How do you remove streaks on car paintwork?

Many times, after applying a coat of paint to the bodywork, you may find that unsightly streaks have formed on the paint. Such streaks can effectively spoil the final effect of the entire painting process, but fortunately they can be easily dealt with. You can find special paint strippers and scrapers on the market, but we recommend using a spatula and water-based paper, because this method allows you to control the thickness of the layer you are sanding more precisely and thus to polish the surface evenly. In this text, we will tell you how to remove and polish streaks on car paintwork.

Cleaning the bodywork

Any dirt that may have formed on the bodywork must be removed before starting work. CP015 Quick Silicone Remover is ideal for this. It not only effectively degreases the surface before painting, but also prevents the formation of eyes, craters and inclusions which may form on the finished coating. The product can either be applied directly to the surface or wipes soaked in it can be used.

Puttying streaks on paint

The CP339 polyester putty is ideal for this type of treatment as it is lightweight and adheres perfectly to any type of substrate. To activate the product, simply mix it with a small amount of hardener, which is also included in the kit. Then apply an adequate amount of putty to cover the streak. Once the putty is dry, it is ready for sanding - at room temperature this takes about 20 minutes. The putty can be successfully used for both acrylic paints and to remove streaks on clearcoats.

For sanding, it is advisable to prepare paper of increasing gradation. The paper with the largest grain size, P800, will be used first. It is a good idea to dampen the surface to be sanded with water to prevent overheating and distortion and to reduce the formation of dangerous spatters. The workpiece is then cleaned of any excess putty, wiped dry and the gradation of the paper increased to P1500 and sanded again, also using water. The last paper to be used is P2500 and, as with the previous papers, the surface to be sanded should be moistened with water.

How to polish streaks on paint

Once the putty has been thoroughly sanded down, it's time to get to polishing. We will use PROFIX polishes for this purpose, which are excellent at removing smaller inclusions, scratches and dents, while being highly durable. For newer surfaces, it is sufficient to use MEDIUM 2. For older bodywork, it will be safer to start with FAST 1 paste.

After applying a small layer of paste to the target area, set the polisher to a lower speed and apply the product until the surface is smooth and free of visible scratches and streaks.

To protect the lacquered surface and highlight its colour, it is also worth using WAX wax. A small amount of the product is applied on a sponge or cloth and then spread with decisive movements over the surface to be polished. After the product has dried (about two minutes), the car body should be wiped again with a piece of cloth, this time without wax.