DR.jones help question

[RiceNmotioN]

my brother keeps parking his red civic under a tree... and tree scap get stuck on his car what is the best wasy to remove tree scap? and its on the Carbon hood/bumber/lights etc

[Bedlam]

Paint thinner normally works great on that stuff...maybe some brake fluid to soften it up first? j/k

I'd actually think the Dr is going to recommend using a clay bar on it..because thats kind of their whole purpose in life. After you get all the crap out of the paint, quit parking under the tree! :)

-Bedlam

[CSMsi311]

i've use this Bug and Tar remover spray before and it works. only problem is it strips the wax off.

Also look into cutting the branch that is giving off the sap. I've had to deal with that a lot back home with all the pine trees

[stu]

Just in case you didn't realize that Bedlam was joking, DON'T USE PAINT THINNER OR BRAKE FLUID ON YOUR CAR!

[THRICE]

Yeah Mike, that's FUCKED UP. :)

[Bedlam]

Originally posted by THRICE
Yeah Mike, that's FUCKED UP. :)

I know! I'm just a jackass eh? :)

-Bedlam

[JasonC8301]

Try clay, if that does not work, try a bug and tar and remover as mentioned.

I have tried Tarminator and its ok, until I ran out, takes a good amount to get tar and bugs off. www.moreshine.com

Another one I hear good things about is thw Turtle Wax one for tar and bugs. I personally have not tried it, but some people say they love it.

Again, as with most chemicals, try test spot first to see if there are any adverse effects.

[Kwando]

Give him some advice... don't park under a tree.

[3000spyderman]

One product....Gentlemen...."Methanol"...there is no substitute for tree sap removal...forget clay...especially on the big stuff.

[DrJones]

I'd try the clay and bug/tar remover. For sap that's been on there a while it will probably take the combination of both. I've never tried Methanol, but I have heard of that and similiar products being used.

I know it's fairly popular to 'wash' your windshield with lighter fluid to get off that thin nasty layer of stuff that gets on there.

[Kwando]

Don't let that stuff sit on your car at all. I have a mark on my rear bumper from bird shit that stayed on there for no more than a day.

[DrJones]

Bird shit is acidic, which is why it needs to be taken care of. There are lots of clearcoats with bird dropping etchings from letting them sit.

[95GSRB18C]

if he parks it under the tree, maybe buy a car cover???

[xvir2ualx]

A cheap and very effective method is using rubbing alcohol. Just make sure to rewax the areas on the car that you use it :)

[Bedlam]

Originally posted by 3000spyderman
One product....Gentlemen...."Methanol"...there is no substitute for tree sap removal...forget clay...especially on the big stuff.

How is it on your paint or wax? Would you feel confortable using it on say..your car? I doubt you'd park that thing under a tree, but what if? And where would you get it anyway?

-Bedlam

[3000spyderman]

Its perfectly safe for paint and clear coats. I have used it a couple of times on my Spyder and "TAAADAAA" gone. But you got to remember what kind of cars I work with. If its ok for the "ENZO" then it should be ok for the lil spydie. I wouldnt use anything on a customers car that I wouldnt use on my own. There is nothing like it....There is something in it that just wipes the sap away with no effort...from the hazy kind of sap to the Aunt Jemima looking stuff. In SYNC wrote a song about it....."GONE":D

[Bedlam]

Originally posted by 3000spyderman
Its perfectly safe for paint and clear coats. I have used it a couple of times on my Spyder and "TAAADAAA" gone. But you got to remember what kind of cars I work with. If its ok for the "ENZO" then it should be ok for the lil spydie. I wouldnt use anything on a customers car that I wouldnt use on my own. There is nothing like it....There is something in it that just wipes the sap away with no effort...from the hazy kind of sap to the Aunt Jemima looking stuff. In SYNC wrote a song about it....."GONE":D

Interesting..thanks for the reply, I figured thats about what you would say. My parents live in montana still and there are these weird sticky pods that come from the trees, they are 'terrible' on the paint of their cars, and have ruined the cover on the hot tub even. They leave their cars in the garage most of the time, but the damn things are flying all over the place in the wind, and they still get on the 5th wheel. I'll have to try and find some of that stuff next time I get back there and try it out.

Damn trees anyway! We should just cut them all down! :)

-Bedlam

[3000spyderman]

Hey Bedlam...you can get the Methanol at any paint supply store. But watch out....you will need to re-wax that section..but trust me....I've been doing this since I was 15 and I'm an old man now....this is the ultimate solution. However....do not leave a rag or towel soaked with this stuff sitting on your paint. Wipe and take the cloth away and your fine....

BTW...my bumper is fixed finally on the spydie.....you should see it...

[Nick@DParadise]

What's wrong with soap/water and a bucket? My carport was getting rebuilt and the wife's car spend days under and oak tree. The sap was nasty. I simply pulled it into the driveway and washed normally with 1Z Exclusiv Glanz Shampoo.

BTW, the car had last seen wax on June 10.

[3000spyderman]

Originally posted by Nick@DParadise
What's wrong with soap/water and a bucket? My carport was getting rebuilt and the wife's car spend days under and oak tree. The sap was nasty. I simply pulled it into the driveway and washed normally with 1Z Exclusiv Glanz Shampoo.

BTW, the car had last seen wax on June 10.
That doesnt mean anything...everybody knows that there are some forms of tree sap that do come off with just soap and water. Any soap and water. But I'm sure you already knew that right?;)

[Nick@DParadise]

My point is that he never mentioned what steps he had taken to remove the sap. People are pretty eager to move him to the heavy artillery before they know if he even washed the car.

I have never heard of the methanol method, but you are going to have a hard time convincing anybody it is safe when you conclude with "do not leave a rag or towel soaked with this stuff sitting on your paint." That right there tells me it is not safe and it is irresponsible to suggest a detailing neophyte use something as caustic as methanol on their paint.

Here is my point. How long should he leave it on? A few seconds a minute. What is too long for that rag to be in contact with the paint? What if he rubs too aggressively? Does he need to wash immediately? Does that mean within five minutes or one hour? If he doesn't what are the consequences? You can't just tell someone to use methanol on their paint without detailed instructions.

I'm sure you are a very capable detailer and wash some very nice cars, but I don't believe Bedlam has your level of expertise. The method you are suggesting to him exceeds the scope of his experience thus putting him in a position for damaging results.

[Bedlam]

Well the sticky pods I'm talking about just made a mockery of soap and water. You could clean off a majority of it with some really hard scrubbing, but in my experience, that just makes more of a mess than you started out with. The problem with these pod things is that even after you remove them, the tend to leave some tar-looking stains on the clear coat. I'm definately not as experienced as any of you guys at detailing, but I'm not entirely stupid either. ;)

Here is what I got out of his suggestions on using the stuff..

1) wash car first to remove a majority of the crusties (I think thats just implied)
2) put some meth. on a soft rag and just wipe the spots away
3) dont let the rag or methanol sit on your paint, just use it to wipe the crap off.
4) re-wash
5) wax area of application

Thanks for looking out for us tho' nick..its certainly not something that everyone just just go out and play with. Thats why I said I was going to test it on the top of my parents trailer..where nobody would see a small screw up anyway. :)

-Bedlam

[Nick@DParadise]

No offence intended. I know you have big brains my brutha.:) Here is the MSDS for methanol and a link to transportation and packaging guidelines. Basically, keep it off rubber and aluminum.
http://www.methanol.org/pdfFrame.cfm?pdf=MethanolMSDS.pdf
http://www.solardome.com/SolarDome22.html


"Methanol is incompatible with several types of materials normally used in petroleum storage and transfer systems, including aluminum,magnesium, rubberized components, and some other types of gasket and sealing materials. Therefore it is necessary to take special precautions to ensure that methanol is transported or stored in containers and transfer lines that have been specifically selected for that purpose."

[3000spyderman]

Originally posted by Nick@DParadise


"Methanol is incompatible with several types of materials normally used in petroleum storage and transfer systems, including aluminum,magnesium, rubberized components, and some other types of gasket and sealing materials. Therefore it is necessary to take special precautions to ensure that methanol is transported or stored in containers and transfer lines that have been specifically selected for that purpose."
Uh.......it comes in a plastic bottle thats see through and has a big label on it saying "Tree Sap Remover". You are making this way too difficult. I'm surprised you dont sell it....anybody who sells high end detail chemicals has this stuff in stock.
BTW...it evaporates instantly......just not when a cloth is soaked with it and sitting on the car. And apparantly you dont know that my experience goes way beyond a couple of nice cars....do some research on me before challenging me. Ask Dr. Jones...he'll tell you.
A member came on here with a concern about tree sap and your solution to his problem is soap and water? And you sell chemicals and supplies to the detail world?
I gave the ultimate solution. Tell you what...Nick....try methanol on a car the next time you come across a car with sap. This way you can give a more educated answer to a customer. Just trying to help you out. Try it...ok?

[Nick@DParadise]

Sorry, I forgot you are the grand master of car detailing. I am glad you took a moment to remind me. All the good ones tend to boast about how great they are. Maybe you could just include something in your sig, so us with short memories won't forget how much better than everyone else you are.

Like I said, I had never heard about using methanol to clean up sap. Nobody was challenging you. I just disagreed with the aggressiveness of your solution. I did a little research on methanol and I still disagree. It's not that big of a deal. You really don't need to thump your chest and proclaim how many cars you washed or how nice they are.

Perhaps if you weren't so self-important you wouldn't be so worried about proving how great you are. Maybe that is why you boasted about using methanol instead of a plastic bottle that said tree sap remover. I guess that isn't as cool sounding as methanol. Whatever buddy. You do what you need to do to impress people.:rolleyes:

[3000spyderman]

Dude..you have issues....Someone asks for help and I offer the solution from my experience in this field. Its obvious you are REALLY INSECURE and feel the need to ack like a two year old and result to insulting. What a shame. I tried to help them and you out. You of all people should know that there is alot to be learned from us old timers. I hope the guys here dont hold much promise in your abilities. I suggest that from your attitude
that you ....just keep promoting soap and water...it obvious that its really all you know.

[RiceNmotioN]

i have my respect for 3000spyderman...i know how some act like di*ks and all but dam some time people need to be in check...

[tsitim]

Originally posted by Nick@DParadise
Perhaps if you weren't so self-important you wouldn't be so worried about proving how great you are. Maybe that is why you boasted about using methanol instead of a plastic bottle that said tree sap remover. I guess that isn't as cool sounding as methanol. Whatever buddy. You do what you need to do to impress people.:rolleyes: [/B]

owned! :spit:

[95civic_h22a]

yeah

[Bedlam]

yeah

Err...leave a dead thread dead. :p

-Bedlam