Wet sanding?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,945
Likes: 10
From: Salinas Ca.
Wet sanding?
Went to a highly recommended detailer in Monterey, Ca. today to pick up my vert. He did a fantastic job and removed the swirl marks. He commented on the orange peel that we have so often lamented. He is noted for prepping some of the Concourse d' Elegance cars at Pebble Beach. He said he could get rid of the orange peel by wet sanding, but he said a downside is that he has to go into the clear coat a little. Since there isn't much clear coat on the C6 he said that if I ever get a scratch it will be harder to eliminate with slightly less clear coat to work with. But he said if he did the wet sanding the car would look like glass. For any of you guys familiar with wet sanding what do you think about having it done to a C6? Thanks
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,375
Likes: 1
From: Northern CA
Maybe for a show car. Not on a paint job that I was planning on keeping on a car I actually planned to drive for a long time.
It would be OK for a street driven car if the clear coat were thick, I doubt it is.
There may be some up to date painters here that can comment on the feasibility of getting more clear coat added to the car so you have more to work with.
It would be OK for a street driven car if the clear coat were thick, I doubt it is.
There may be some up to date painters here that can comment on the feasibility of getting more clear coat added to the car so you have more to work with.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 988
Likes: 26
From: Seattle WA
Smooth as Glass
What your man says is true. I've done the process on a custom paint job or two with a lot of clear coat. It takes a series of cutting/rubbing/glazing/swirl removal compounds to do the job properly. I thought about doing it on my new black C6 but opted out. Stock clear coats are thin, if you sand thru clear or take too much off you've got trouble. The thinner clear coat may be subject to more impact by weather, ie sun cracking, peeling, fading... You may also be risking your warantee.
On the other hand it may come out fine for some time and look great, but there is risk. If you want it flat and don't mind a re-shoot of clear if its done improperly you'd probably be pleased with the results.
Nothing beats a glass finish.
On the other hand it may come out fine for some time and look great, but there is risk. If you want it flat and don't mind a re-shoot of clear if its done improperly you'd probably be pleased with the results.
Nothing beats a glass finish.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,375
Likes: 1
From: Northern CA
Originally Posted by nolimits
On the other hand it may come out fine for some time and look great, but there is risk. If you want it flat and don't mind a re-shoot of clear if its done improperly you'd probably be pleased with the results.
Nothing beats a glass finish.
Nothing beats a glass finish.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 988
Likes: 26
From: Seattle WA
More Clear
If you want to spend the $, do the extra clear coats first, make sure it's properly prepped, matched & high quality. Watch that baby come to life the more you work it. Mirror flat but watch the buffing on corners/edges, needs a careful touch.
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Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,563
Likes: 2
From: Dallas Tx
You can't just add clear.
If your going to wet sand a show car to really do it right you need to paint the car with extra coats of clear. This has to be done at time of color and clear coating, can't go back and add more.
Then you wet sand that down and finesse, buff, and polish that to a mirror shine. Trying to duplicate that with a mass produced OEM paint job is very risky. The clear is microscopically thin, and very easy to burn through on edges. Possible, but very risky.
I'd get the best shine possible, getting rid of swirl marks, then a coat of your favorite wax and call it good. Chasing a show car mirror shine will drive you nuts, you'll spend 99% of your time perfecting the paint instead of enjoying the car. Use the best cotton stuff with washing and waxing, drying with a leaf blower and spot touch up with a cotton towel. That will keep the swirls down.
If your going to wet sand a show car to really do it right you need to paint the car with extra coats of clear. This has to be done at time of color and clear coating, can't go back and add more.
Then you wet sand that down and finesse, buff, and polish that to a mirror shine. Trying to duplicate that with a mass produced OEM paint job is very risky. The clear is microscopically thin, and very easy to burn through on edges. Possible, but very risky.
I'd get the best shine possible, getting rid of swirl marks, then a coat of your favorite wax and call it good. Chasing a show car mirror shine will drive you nuts, you'll spend 99% of your time perfecting the paint instead of enjoying the car. Use the best cotton stuff with washing and waxing, drying with a leaf blower and spot touch up with a cotton towel. That will keep the swirls down.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,578
Likes: 550
From: Florida
Having built a few show cars, I would advise if you do anything, you need to shoot at least 3 more coats of clear coat. This will give the wet sand operation more to work with and leave you protected.
I couldn't tell you what painters are charging in you area. It takes a lot of masking to perform this operation.
Good luck
I couldn't tell you what painters are charging in you area. It takes a lot of masking to perform this operation.
Good luck
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 236
Likes: 0
From: Macomb twp Michigan
Ok look i Work in a collison shop and own a corvette. First thing is you can get the car clear coated, but it will have to be sanded down the whole car and then cleared as much as a you want. But if you do just get the car wet sanded it will look awesome just tell him he doesnt have to take that much off and it will still look good.. the vette has enough clear to do that.. someone needs to find out how many coats they put on and even if they put one of two coats they might put it on thick. thats why we got the orange peel.
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: FLA
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
Originally Posted by Michrider
You can't just add clear.
If your going to wet sand a show car to really do it right you need to paint the car with extra coats of clear. This has to be done at time of color and clear coating, can't go back and add more.
Then you wet sand that down and finesse, buff, and polish that to a mirror shine. Trying to duplicate that with a mass produced OEM paint job is very risky. The clear is microscopically thin, and very easy to burn through on edges. Possible, but very risky.
I'd get the best shine possible, getting rid of swirl marks, then a coat of your favorite wax and call it good. Chasing a show car mirror shine will drive you nuts, you'll spend 99% of your time perfecting the paint instead of enjoying the car. Use the best cotton stuff with washing and waxing, drying with a leaf blower and spot touch up with a cotton towel. That will keep the swirls down.
If your going to wet sand a show car to really do it right you need to paint the car with extra coats of clear. This has to be done at time of color and clear coating, can't go back and add more.
Then you wet sand that down and finesse, buff, and polish that to a mirror shine. Trying to duplicate that with a mass produced OEM paint job is very risky. The clear is microscopically thin, and very easy to burn through on edges. Possible, but very risky.
I'd get the best shine possible, getting rid of swirl marks, then a coat of your favorite wax and call it good. Chasing a show car mirror shine will drive you nuts, you'll spend 99% of your time perfecting the paint instead of enjoying the car. Use the best cotton stuff with washing and waxing, drying with a leaf blower and spot touch up with a cotton towel. That will keep the swirls down.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,979
Likes: 0
From: walkersville md
Originally Posted by Michrider
You can't just add clear.
If your going to wet sand a show car to really do it right you need to paint the car with extra coats of clear. This has to be done at time of color and clear coating, can't go back and add more.
Then you wet sand that down and finesse, buff, and polish that to a mirror shine. Trying to duplicate that with a mass produced OEM paint job is very risky. The clear is microscopically thin, and very easy to burn through on edges. Possible, but very risky.
I'd get the best shine possible, getting rid of swirl marks, then a coat of your favorite wax and call it good. Chasing a show car mirror shine will drive you nuts, you'll spend 99% of your time perfecting the paint instead of enjoying the car. Use the best cotton stuff with washing and waxing, drying with a leaf blower and spot touch up with a cotton towel. That will keep the swirls down.
If your going to wet sand a show car to really do it right you need to paint the car with extra coats of clear. This has to be done at time of color and clear coating, can't go back and add more.
Then you wet sand that down and finesse, buff, and polish that to a mirror shine. Trying to duplicate that with a mass produced OEM paint job is very risky. The clear is microscopically thin, and very easy to burn through on edges. Possible, but very risky.
I'd get the best shine possible, getting rid of swirl marks, then a coat of your favorite wax and call it good. Chasing a show car mirror shine will drive you nuts, you'll spend 99% of your time perfecting the paint instead of enjoying the car. Use the best cotton stuff with washing and waxing, drying with a leaf blower and spot touch up with a cotton towel. That will keep the swirls down.
Yeah, actually you can "add" clear....lol
Im a certified painter. and people re-clear cars all the time. You need to wetsand the car down with 1000 or 800, you dont need to take all the peel out, but enough, and then you just tape it up and reshoot the clearcoat. 3 coats is best for wetsanding. once you let it dry for about aweek or so, then you can rewetsand with 1000,1500 then 2500. Then buff and swirl free polish it. DO NOT bake a corvette, fiberglass likes to move when you bake it.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,775
Likes: 1
From: Rehoboth Beach Delaware
Originally Posted by benspruce
Went to a highly recommended detailer in Monterey, Ca. today to pick up my vert. He did a fantastic job and removed the swirl marks. He commented on the orange peel that we have so often lamented. He is noted for prepping some of the Concourse d' Elegance cars at Pebble Beach. He said he could get rid of the orange peel by wet sanding, but he said a downside is that he has to go into the clear coat a little. Since there isn't much clear coat on the C6 he said that if I ever get a scratch it will be harder to eliminate with slightly less clear coat to work with. But he said if he did the wet sanding the car would look like glass. For any of you guys familiar with wet sanding what do you think about having it done to a C6? Thanks
Finished product overall will not be any better then what you started with. Factory paint job is on the "cheap" side.....biggest concern with cutting the clear cut should be UV deterioration of the color coat....especially if it is a metallic.
Show paint much different...!!
