Who's the Wet Sanding Expert?

[JRA2000TL]

HunterVF, mrecoolcar?

Now that the 89 has been repainted to my satisfaction somewhat, I need to get the car wet-sanded as suggested by the body shop owner (friend of a friend). He said it's not hard and that I should do it myself; however, I could pay one of his guys cash on the side to do it for me. He did the hood to show me the difference it makes.

I need to do this to the whole car. I hear it removes orange peel and some flaws and just allows for a smoother, nicer finish overall. I am leery to take any sand paper to a fresh paint job. What's all involved? Google search give you different methods, it seems.

I've heard you wet sand with about 1400 grit. He gave me the same of some compound to use, but I forgot.

I think it will turn out nice overall. There are some runs in the paint on the hood and roof that will be permanent, but they can only be seen at a particular angle.

 

[LJRuddy]

In for pics. popcorn.jpg


In all seriousness, I'd pay someone to do it for you. Wet sanding a car is something that even I wouldnt want to try without tons of practice first and I consider myself to be slightly more than average on the average joe mechanic scale.

 

[jc2001s]

Agreed to hire somebody. I wet sanded at a job about 8 years ago, and I still would never do it to my own car, and I usually made less mistakes than most people at that place did.

edit: it wasn't on cars but on metal decorative pieces that had the same paint steps as a car.

 

[mrecoolgar]

I'll third that.
There's a tecnique involved and requires experience.
I've done small pieces but never an entire car or panel.

 

[Bill Strobel]

It's really not that hard. Do a search for Auto Geek go to their forum and look for posts from Mike Phillips he may have a How To on wet sanding. He also runs a school in Florida. His Detailing 102 class is for wet sanding. I've taken the course and it's good, hands on. Also search for Adams Polishes. Check their forum for posts from the JunkMan2008. Excellent How Tos and I believe he has one on wet sanding. I found JunkMan's wet sanding videos

http://www.adamsforums.com/forums/junkmans-corner/3223.htm

His whole detailing series is great, free, and easy to understand. I recommend them for all your detailing how tos.

 

[SHOtime2511]

Hire someone and watch,ask questions and learn.

 

[intimdatr]

Hire someone and watch,ask questions and learn.

This. Ive been starting to get into the paint and sanding stuff with some buddies cars and one of the family's i hang out with has a done all this stuff in the past and is extremely knowledgeable on the subject. And just about the only way to truly learn is to watch how they do it and the little techniques they've learn over doing it for years and years that makes what they, art. Its the little stuff they do that is what takes it the "beautiful" stage rather than just Some paint job.

 

[Chaudet]

Soft hands fine grit and time. It is hard to do. Best bet is call the guy over that will do it on the side get a case of beer and watch and help him on the flat surfaces. Detailed surfaces are really hard to do.

 

[Bob Gervais]

Normally I'd say give it a shot yourself, but if you don't feel comfortable with it don't do it. The wetsanding itself isn't all that hard or complicated to do, just have to make sure that you don't sand too much and wear through the paint.

After it's wetsanded, it'll need to be hit with a high speed buffer to polish it up. That's the tough part.

Still doesn't hurt to research and get opinions, so you understand what's being done. Google "color sanding" also, which is what it used to be called back in the day on single stage paint jobs, which is what I think you have.

 

[Laminar]

After I painted my last bike, I wetsanded with 1000 then 2000, then buffed with a Meguiar's polish and finished with Meguiar's Tech Wax.

Initial clear coat, note the orange peel:

While wet sanding:

After polishing:

After waxing:

 

[SHOmethewayhome]

can't wait for the 'I ****ed up the paint again' follow up thread.

do yourself a favor and go pay someone who know's what they're doing. you don't have it in you without a babysitter to not screw up the paint.

be a lot cheaper to have someone knock it out right (that you can hold responsible if they dick it up) than to have you or someone who's sketchy do it and have to paint it for a third time, and/or be out money paid for an unsatisfactory job. you should know that lesson by now.

 

[93rev2sev]

Before wetsanding:


After 600 grit then 1000 then 1500, then polish. (about an hour and plenty good for me)

 

[platoribs]

Thats bee you ti ful!
:urock:

 

[icemaneric]

Just have a professional do it.
I was a prepper for 4 years and a painter for 5 years. What I'm suggesting is from experience.

I would suggest you go back to the same place where it was painted and have the painter or the prepper color sand and buff your new finish.
Some clears are easier to cut through than others. Some painters are a bit shy on clear, afraid of running the clear. Others go heavy on the clear since its going to be cut and buffed.

 

[SHO1]

can't wait for the 'I ****ed up the paint again' follow up thread.

do yourself a favor and go pay someone who know's what they're doing. you don't have it in you without a babysitter to not screw up the paint.

be a lot cheaper to have someone knock it out right (that you can hold responsible if they dick it up) than to have you or someone who's sketchy do it and have to paint it for a third time, and/or be out money paid for an unsatisfactory job. you should know that lesson by now.

What he said! should be a no brainer at this point, atleast for this car.

 

[SHOmethewayhome]

[YOUTUBE]4yzjtnj8Y3U[/YOUTUBE]

watch 1:50 to 2:00

 

[JRA2000TL]

I'm going to take it back where I got it painted and let them do it. That was kind of the plan anyway, but the painter guy kept insisting that it's not difficult. Maybe for him it's not.

 

[LJRuddy]

Put it this way... Wet sanding is easy to do. However, without lots of practice, its even easier to **** up the paint.