How To Remove Overspray & Paint Contamination

Remove paint contamination,
overspray and industrial fallout.

What is paint contamination?

Most paint contamination consists of tiny metallic particles from brake pad linings and rail dust created from the friction of train wheels against railroad tracks. These hot metallic particles fill the air on highways and near railroad tracks where they ultimately land on your car's finish, burning through any wax or sealant coating and embedding themselves in the top paint or clear coat layer. They can be felt as a "rough or gritty" texture on the paint's finish. Less severe paint contamination consists of overspray, tree sap mist and industrial pollution. If left untreated, this contamination can cause tiny rust spots in your car's finish.

This contamination can not be removed by washing, waxing and/or polishing.

Stage 1:

Metal shavings land on the paint's surface.

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Stage 2:

Shavings start to oxidize.

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Stage 3:

Rust forms in the paint.

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Actual photo of rust spots from paint contamination.

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Where does it come from?

There are three major causes of paint contamination:

1. Rail dust - produced from the friction of train wheels against railroad tracks. Over 70% of new vehicles are shipped by rail. Rail dust can contaminate a new car's finish before it even reaches the dealership. Anytime a vehicle is parked or travels near a railroad it is subject to rail dust contamination.

2. Brake dust - particles produced from the friction of brake pads rubbing against the rotor. This metal on metal friction disperses tiny particles of bare metal into the air and on the highway where it collects on passing vehicles.

3. Industrial fallout - another word for pollution, industrial fallout is a byproduct of our modern industrial age.

Testing for paint contamination:

After washing and drying your vehicle, put your hand inside a plastic sandwich bag and lightly run your fingertips over the paint's surface. It should be as smooth as glass. If your car's surface has a rough, gritty or pebble-like texture, it indicates the presence of paint contamination. This should be removed with a clay bar before applying a polish or wax.

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Removing Paint Contamination:

There is no wax, natural or synthetic, or any chemical treatment that can prevent or protect against this contamination. Compounding with an abrasive polish may remove paint contamination but it can only be performed a few times before removing too much of the top, clear coat finish.

The best solution, a special clay bar, was developed in Japan nearly five years ago. This clay safely removes rail dust and industrial fallout by "pulling" it off the surface. It does not "cut" or perform any abrasive action normally associated with polishing or compounding.

The latest evolution in clay technology is BLACKFIRE PolyClay. These clay-like bars are made in the U.S.A. of entirely man made polymers. These bars perform all the functions of traditional clay bars but have a number of advantages:

Black Fire Poly Clay

1. Poly Clay does not dry out with age.

2. Poly Clay does not decompose with repeated applications.

3. A single non-abrasive grade works on all paint conditions yet is still clear coat safe.

4. Poly Clay is easier to work with. It pulls, stretches and refolds easier that normal clay.

5. Poly Clay leaves almost no residue on the surface making clean-up much easier.

How to use clay bars:

Clay bars should always be used on freshly washed, clean surfaces. Dirt on the surface could cause scratches.

Caution: Use only as directed and with an approved lubricant such as Blackfire Clay Lubricant to reduce friction between the PolyClay and the vehicle's surface.

Work on areas of about three square feet. Lightly mist the surface with the lubricant. Glide the clay bar across the lubricated area until finish is smooth and bar slides freely. When used as directed, contaminants can be removed from the surface without causing scratches. When the bar glides freely, wipe the surface with a clean dry towel and continue in sections until the entire vehicle is complete.

Black Fire Poly Clay Lubricant


Mist surface with lubricant, rub clay across surface.	Wipe off any residues with a soft towel.

As the bar becomes soiled, you can pull, stretch and refold it to expose a new, clean side but I prefer to use a clay cleaner and remove the embedded contamination. Using a clay cleaner like BLACKFIRE Clay Cleaner and Extender keeps clay bars cleaner and greatly extends their life. When the bar does becomes totally soiled (dark colored) discard it. I like to cut the 8 oz. bar in half. A single 4 oz. bar should clean at least 7 to 10 cars.

Do not use a bar dropped on the ground.

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After claying, the surface should be as smooth as glass. Remove any remaining smudges with a clean dry towel. Microfiber towels like our Power Scrubber Microfiber Cloths are perfect for removing clay residues. Mist the surface with the lubricant if necessary to make the final wipe down easy.

Tech Note: Clay bars will not remove scratches, swirls, dull, oxidized paint or restore surface gloss. This is accomplished by polishing the surface after claying. Polishing alone will not remove paint contamination.

Polishing and Finishing:

After claying, some enthusiasts finish with a coat of wax or sealant but I prefer to apply a polish before finishing. I use BLACKFIRE Gloss Enhancing Polish after claying to restore surface gloss and visually reduce any remaining swirls, spots or blemishes. Gloss Enhancing Polish is a combination polish and glaze. It improves gloss, "wets" the surface to increase liquidity and helps hide any remaining defects. I feel the benefits far outweigh the extra step.

After claying and polishing, finish with your favorite wax or sealant. I like BLACKFIRE Wet Diamond All Finish Paint Protection. When applied over Gloss Enhancing Polish, the shine is laser-sharp with a 3-D depth that looks like you could reach into the paint.

Frequency of use:

Poly Clay will not remove paint or the clear coat finish. It can be used as often as necessary to keep the surface free of contamination and smooth.

I clay my car twice a year, once in the early spring then in late fall.