C7 orange peel
Race Director
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 10,742
Likes: 629
From: Manheim Pennsylvania
My 2017 Admiral Blue car has a nice paint job, no dirt and the paint flowed out amazingly well. And it was produced around the Thanksgiving Holiday. 
Last edited by Steve Garrett; Feb 21, 2017 at 09:24 PM. Reason: No need to re-quote the previous post, especially if you're the next person posting.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 5,363
Likes: 4,108
From: New England
I don't think I have owned a car across various brands (Honda, Hyundai, VW, Subaru, etc) that did not have some level of orange peel. I honestly just stopped trying to worry about it and do my best to keep my car properly maintained.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 2,209
Likes: 933
From: Just outside a swamp in Florida
Sure you can, but you're also going to be buffing away layers of potential protection.
If you do it you should certainly coat it with a ceramic, and or cover it with Xpel or similar product.
If you do it you should certainly coat it with a ceramic, and or cover it with Xpel or similar product.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 25,583
Likes: 16,942
Yes, you can lessen it, but you also have to exercise care. Multiple sources have confirmed that the clearcoat is relatively thin. The only way to lessen it is to remove layers of clear, and you can burn through it relatively quickly if you're too aggressive.
I also agree that if you're going to do this, you should probably go with a ceramic coating and PPF after. I've been told that one major paint correction is about all you can safely do on a C7 OEM paint job.
I also agree that if you're going to do this, you should probably go with a ceramic coating and PPF after. I've been told that one major paint correction is about all you can safely do on a C7 OEM paint job.
Last edited by Foosh; Feb 21, 2017 at 09:46 AM.
Race Director
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 10,742
Likes: 629
From: Manheim Pennsylvania
^^^ Unless your car is dedicated to show status, I wouldn't recommend spending the time and money to acquire that perfect finish. There are numerous threads where cars were damaged by road debris or other unfortunate incidents. On a country drive (about the safest there is) an oncoming vehicle can through a stone across the road that bounces off your hood. I keep my car nice, what I refer to as drive clean.
Last edited by Steve Garrett; Feb 21, 2017 at 09:25 PM. Reason: No need to re-quote the previous post, especially if you're the next person posting.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 2,209
Likes: 933
From: Just outside a swamp in Florida
Yes, you can lessen it, but you also have to exercise care. Multiple sources have confirmed that the clearcoat is relatively thin. The only way to lessen it is to remove layers of clear, and you can burn through it relatively quickly if you're too aggressive.
I also agree that if you're going to do this, you should probably go with a ceramic coating and PPF after. I've been told that one major paint correction is about all you can safely do on a C7 OEM paint job.
I also agree that if you're going to do this, you should probably go with a ceramic coating and PPF after. I've been told that one major paint correction is about all you can safely do on a C7 OEM paint job.
So we learned it the old-fashioned way, with a bucket of water, 1000-2000 grit sandpaper, a Black & Decker drill, a polishing pad, and some rubbing compound.
While we did bring some of the old paint back from the dead, others didn't handle the resurrection quite as well. Whoops!
CORVETTE TODAY Show Host
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 26,021
Likes: 7,882
From: Kansas City, Missouri
CORVETTE TODAY Host
St. Jude Donor'15
One of our Vendors, Todd Cooperider, at Esoteric Car Care, is VERY well versed at this. You might reach out to him about this.
And know that he doe NOT recommend wet sanding either.
And know that he doe NOT recommend wet sanding either.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 25,583
Likes: 16,942
I certainly did not recommend wet-sanding a C7. That would most probably be a disaster.
Paint correction can mean a lot of things. The most you can do is a light compound/polish and buff on the C7, and you have to be careful with that. There isn't a lot of clear coat.
Wet sanding is only an option when both base coat and clear are applied with enough thickness to allow it. Base coat is applied, that is wet-sanded until smooth, then polished. The clear coat is applied and then that is also wet-sanded and polished. That's a very expensive and labor-intensive process that only happens with cars starting somewhere north of $200K. However, it's the only way to end up with zero OP.
Paint correction can mean a lot of things. The most you can do is a light compound/polish and buff on the C7, and you have to be careful with that. There isn't a lot of clear coat.
Wet sanding is only an option when both base coat and clear are applied with enough thickness to allow it. Base coat is applied, that is wet-sanded until smooth, then polished. The clear coat is applied and then that is also wet-sanded and polished. That's a very expensive and labor-intensive process that only happens with cars starting somewhere north of $200K. However, it's the only way to end up with zero OP.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,746
Likes: 916
If the orange peel is driving you crazy and money isn't a factor, your could scuff the current clear coat and have a body shop spray multiple coats of clear coat on it and then wet sand it and polish to perfection with less risk of digging into the base (color) coat.
As a side note, I'm pretty sure that GlenE and a few others have wet sanded and polished to perfection, but it's a lot of work and risky. So it can be done, if you're up for the risk.
As a side note, I'm pretty sure that GlenE and a few others have wet sanded and polished to perfection, but it's a lot of work and risky. So it can be done, if you're up for the risk.