big on any other boards besides gamedev?

[xvir2ualx]

What we use at our detail shop to remove tree sap is just rubbing alcohol and an old T-shirt. Works great, and its safe for your paint/clearcoat. Just make sure to put a layer of polymer base wax on the paint afterwards as opposed to a natural wax... then ur set. Hope this helped!