Painting Information Requested
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 7,206
Likes: 311
From: Lino Lakes MN
Painting Information Requested
I have sanded the last couple of weeks of my life away priming, painting and clearing my interior components (ie radio bezel, counsel, knee bolster, speedometer surround, and door handle surrounds).
A couple of days ago, after sanding with 1500 applied very wet coat of clear. Most items have a very smooth finish and look wet. I have a couple of pieces that are a little rougher than I would consider acceptable/perfect but do look wet. All items reflect images and look great.
What is my next step?
Do I resand with 2000 and clear again, or should I sand with 2000 and try to hand polish and glaze?
Any and all help would be appreciated.
Thanks
A couple of days ago, after sanding with 1500 applied very wet coat of clear. Most items have a very smooth finish and look wet. I have a couple of pieces that are a little rougher than I would consider acceptable/perfect but do look wet. All items reflect images and look great.
What is my next step?
Do I resand with 2000 and clear again, or should I sand with 2000 and try to hand polish and glaze?
Any and all help would be appreciated.
Thanks
Last edited by yaknow; Sep 10, 2006 at 05:16 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 6,072
Likes: 196
From: Arizona
Just my opinion here: You may be able to use the sand & buff method -- providing the pieces are not so bumpy (rough) that you sand through the clear or even the basecoat on the high spots. Go carefully and slowly (as it sounds like you've been doing) and I'm sure you'll have stunning success! Please be sure to show us some pics when you're done! 
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 7,206
Likes: 311
From: Lino Lakes MN
I don't think I have to worry about sanding through anything as I have 4 coats of paint on and 2-3 coats of clear, just thinking I should do one more coat of clear to make it perfect. Anyone else that can weigh in on this?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 5,210
Likes: 104
From: Fort Worth TX
St. Jude Donor '06
Father & Son St. Jude Donor '09
Originally Posted by yaknow
I don't think I have to worry about sanding through anything as I have 4 coats of paint on and 2-3 coats of clear, just thinking I should do one more coat of clear to make it perfect. Anyone else that can weigh in on this?
Wetsanding and buffing to a high gloss by hand is very difficult and slow.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 866
Likes: 0
From: Placerville Ca
Sounds like you are only doing trim pieces and that is tough to machine buff.
If you have already shot 3 coats of clear and aren't happy with any of them my guess is a 4th will produce the same result. It is hard to lay down good clear but trim outta be doable?
If you choose to go the color sand & rubbing compound route, I wouldn't use sand paper more agressive than 1500 grit wet the scratches will just be too difficult to get out otherwise. Before using the compound, I would finish off with 2000 grit wet and sand lightly in all sorts of different directions. I sure would like a description of the imperfections you are trying to get out. You really shouldn't have to sand small pieces at all.
Wonder why your clear isn't working for you. If you are going to shoot additional coats of clear you must sand between each coat and you can get aggressive with this using 800 grit. I also don't understand the reason or need for so many coats of the base color, but it isn't going to hurt anything.
I personally wouldn't try color sanding at all. Sand the pieces you aren't happy with re-clear them and stop - you are done.
.
If you have already shot 3 coats of clear and aren't happy with any of them my guess is a 4th will produce the same result. It is hard to lay down good clear but trim outta be doable?
If you choose to go the color sand & rubbing compound route, I wouldn't use sand paper more agressive than 1500 grit wet the scratches will just be too difficult to get out otherwise. Before using the compound, I would finish off with 2000 grit wet and sand lightly in all sorts of different directions. I sure would like a description of the imperfections you are trying to get out. You really shouldn't have to sand small pieces at all.
Wonder why your clear isn't working for you. If you are going to shoot additional coats of clear you must sand between each coat and you can get aggressive with this using 800 grit. I also don't understand the reason or need for so many coats of the base color, but it isn't going to hurt anything.
I personally wouldn't try color sanding at all. Sand the pieces you aren't happy with re-clear them and stop - you are done.
.
Last edited by SultansDiamond; Sep 10, 2006 at 11:19 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,987
Likes: 0
From: Orlando FL
Cruise-In VI Veteran
my guess is your using spray cans?? the "rough" spots on the clear are probably just overspray from when you are making passes accross the part.
wetsanding with smooth it all out. trick is to get the part completely dull with wetsanding. if you go through the clear, then you wont get the shine back, and you will have to reclear.
if you think sanding the stock parts down was hard...... wait till you try and buff out all the parts by hand. its going to be near impossible to bring back a true gloss "wet" shine by hand without a LOTTT of patience!!!!
wetsanding with smooth it all out. trick is to get the part completely dull with wetsanding. if you go through the clear, then you wont get the shine back, and you will have to reclear.
if you think sanding the stock parts down was hard...... wait till you try and buff out all the parts by hand. its going to be near impossible to bring back a true gloss "wet" shine by hand without a LOTTT of patience!!!!
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