Rail Dust

[Jesstzn]

I have posted this in a couple spots and thought it might be useful pix here.



For some of you southern folk who have never seen rail dust here is a few pix ..



Rail dust originally got its name because cars were shipped on open rail cars and the filings off the rail car wheels and tracks were magnetic and stuck to the cars paint. And when it got a little moisture with it it created the little brown rust spots.



In todays life most are from the brakes and in winter the filings off of snow plow blades.



From April to Nov I never see any of this on my car .. this is from Nov to date.



If left on for a couple of years you can see paint issues but if removed every spring there is never a problem.



Clay barring will remove it without damaging the paint . Other methods may cause marring.



Pictures were taken just behind the front wheel and the bottom of the drivers door. You will also find it behind the rear wheel and the back of the trunk and rear bumper.



It won't be as visable on darker colors but you will be able to feel it. These are so small you hardly see them from a couple feet away .

 

[CQMers]

On the re-paint it, the good paint.

 

[Jesstzn]

On the re-paint it, the good paint.

Huh?..........

 

[Accumulator]

Jesstzn- Very good explanation and example pics :xyxthumbs



I'll add that if the rust-blooms keep coming back after claying, a decontamination with something acidic like AutoInt's "B" oughta do the trick as long as you don't wait *too* long to do it (once the rust gets a sufficient toe-hold you'll never kill it).



Keeping a very healthy LSP can help a lot..I really don't have issues with rust-blooms any more, even with Ohio winters. I decontaminate once when the vehicles are new and then clay away any ferrous contamination before it penetrates the LSP.

 

[Jesstzn]

Ya up here we get this evey winter and if you panic and start picking/scratching them off you end up with a lot of issues to fix up ..



I usually leave them till March when my spring detail starts.



I say starts because with the weather up here I usually end up washing a panel .. claying it .. polishing it out then one pass with Optimum poliseal to clean it up and a layer of Zaino or Klasse SG.



Once I make it all the way around the car then its a wash and a layer of sealant every few days till I'm at 4.



Same door after claying , polishing and the LSPs.

 

[Accumulator]

Jesstzn- I do it a little differently, spot-claying with Sonus green at every wash.

 

[Jesstzn]

Jesstzn- I do it a little differently, spot-claying with Sonus green at every wash.

I wish I could but with temps below freezing most the time and snow everywhere my washes are more of a weekly spray off at the local car wash with hand washes once a month or so .



I have adopted this method over the weekly bring my own pail/soap etc to the car wash and hand wash it there .. seems the rush is open to marring because the high pressure spray doesn't flood off the grit it blows it around. I have also dropped drying it there .. Same reason .. to much grit.

 

[Accumulator]

...with temps below freezing most the time and snow everywhere,...

I am *so* spoiled Yeah, gotta have decent temps and a spotless surface to do the regular claying.



It sounds like you're really doing a great job given the facilities you have to work with :xyxthumbs I do remember what it's like to do things that way, and it's sure not easy. Smart move, not doing the drying unless things are truly clean.