Excessive powdery residue with alcohol wipedown

[Pawlin]

I just did a polish on my '84 318i with metallic paint (two stage). After polishing each panel, I made sure to wipe off the excess polishing compound off with a clean microfiber. However when I go to do the isopropyl alcohol (IPA) wipedown with 70% IPA, I keep on getting excessive white powdery residue after the alcohol dries. However, I would wipe the powder off only to see more and more upon repeating the IPA wipedown 3-4 times. I'm quite sure the residue is the excess polishing compound but it doesn't make sense that there is so much of it and that there could be so much residue on the paint when it appears so clean and shiny. When I go to wipe it down with quick detailer, the car seems extremely clean only for more powder residue to appear after wiping with more IPA. What could be the case? I never had this happen before and there is no way the powder could be coming from the IPA or clearcoat.

[TimeMachinE30]

I just did a polish on my '84 318i with metallic paint (two stage). After polishing each panel, I made sure to wipe off the excess polishing compound off with a clean microfiber. However when I go to do the isopropyl alcohol (IPA) wipedown with 70% IPA, I keep on getting excessive white powdery residue after the alcohol dries. However, I would wipe the powder off only to see more and more upon repeating the IPA wipedown 3-4 times. I'm quite sure the residue is the excess polishing compound but it doesn't make sense that there is so much of it and that there could be so much residue on the paint when it appears so clean and shiny. When I go to wipe it down with quick detailer, the car seems extremely clean only for more powder residue to appear after wiping with more IPA. What could be the case? I never had this happen before and there is no way the powder could be coming from the IPA or clearcoat.

What products are you using? What is the isopropyl alcohol for? What is it you are trying to achieve?

[Pawlin]

What products are you using? What is the isopropyl alcohol for? What is it you are trying to achieve?

I'm using Mcguiar's Ultimate Compound and Ultimate Polish with a double action polisher. Alcohol wipe down with 70% isopropyl alcohol is to ensure everything is removed before putting a semi-permanent seal on (22ple).

[gart]

Interested to hear what this is about. Never hear of a alchohol wipe after polishing, and i buff fresh paint every day.

[Pawlin]

Interested to hear what this is about. Never hear of a alchohol wipe after polishing, and i buff fresh paint every day.

Here's some info on alcohol wipedown:

http://www.detailedimage.com/Ask-a-Pro/ask-a-pro-the-isopropyl-alcohol-ipa-wipedown/#comment-189769

[gart]

Here's some info on alcohol wipedown:
http://www.detailedimage.com/Ask-a-P...comment-189769

Interesting, thanks for the link. Whish I had a answer for you. I use a wax and grease remover as a final wipe befor paint but never heard of cleaning a surface before waxing/sealing. Seems excessive to me.

[Pawlin]

Interesting, thanks for the link. Whish I had a answer for you. I use a wax and grease remover as a final wipe befor paint but never heard of cleaning a surface before waxing/sealing. Seems excessive to me.

It's a semi-permanent seal similar to opti-coat - basically a secondary clear coat. This stuff lasts up to two years which is why I'm being meticulous about getting everything off.

[TobyB]

The alcohol thing seems off to me, too, especially since it's 30% water...

...but then, I don't really worry about the waxing thing so much, either. Just paint it if it looks TOO scruffy.

t

[mrsleeve]

Ok what kinda water are you using to mix in with your Methanol??? And I am with everyone else never herd of using isopropyl alcohol as any type of paint/prep wipe down... if I was that worried about it, I would be using a good wax and grease remover like a PPG DX330 as opposed to the alcohol.

Lets assume 1st off your not having some kind of reaction between the compound residue and the alcohol or the clear coat it self and the alcohol.....

Water from the hose or tap??? Are you on city water or well water?? Softened or not???

Try again and use Distilled water from the store, Your residue is likely hard water deposits or the salt from you softener.... Since the Alcohol is a going to evaporate off much faster and take water with it a great rate than water alone, its a possibility your residue is what is dissolved in the water portion of your solvent

[Pawlin]

Ok what kinda water are you using to mix in with your Methanol??? And I am with everyone else never herd of using isopropyl alcohol as any type of paint/prep wipe down... if I was that worried about it, I would be using a good wax and grease remover like a PPG DX330 as opposed to the alcohol.

Lets assume 1st off your not having some kind of reaction between the compound residue and the alcohol or the clear coat it self and the alcohol.....

Water from the hose or tap??? Are you on city water or well water?? Softened or not???

Try again and use Distilled water from the store, Your residue is likely hard water deposits or the salt from you softener.... Since the Alcohol is a going to evaporate off much faster and take water with it a great rate than water alone, its a possibility your residue is what is dissolved in the water portion of your solvent

I was using straight 70% alcohol and I would have used distilled water if I were to dilute. Higher alcohol tends to streak a bit more but I didn't have any issues with it before.

So I'm quite sure it was simply some cross contamination from a towel that I used to clean off all the polish. I didn't think it could have been that because of the absolutely ridiculous amount of white powdery residue coming off, I was covered in it with it all over the air. It seems that alcohol releases all the residue from an apparently clean towel while quick detail does not. Lesson learned, don't skimp on microfiber towels.

[ahlem]

try wiping the alcohol, using the same pad you are currently using, on your kitchen window to see if the residue is being caused by some reaction between the pad and the alcohol.