Safe Way To Remove Stubborn Tree Sap w/o Claybar?

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peacemaker

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UPDATE: After further research, I believe this is artillery fungus... Round black dots the size of ball point pen tip. I'm afraid to damage my paint further in trying to remove it... at the same time, I don't want it sitting on my paint any longer!



Hey guys,



I wanted to do a full detail this past weekend, but I didn't have a chance to. I washed & dried. I tried spray detailer to loosen it. I tried bug & tar remover (the bottle is pretty old). It didn't work.



Is there a way to remove this safely w/o having to claybar? I don't want to let it bake in the sun any longer than it has to. Its already 1 week old. I'm very tempted to pick it off, but I've read that's a big no-no.



Also, are there any OTC items I can find from Autozone? That would be most convenient.



EDIT: Products I recently purchased:

Poorboy's World Polish with Sealant

Poorboy's World Spray & Wipe



Thanks,

Albert
 
Try rubbing alcohol. dampen a MF towel and rub softly and gently over the sap. It will take a moment to start working and then still take some time to work it down layer by layer. Don't rush it and don't get impatient and start applying pressure or you will scratch the surrounding area. If that doesn't work you could step up to Mineral Spirits using the same method. A little polishing and wax will be necessary after either one.
 
Bituminous Asphalt Removal



[:The term asphalt is often used as an abbreviation for asphalt concrete, asphalt refers to a mixture of mineral aggregate and bitumen (tarmac) Composed almost entirely of bitumen, which is a category of organic liquids that are highly viscous, black, sticky and wholly soluble in carbon disulfide, mostly made up of highly condensed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons]



These sometimes feel like they are in the clear coat, when in fact they have more than likely been covered with a wax or sealant.

The reasoning for the use of solvents for the removal of bituminous asphalt is that it dissolves as a means of removal, as opposed to friction. Asphalt comprises; bitumen emulsion and fine graded aggregate with fillers and is very sticky and its presence on your paint means that harder particulate matter (dirt/grit) has also stuck to it. By agitating or rubbing the dirt/grit that is contained within the bituminous asphalt will cause surface marring or possibly scratching, dissolution alleviates any potential surface damage.



Using steam and a safe solvent (Stoner™ Tarminator, Stoner™ Natural Citrus Xenit or Wurth Clean Solve) they simply emulsifies and dissolves the bituminous asphalt when you spray it directly to the surface, apply to the affected area, allow sufficient react time, and carefully wipe off, you may have to apply it three or four times allowing plenty of react time between applications.



It can also dissolve a variety of oil and petroleum based products, it's safe to use on all types of paint, plastics, synthetic fibres, carpet and upholstery. If used on vehicle paintwork, carpet or fabric re-apply a protect rant after use.



Other uses - it will dissolve chewing gum and adhesives. Use to de-tar wheel rims after cleaning, will also remove shoe scuffmarks from vinyl trim, and can be used to remove tree sap or fuel stains from paint surfaces.



Notes- use caution if you use WD-40 for bituminous asphalt removal as it contains strong hydrocarbon (aliphatic) solvents, which may compromise the integrity of the clear coat causing it to occlude (become opaque, clouded or yellowed.



Alternative products



1. CarPro Tar X is a citrus- based solvent that has a coloring to identify tar contamination; apply it to a dry surface to ensure it won’t be diluted by water. After shaking the bottle and spraying onto a dry surface, allow it to dwell for anywhere from 2 to 10 minutes depending on how thick the tar contamination is. DO not allow Tar X to dry on surfaces or apply in direct sunlight.



2. Wurth Clean Solve is fast acting and will not leave film residue, safe to use on all painted surfaces. Quickly removes track rubber (from tyres) paint overspray, adhesives, tar, grease, oils, silicone and waxes. Can be used on acrylic finishes, aluminium, plastics, vinyl’s, fabrics, glass, and fibreglass
 
After further research, I believe this is actually artillery fungus! This is exactly what it looks like. I park near mulch at work and at my apartment. Usually because I pick corner spots to avoid door dingers...



Would the Stoner Citrus cleaner work without the steam? I don't have a steamer...
 
ArtillaryFungus-1.jpg







Small black specks (artillery fungus); these resemble asphalt (tar) spots but could be the spore of artillery fungus (Sphaerobolus) they look very much like tar spots and are usually about 1/10th-inch in diameter.



Typically artillery fungus is sticky and has a film; they sometimes feel like they are in the clear coat, when in fact they have more than likely been covered with a wax or sealant.



The term artillery refers to the fact that the fungus actively uses energy to shoot its spore masses, sort of like cannon (an artillery piece). It is a fungus that lives in wood-based mulch, the spores are usually shot only a short distance (several feet) but the wind can carry them for longer distances.



They can be removed by using a chemical paint cleaner (Z-PC Fusion Dual Action Paint Cleaner or Klasse All-In-One or for really stubborn spots Iz einszett Industrie-Reiniger (W99)) and a plastic razor blade to scrape and remove the spot. If the affected paintwork is not neutralized any remaining acid residue will be reactivated each time it comes into contact with water.
 
Try Goof-Off, available at Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Lowes, etc

I did a Pontiac that had sat under a tree for 3 years! Why? Lady that owned it said that was her parking spot..............o k

I had to let the Goof Off dwell for about 5-10 minutes before power washing and then regular washing. It was a freakin mess. But after a diluted APC wash, polish and wax, it looked new again.
 
JuneBug said:
Try Goof-Off, available at Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Lowes, etc

I did a Pontiac that had sat under a tree for 3 years! Why? Lady that owned it said that was her parking spot..............o k

I had to let the Goof Off dwell for about 5-10 minutes before power washing and then regular washing. It was a freakin mess. But after a diluted APC wash, polish and wax, it looked new again.
Click to expand...

Cool. Did you scrub at all? or did you just let Goof-Off sit and then wash off?
 
I never knew that those brown spots were called artillery fungus... you learn something new every day!

If you see small brownish yellow deposits on the paintwork, that is bee excrement. It can be removed the same way, either by solvent or IPA.
 
I thought those yellow spots were tree sap... These spots are pure black. It's as if you took a black BIC pen and dotted your paint a few dozen times. But it has a hardened tip on top of it (which can be scraped off; leaving a circular residue behind).
 
I'm a big fan of using mineral spirits for tar removal, and whenever I encounter heavily contaminated paint, I'll usually wash the vehicle to remove everything that's loose, then take a microfiber that's wet with mineral spirits and do a wipe down to dissolve the remaining contaminants, then a quick rinse with the water hose when I'm done. I know a lot of people don't rinse the mineral spirits, as it evaporates and supposedly leaves nothing behind, but I tend to be on the cautious side with chemicals, so I always do a quick rinse afterwards.
 
peacemaker said:
UPDATE: After further research, I believe this is artillery fungus... Round black dots the size of ball point pen tip. I'm afraid to damage my paint further in trying to remove it... at the same time, I don't want it sitting on my paint any longer!
Click to expand...



use your finger nail to knock the 'head' off and then some degreaser/alcohol/gasoline to remove the stain. I hate those little buggers.
 
An update - I picked off the heads of these stains and then I used an IPA spray to remove these w/ a microfiber sponge. I made sure I kept the paint lubricated during this process and I was very concentrated in the spot I was working on.



Happy they came out... pain in the butt... I did forget about the three spots on my windshield. I only notice them when I get in the car, not from the outside! (bc of black interior).
 
I use eucalyptus oil for tree sap first and any really stubborn sap I annihilate with milestone gum remover aka graffit remover. Fantastic stuff
 
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