Pressure washers and paintwork [advice needed]

[AhmedRSi]

A pressure washer (eg one at a car wash) shouldnt be able to strip paint off a car, correct? I've had my car washed dozens of times even when I have sprayed some parts myself on my old car and it has never taken paint off or even damaged paint.

Ill post some pictures up soon, but it looks like the paint has fallen/flaked off in one big chunk. Primer and paint have both come off in a small section, leaving smooth plastic underneath (no marks or blemishes on the actual plastic)

 

[JD]

Where? i.e. where on the car? If it's a plastic painted part, yes the pressure washer will take it off.

 

[AhmedRSi]

Painted spoiler. It was professionally painted. I was told it could be washed a normal as soon as it had dried/cured etc. Its been a couple of months since it was sprayed and this is the first time i have taken the car to get washed...

 

[Nick_P]

Sounds like the washer just got too close, if you go mad with it, it will do damage

 

[Herr Flick]

ahmed, im not trying to rip you off! like i have said, they have got too close to it and its taken it off, it happens at car dealers all the time when the valeters get too close to edges etc, especially on kia's, hyundais etc. even has happened at bmw!
i must of done over a 1000 jobs and it does happen but only at the fault of OP (the valeter)

 

[AhmedRSi]

^rich, I am only asking for other peoples opinions as I dont know about this and I have never accused you of ripping me off?

Please pm me to discuss

 

[Herr Flick]

^rich, I am only asking for other peoples opinions as I dont know about this and I have never accused you of ripping me off?

Please pm me to discuss

sorry mate, i thought that was a pm, sorry i clicked on the wrong link!
i will pm you

 

[JCC]

It could be done if you're properly going far too close, I've never managed to do it though and we pressure wash cars at work straight out of the spray booth. So whoever was washing it must have been centimetres from the paint.

 

[rich-6]

If the plastic wasn't scotched off (keyed) properly the paint will flake off in time through a stonechip, damage, or been pressure washed too closely, I have managed to blast paint off an RS4 bumper cleaning the arches out before, just clipped it with the jet and it took it off

 

[jack_davey]

I've had it happen, took paint off a bumper that had been badly prepped and painted, when the paint flaked off I noticed the bumper hadn't been primered.

 

[jenic]

I started stripping paint off a brand new insignia at work when i was washing it. I was using a high power industrial pressure washer though, didnt take much off but would have if i had carried on.

 

[-J-]

Just to show Pressure washers can damage paint irrespective of the Prep before hand -

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=191236

Pressure washer damage on a Lambo

 

[JD]

Holy thread revival batman!

 

[.Kev.]

Idiots guide, Dont get to close.

Some people amaze me.

 

[Simon@SprayShack]

It wil be a bad spray job, if the correct primer hasnt been used or poor prep this will happen. If its done right no preasure washer will take it off, unless ur talking silly PSI and right up to it, even then it should more sand it off rather than flake off in massive chunks.

 

[Simon@SprayShack]

It wil be a bad spray job, if the correct primer hasnt been used or poor prep this will happen. If its done right no preasure washer will take it off, unless ur talking silly PSI and right up to it, even then it should more sand it off rather than flake off in massive chunks.

Unless its on a jet from hell, in a tight beam. Paint in thin coats in amazingly strong, more likely happen if the paints fecking thick as hell.