Can you buff out fish eyes?
Rachel Davis
Updated on February 19, 2026
Remove wet paint film with solvent, clean and refinish. Add the recommended fisheye eliminator and respray the affected area. If fisheyes appear in a basecoat, allow the color to flash then spray a mist coat over affected area. Do not use fisheye eliminator in undercoats or basecoat color.
Can you clear coat over fish eyes?
If you do find fish eyes in your final product, your best bet is to completely strip away the clear coat and start over. Simply spraying over the spot or trying to sand away a single section of clear coat will only make the problem worse.What causes paint fish eyes?
Fish eyes can be caused by oily spots or silicone particles and/or by airborne droplets that are deposited on the painted surface. When a coating is applied to a substrate that is contaminated with low surface energy particles such as oil, wax, grease or silicone, fish eyes may develop in the coating as it is applied.How do you fix fisheye?
SOLUTION
- Remove wet paint film with solvent, clean and refinish.
- Add the recommended fisheye eliminator and respray the affected area.
- If fisheyes appear in a basecoat, allow the color to flash then spray a mist coat over affected area.
What causes fisheye in clearcoat?
One issue that may occur on a paint job is called “fisheye.” Fisheyes (also known as craters) are an unattractive occurrence that can happen when dirt, wax, oil, or silicone gets stuck under the paint on your car. This causes spots or bubbles in the paint job.How to fix fisheyes in clear coat
How do you fix clear coat dimples?
If the defect is superficial:
- Sand the area containing dimples with a sander and a P1500 abrasive disc to start with, increasing the grit as needed. ...
- Once you have removed the defect, polish the surface of the part with an abrasive polish, and then apply another brightening polish.