also you might get you a spray bottle and fill with pure water to keep the surface wet.
after clear coat....then?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 5,548
Likes: 41
From: Conn.
St. Jude Donor '21
after clear coat....then?
I tried this in "paint/body". with not much help....
When painting interior dash pieces..ie: radio bezel, console, after all the sanding, color coat, and clear coats, is there something else that should be done? like wax and buff? with what?
When painting interior dash pieces..ie: radio bezel, console, after all the sanding, color coat, and clear coats, is there something else that should be done? like wax and buff? with what?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,176
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From: Suffolk Va
If you want a nice smooth finish like the exterior of your car get some 1000 and 2000 grit sand paper and wet sand the clear coat starting with the 1000 and finish up with the 2000. When youre done sanding get some rubbing compound and rub it out till the shine returns to the paint (5-10 minutes) after that clean it with some 91% alcohol to make sure you have cut into the paint and not just filling it. if it comes out good hit it with some carnuba wax and youre done!!
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 5,548
Likes: 41
From: Conn.
St. Jude Donor '21
If you want a nice smooth finish like the exterior of your car get some 1000 and 2000 grit sand paper and wet sand the clear coat starting with the 1000 and finish up with the 2000. When youre done sanding get some rubbing compound and rub it out till the shine returns to the paint (5-10 minutes) after that clean it with some 91% alcohol to make sure you have cut into the paint and not just filling it. if it comes out good hit it with some carnuba wax and youre done!!
Yikes! I thought the sanding process was DONE!
Shows you what I know....I think I'm scared to sand this....it took too long to get it where it is!
Race Director
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St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17,'19,'22
Oh yes. That's why you wet sand with 1000 grit. It's not as course as 400 grit so it won't hurt the finish as long as you keep it wet and watch what you're doing. Follow up with the rubbing compound just like noted above. Post some pics when you're done.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 501
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From: Toronto/Maple ON
it is easy to screw up, specially if it is your first time. so if you're going to do it, be prepared to start all over again. 
not to discourage you, but i've screwed up before and now just dont have the patience to do things like that anymore.
not to discourage you, but i've screwed up before and now just dont have the patience to do things like that anymore.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2001
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From: Woodbridge Va
That's the fun part about DIY projects. Doing your own paint and sanding requires a lot of patience and time. If you sand through the clear, you just have to re-do it. 
I sanded through the clear a couple times on my interior pieces. I got it right eventually. Afterwards I machine polished, waxed and buffed the pieces.
I sanded through the clear a couple times on my interior pieces. I got it right eventually. Afterwards I machine polished, waxed and buffed the pieces.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2000
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From: Fort Worth TX
St. Jude Donor '06
Father & Son St. Jude Donor '09
If you're going to wet sand clear, make sure you have at least 3 good coats of clear or the risk of sanding through the clear is very high.
Also, you can wetsand with 1500 and then 2000. Don't worry about sanding every spot perfect, just hit 75% and then start buffing. rubbing compound 1st, then a polishing compound, then a swirl remover, the a glaze.
Just a little labor! Enjoy.
Also, you can wetsand with 1500 and then 2000. Don't worry about sanding every spot perfect, just hit 75% and then start buffing. rubbing compound 1st, then a polishing compound, then a swirl remover, the a glaze.
Just a little labor! Enjoy.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
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From: Should this thoughtful, valuable contribution meet with no acknowledgement or 'thanks' this post----
If you're going to wet sand clear, make sure you have at least 3 good coats of clear or the risk of sanding through the clear is very high.
Also, you can wetsand with 1500 and then 2000. Don't worry about sanding every spot perfect, just hit 75% and then start buffing. rubbing compound 1st, then a polishing compound, then a swirl remover, the a glaze.
Just a little labor! Enjoy.
Also, you can wetsand with 1500 and then 2000. Don't worry about sanding every spot perfect, just hit 75% and then start buffing. rubbing compound 1st, then a polishing compound, then a swirl remover, the a glaze.
Just a little labor! Enjoy.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,956
Likes: 2
From: Indianapolis In
I agree with all above except........DONOT wetsand the clearcoat until it has dried well. 1 week (7 days) after it is applied. Also do not use wax on the finish for 90 days. this allows the paint/clear to "cure". If not, there is a possibility of the finish becoming cloudy in the sun or spider cracks to appear as the paint tries to cure & not able to breath under wax. Polish is different. Polish allows for the paint to breath. No body shop uses wax to rub out clear coat finishes. 3M finnese polish or hand glaze works well, Meguiars #2-5 or hand glaze also is good.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2005
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You can wetsand the next day with modern paint no problems-I do it, body shops do it the same day sometimes. You'll need a small buffer like one of the Meguires ones to do this stuff, a large bonnet buffer will not get into the areas you have and you run the risk of launching your work like a missle with a big buffer if you hit it wrong. If your clear layed out smooth, I'd leave it alone-if you have alot of Orange Peel I'd wetsand and buff. You should PRACTICE on some test pieces FIRST-it's an art to do it and not burn sharp edges, you need to get used the the buffer your going to use or you WILL have problems.