Soapy Water Bath Safe on Bare Fiberglass?

[Patricia Brown]

Hi everyone,

I stripped my '72 Corvette using Captain Lee's a couple years ago, and at the time I neutralized with water and then scrubbed the primer off using a Scotch Brite pad and lacquer thinner. I believe the stripper is well removed from the glass itself, but I question how thoroughly I scrbbed crevices and cracks around windshield piller, etc., so I'd like to re-wash the car for peace of mind.

My question is whether it is safe for the fiberglass if I scrub it with Dawn detergent and water? Will the Dawn soak into the glass and any of it stay there (even after rinsing thoroughly with water), such that there would be any harm?

In re-reading the directions on the Captain Lee container it said to neutralize with water or alcohol, but specifically said do not use soap or it will leave a film. Dawn is a detergent; will it leave a film? Perhaps this warning would only be if the "soap" came in contact with the stripper...?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated! I also have some grease on the underside of the car I'd like to use the Dawn on, but my worry is mainly with the topside of the glass where it will have new paint eventually.

Patricia

[Allan J. Wicklund]

Re: Soapy Water Bath Safe on Bare Fiberglass?

A bath of 10% Vinegar mixed with 9 parts water is safe. NO SOAP! The good news is all the time you have let go bye since the stripping. Was any of it outside? The most important thing to me is using the correct primer at this point. BTW, Vinegar will nuetralize any Amonia left from your Stripping agent. Al W.

[Bill W.]

Re: Soapy Water Bath Safe on Bare Fiberglass?

I always use Dawn and the hottest water I can stand . do not use car wash soap it has wax in it. When you are done washing with soap , wash with hot clean water and a scotch bright pad and rinse.. when you think you are done rinsing do it 2 more times .let dry in the sun a couple days.. The under side can be cleaned with fast drying solvents like dupont 3812. then soaps . ALL cleaning of the underbody should be done BEFORE you do the final cleaning of the outside and before you do any priming.. solvents,soaps & water can & will wick both ways . remember the sun draws the solvents out and cures the repairs not time ...Bill

[Gary Schisler]

Re: Soapy Water Bath Safe on Bare Fiberglass?

I had not heard this "no soap" discussion before I painted my 66 a few years ago. I stripped it, wiped it down with lacquer thinner and then gave the body several washes using Dawn and hot water. I then rinsed it multiple times with clean water. I painted it with lacquer and when it was done, it truly was a beautiful paint job. I sold the car after two years and then I saw it parked two years after that. The paint still looked great - no blisters, bubbles, cracks or spider webbing. I guess you might say I am proponent of washing with soap and lots of water.

Gary

[Steve H.]

Re: Soapy Water Bath Safe on Bare Fiberglass?

What is the recommended correct primer?

Steve #28428

[Dick G.]

Re: Soapy Water Bath Safe on Bare Fiberglass?

To be truly safe, one should also remove the paint inside the wheel wells. This helps the fiberglass to breath from both sides during the cleansing process. You may want to use PPG's DX133? alchol based (fast evaporation) paint prep. I feel this is way better than any soap on bare glass. That being said if there are not any stains on the bare glass you may be safe to forgo the removal inside the wells. When in doubt about which soap is best, call a vette body shop or your local Auto paint store and ask for advice. I would not use any wax and grease remover on bare glass. It is a solvent and can and does get trapped in the glass. It also helps to heat the body somehow/ sun (no bird doo). Have fun DG

[Patricia Brown]

Re: Soapy Water Bath Safe on Bare Fiberglass?

Thank you, everyone!

OK, I plan to use Dawn and hot water on the bare fiberglass. What frightened me was the directions on the Captain Lee's container that said to neutralize with water and do NOT use soap or it will leave a film. Bill, I appreciate you mentioning not to use car wash soap as it has wax in it; perhaps this is what the Captain Lee's directions were referring to. After all, Dawn is not technically soap, but detergent.

Paint is removed from the whole car, including wheel wells, and I have meticulously sanded the wheel wells, too, so they should be able to breathe just fine.

I have one oily-looking spot I'm concerned about. It's on the bottom-side of the rear deck (which is an SMC panel on this car), surrounding the antenna hole. I've rubbed it and soaked it with lacquer-thinner, but the whole area is still dark and stained looking. Any particular stuff I should use? No visible staining on the topside of the panel, thank goodness!