At a recent track event, I used magnetic car numbers for the first time. I made sure to clean off the paint and the back of the numbers before applying them so there wouldn't be anything to scratch the paint.

After two days at the track, I removed the numbers.

Now, the paint where one of the numbers was has a mottled appearance. I cannot feel any scratches or any film / dirt / stuff on the paint. I really don't think it's scratches because it is a mottled appearance over the entire area the magnetic numbers were placed, not a few linear scratches here and there.

I've washed the car and it's still there. Quick detailer spray didn't work. I gave a very quick attempt at using a claybar on a little spot to see if that worked and didn't see anything coming off quickly - I should try again when I have more time I guess.

From straight-on, you cannot really tell anything is going on. Looking at an angle, you can tell that the rest of the paint has a flat / mirror finish and the area where the magnetic numbers were has a dull finish, with sort of "spots".

Any ideas?

If this will indeed need professional help, how does on determine what detailer to go to? Stop by and ask to see a car they are working on?

Alternatively, does anybody know a good detailer in the Burlington, Vermont area.

 

There was probably dust/grit behind the numbers that marred the paint. You won't necessarily see actual scratches, but you will see the haze that you have now.

Likely, it just needs to be polished out. You can try doing it by hand (Scratch-X is pretty good for this), but it very well may need the care of someone with a random orbital. You can do it yourself very easily, but if you don't want to spring for an RO just for this job (although after you got this haze taken care of, you'll likely want to do the whole car!), I would look for a good detailer by stopping in, checking out their shop, asking what they use, etc. The most important question to ask in this case is are they actually going to use something to remove the haze, or are they just going to conceal it? And don't be afraid to ask for references. I've seen some really crappy RO/rotary work lately. Maybe try asking around at a local club for referrals?

 

At MITM, I polished out some magnet damage on paint. A PC with an orange pad and Swirl should fix it pretty easily.

 

I had those black magnetic stone guards on my MINI, and they left a haze on the paint, and I did what OG did, and it worked great.

Mark

 

i would try some polish. wonder if the magnetic strip had some release
oil or something like that (manufacturing oil) on the back?