Wet Sanding??
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 34
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Wet Sanding??
I have a few scratches in my hood, but i think alot of them will come out. Is wet sanding something i should let a professional do? Or is it something that can be done on my own? What are some things i should know before trying it?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 6,772
Likes: 1
From: Tampa FL
Originally Posted by StreetSweepa
I have a few scratches in my hood, but i think alot of them will come out. Is wet sanding something i should let a professional do? Or is it something that can be done on my own? What are some things i should know before trying it?
a high speed buffer will make them less noticable
basically take it to a prof.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 419
Likes: 0
From: Colorful Colorado
Wet sanding will not remove all of the clear. It is dependent upon the grit that you use. Sanding does remove a portion of the finish.
As stated, if you do not know or have never done it, do not attempt it because you will end up having to paint.
Even buffing in untrained hands can cause misery.
I have built guitars and thus sanded out and buffed finishes for a few years, but I am leaving the car up to the detail pros. The cost is well worth the result.
As stated, if you do not know or have never done it, do not attempt it because you will end up having to paint.
Even buffing in untrained hands can cause misery.
I have built guitars and thus sanded out and buffed finishes for a few years, but I am leaving the car up to the detail pros. The cost is well worth the result.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,246
Likes: 0
From: somewhere on a roadcourse
Cruise-In IV Veteran
yes on an orbital
what you CAN do is use the orbital to go DOWN into the clear coat, removing the surface scratches.
Griot's Garage has a great orbital, with 3 levels of polishes you can use, depending on how deep you want to go. It's nearly impossible to damage your vette with their orbital
Some close friends of mine share it with me and we love it! Between us we have 5 vettes to maintenance so it gets a lot of use
what you CAN do is use the orbital to go DOWN into the clear coat, removing the surface scratches.
Griot's Garage has a great orbital, with 3 levels of polishes you can use, depending on how deep you want to go. It's nearly impossible to damage your vette with their orbital
Some close friends of mine share it with me and we love it! Between us we have 5 vettes to maintenance so it gets a lot of use
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Pro
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 690
Likes: 11
From: The Beach
Originally Posted by junkmn
Wet sanding will not remove all of the clear. It is dependent upon the grit that you use. Sanding does remove a portion of the finish.
As stated, if you do not know or have never done it, do not attempt it because you will end up having to paint.
Even buffing in untrained hands can cause misery.
I have built guitars and thus sanded out and buffed finishes for a few years, but I am leaving the car up to the detail pros. The cost is well worth the result.
As stated, if you do not know or have never done it, do not attempt it because you will end up having to paint.
Even buffing in untrained hands can cause misery.
I have built guitars and thus sanded out and buffed finishes for a few years, but I am leaving the car up to the detail pros. The cost is well worth the result.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,987
Likes: 0
From: Orlando FL
Cruise-In VI Veteran
i dont have any experience with buffers, but it doesnt seem like something i would like to use on the vette without plenty of experience. ive seen too many cars on the road with HORRIBLE swirl marks that look permanent!
ive heard you can actually burn through the clear/paint with a buffer if not used properly??
ive heard you can actually burn through the clear/paint with a buffer if not used properly??
Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 457
Likes: 0
From: Mechanicsburg Pa
Wet sanding is usually done to remove orange peel from paints. If you have light scratches you should be able to remove them with a fine rubbing compound. The best is made by 3M. You can find it at Walmart or Autozone.
Otherwise wet sanding will remove clear coat. How much depends on you. I found GS 27 also works very well (also at Walmart) to remove scratches.
If you must wet sand (or color sand) start with 1500 grit and finish with 2000 grit. Foolow this with the rubbing compound or scratch remover as some call it.
Good luck.
Otherwise wet sanding will remove clear coat. How much depends on you. I found GS 27 also works very well (also at Walmart) to remove scratches.
If you must wet sand (or color sand) start with 1500 grit and finish with 2000 grit. Foolow this with the rubbing compound or scratch remover as some call it.
Good luck.
Corvette ***** OG
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 4,776
Likes: 21
From: Charlotte NC
St. Jude Donor '05
CI VI Veteran
My suggestion is to take it to a shop. I VERY RARELY charge people (especially corvette family) to wetsand and buff a few scratches.
If you're not familiar with wetsanding and buffing, I really suggest you take it to a professional. There are two cars that have extremely thin paint. Mustangs and you guessed, Corvettes.
HTH's,
Mark
If you're not familiar with wetsanding and buffing, I really suggest you take it to a professional. There are two cars that have extremely thin paint. Mustangs and you guessed, Corvettes.
HTH's,
Mark
Lepus-temperamentalus
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,827
Likes: 5
From: Roswell Ga
I have a front tag cover that I've painted myself and am in the process of wet sanding. I've been working on it for a week and it's still crap. I've done it over and over trying to get it right. There's NO way I'd attempt doing this to my car. My little plate has been a great teacher. I suggest you find a piece of junk sheet metal from a junkyard and try it. It's not nearly as easy to do right as it might appear.
Cruising
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by JACKAL0PE
I have a front tag cover that I've painted myself and am in the process of wet sanding. I've been working on it for a week and it's still crap. I've done it over and over trying to get it right. There's NO way I'd attempt doing this to my car. My little plate has been a great teacher. I suggest you find a piece of junk sheet metal from a junkyard and try it. It's not nearly as easy to do right as it might appear.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 11,530
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From: New Bloomfield Pa
Cruise-In VI Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'10
Where are you located?
If you are close to Pa I can help you out.
If not buy a orbital buffer and get used to it and try that.....I would not wet sand if you have never done it before. It is not hard but you do have to a have a feel for it.
If you are close to Pa I can help you out.
If not buy a orbital buffer and get used to it and try that.....I would not wet sand if you have never done it before. It is not hard but you do have to a have a feel for it.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,890
Likes: 1
From: Indiana
St. Jude Contributor
Originally Posted by StreetSweepa
I have a few scratches in my hood, but i think alot of them will come out. Is wet sanding something i should let a professional do? Or is it something that can be done on my own? What are some things i should know before trying it?
Is this a great forum or what
Racer
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 266
Likes: 0
From: Chelsea MI
You can teach yourself to wet sand and polish, actually it would be helpful to have some guidance from somebody that knows what there doing. However, DO NOT learn these new skills on your Vette, find an old car, or go to the junkyard and get a bent up hood or fender to practice on...
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 13,733
Likes: 66
From: Hurst, TX USA
I had one scratch that was about 2 inches long. I used the Langka scratch kit, which is basically 2000 grit wet sanding paper and some aggressive compounds to remove the fine scratches. Scratch came right off and you cannot see where it was. $29 invested. I figured if I really screwed it up it wouldn't cost a me anymore for a body shop to fix it than if I brought it to them in the first place. So, I'd say it depends on how many scratches and how big an area needs to be done. A couple small scratches? Go for it. Worse that can happen is a trip to the body shop if it looks bad when you are done...
