Removing Dried Cement from Paintwork

[Banshee]

Guys

The new Terrano has some splats of cement up the drivers side of the car like it's been driven through fresh cement or some has fallen over somehow and splashed the car.

I've read all of the old wives remedies etc online but I'd rather buy one thing and get it right the first time and not damage the paintwork hopefully

Tips and Tricks please guys

[solarman216]

Hydrochloric acid is what you need, diluted do a test run first on a hidden part of the paintwork you may be able to use it neat, it will only be 30% straight from the bottle, (spirits of Salts), Rick

[Lazy-Ferret]

Originally Posted by solarman216

Hydrochloric acid is what you need, diluted do a test run first on a hidden part of the paintwork you may be able to use it neat, it will only be 30% straight from the bottle, (spirits of Salts), Rick

That is what I used when I splashed cement on my side steps and rear bumper a few years back. Wickes used (not checked recently) to sell a 5litre plastic container of it. Just watch any aluminium or stainless, as it does mark that up. I ended up doing the whole aluminium step to make it match, and to be honest, I did like the finished result.

[macabethiel]

I had some cement splashes on a motor many years back.

I wet the cement with a hose then using a plastic ice scraper I gave it a scrape as close to horizontal to the surface as I could and the splatter came off.

That said there was quite a layer of wax polish underneath so it was not bonded hard onto the paintwork.

[Banshee]

Thanks for the replies guys, these are the ones I enjoy reading and look forward too as they are real life experiences rather than old wives tales regurgitated from some yank DIY thread

Will this stuff be suitable;
https://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-Bric...---5L/p/153779

I've had a look at the COSHH sheet and it states that it's Hydrochloric Acid but will that be a strong enough solution to clean it off effectively?

[Lazy-Ferret]

That's the stuff I used.

Use it neat, with a very soft paint brush to work it into the individual splatters, and keep a spray bottle of diluted baking soda to spray straight on once the splat is dissolved. I found using the brush and working on one bit at a time, rather than leaving it to soak worked best.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

[macabethiel]

I still have some cement splatter on our white bathroom tiles from 2003 !

[solarman216]

Will this stuff be suitable;
https://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-Bric...---5L/p/153779

It is OK but quite weak, and you do not need 5Lt, better is Spirits of salts from your local hardware store 30% Acid in 1 Lt bottle about £2.50 much stronger so you can dilute to suite your needs, but you will probably need it full strength, Rick

[macabethiel]

Originally Posted by solarman216

Will this stuff be suitable;
https://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-Bric...---5L/p/153779

It is OK but quite weak, and you do not need 5Lt, better is Spirits of salts from your local hardware store 30% Acid in 1 Lt bottle about £2.50 much stronger so you can dilute to suite your needs, but you will probably need it full strength, Rick

I am a Chemical Engineer qualified in 1971 so Chemistry was a major subject I have never heard Hydrochloric Acid referred to by the old name "Spirits of Salts" until today!

I love the information on this site - I have heard the old names Aqua Fortis (Nitric Acid) & Aqua Regia (Nitric Acid & Hydrochloric Acid Mix) yes !

"Spirits of Salts" not until today - now I can bank this one.

[solarman216]

Originally Posted by macabethiel

"Spirits of Salts" not until today - now I can bank this one.

I have got one extra year of learning on you Ted, and yes I have Aqua Regia, only acid that dissolves Gold although it is probably past it's sell by date now, Rick