Buffing your newly-finished paint
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== Wetsanding == | == Wetsanding == | ||
| − | Many car owners underestimate the value of a good wetsand job. It's only when attempting to buff the paint that they discover it's back to the drawing board (usually, they did not do enough wetsanding). So let me instruct you guys and gals in the process of wet sanding. THIS is the way to get a SHOW FINISH as opposed to a " | + | Many car owners underestimate the value of a good wetsand job. It's only when attempting to buff the paint that they discover it's back to the drawing board (usually, they did not do enough wetsanding). So let me instruct you guys and gals in the process of wet sanding. THIS is the way to get a SHOW FINISH as opposed to a "20-20" paint job (looks good 20 feet away at 20 mph). |
This method requires the vehicle panels to be straight and solid to begin with, and the paint to have been applied correctly. Start with a fender, side and flat parts and inspect them to see how much you must flatten. Cover all sharp corners with 1/2" masking tape and use 1000 grit wet/dry paper to begin, assuming everything is in very good shape: the clearcoat is flat, color is right, etc. | This method requires the vehicle panels to be straight and solid to begin with, and the paint to have been applied correctly. Start with a fender, side and flat parts and inspect them to see how much you must flatten. Cover all sharp corners with 1/2" masking tape and use 1000 grit wet/dry paper to begin, assuming everything is in very good shape: the clearcoat is flat, color is right, etc. | ||
| − | + | [[File:Sanding-blocks.jpg|thumb|left|400px|Assorted sanding blocks and buffer with buffing compounds]] | |
Use a 5 gallon bucket with a drop of dish soap, then blend it with lukewarm water. The dish soap will act as a wetting agent by removing the surface tension of the water, allowing the water to flow out on the panel instead of beading up. Use a good quality rubber sanding block and sand until the surface is completely flat. Use a 3M squeegee to clean the area, then stand back a little to inspect the sanded surface, and determine if any shine is present. The area must be kept clean and wet so squeegee it off frequently and dip your sanding block into the bucket often. If it's flat, go to the next area. | Use a 5 gallon bucket with a drop of dish soap, then blend it with lukewarm water. The dish soap will act as a wetting agent by removing the surface tension of the water, allowing the water to flow out on the panel instead of beading up. Use a good quality rubber sanding block and sand until the surface is completely flat. Use a 3M squeegee to clean the area, then stand back a little to inspect the sanded surface, and determine if any shine is present. The area must be kept clean and wet so squeegee it off frequently and dip your sanding block into the bucket often. If it's flat, go to the next area. | ||
| − | If the surface is still not flat and lacks a semi-gloss look, continue re-sanding the area until a semi-gloss, flat surface is achieved. The finer the paper, the more gloss to the semi-gloss will be seen. Continue doing this until the entire car is done with 1000. You must repeat this routine with every grit-level of paper you use!!! Now you will do the whole car in 1500, 2000, 2500, and 3000 grit. It will take anywhere from one week to 2 1/2 weeks to get it right. Then you can buff it out with ease using light pressure because the surface is pre-polished and it only takes a bit of buffing to do the rest. So go for it. | + | If the surface is still not flat and lacks a semi-gloss look, continue re-sanding the area until a semi-gloss, flat surface is achieved. The finer the paper, the more gloss to the semi-gloss will be seen. Continue doing this until the entire car is done with 1000. You must repeat this routine with every grit-level of paper you use!!! Now you will do the whole car in 1500, 2000, 2500, and 3000 grit. It will take anywhere from one week to 2 1/2 weeks to get it right. Then you can buff it out with ease using light pressure because the surface is pre-polished and it only takes a bit of buffing to do the rest. So go for it.<br style="clear:both"/> |
== Buffing and polishing pads == | == Buffing and polishing pads == | ||
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