this has been my first car i have painted and was wondering when sanding the clear coat what grit to start with what grit to finish with
Start with 1000, then 1500, then 2000. Don't be tempted to go lower than 1000 or you will never get the scratches out. Always back up your paper with a block or anything else you need to fit a contour when wet sanding clearcoat, but don't use your fingers. You don't have to buy anything exotic, I use things like short pieces of heater hose and various sizes and lengths of foam pipe insulation.
Yep,,, what Bill says,,,, me, I cant seem to break my self from using too big of a grit.... botched up a air cleaner last week ,,, gotta do it over....when the paint dried, you could see the sanding scratches... paint dont hide nothing.... i use the foam stuff that I find in Wally world kids toy section,,, and cut it into the lengths that I need,,, it usually comes in long 6 ft. strips... and is brightly colored..... you can wrap a piece of wet or dry or regular sand paper around those short sections and contour sand real good..... ---------- Post added at 05:45 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:45 AM ----------[/SIZ
And be very careful around edges and body lines if you didnt know already. It sucks when you burn through. Another good tip is when wet sanding, use lots of fresh(I like it a little soapy) water. I use a sponge and a bucket and just keep dunking the sponge with one hand and then squeezing it over the area Im sanding with my other hand.
like i said im new to painting i sanded one panel down to 1500 and the panel is smooth but hazey is that normal or should i lay more clear coat
thanks for the reply good to know i didnt know if i screwed it up ---------- Post added at 11:07 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:10 PM ---------- how will I know if i burnt threw the clear coat ---------- Post added at 11:07 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:07 PM ---------- how will I know if i burnt threw the clear coat
When you're sanding, it usually looks like a different shade when you sand through the clear coat. It's nearly impossible to tell when you're buffing if you go through the clear. I am less worried about burning through the clear coat when buffing, but I have to watch edges and corners so I don't buzz through the paint with it. I will typically just stay completely away from those areas with the sandpaper and the buffer.
I prefer the 3M (or norton equivelent) 1500 CC sanding discs used dry, followed by 3M trizact 3000 (or norton equivelent) Much faster than wet sanding by hand
Sounds like it. I must lead a dull life, I'm just using the black pipe insulation I have a variety of sizes, some of which I stick a piece of pvc pipe inside to firm it up. Basically just use whatever you can come up with to fit the contour you are sanding. I better go get some at Wally World and add some excitement to my life :grin:
Watch your buffer also when finishing the paint off.. Use a wool pad and lots of compound and water if youre going to use 1000 grit, that will be the only way to get the scratches out. If I were you and this is your first time doing this stick only to the flat surfaces and keep 3-4" from the edges of your panels to prevent having to worry about burning your edges. Nothing worse than that.. Finish/polish with a foam pad.. check this out and best of luck http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66Do1N2gibU&feature=related
