Protocal for wet sand and polishing?

[280z1975]

I have searched the archives and looked around but can't find any information on what is the best way to wet sand and buff/polish a car after it's been painted.

I painted my car in the garage, so there are some sections of orange peel and some small bugs stuck in the clear coat and need to finish off the painting process to make my car really shine. I have a nice heavy duty professional buffer to help with the whole process.

Any good links out there?

[theianmonster]

Just take some really fine paper 600+, put it on a block, and with some water sand the orange peel in circles. You might have to spray a little more paint but it should work.

[hls30.com]

Wash the car thouroghly, and rinse it in the shade.

start with 1200 grit for "bad" orange peel.

move to 2400 grit or start with it for "noticeable" orange peel.

Get a good quality paper-I use Mcguires, and a foam backer.

Use a cup with a pin hole near the bottom. Mix a few drops of liquid detergent with the water-a garden hose is NOT reccommended, (if you mustuse one, wash the last 10 feet and cut off the end) The soap will help keep the paint sandings out of the paper, and out of the newly roughened paint.

Use a good antiswirl compound for buffing-again, I use Mcguires.

There is absolutely no substitute for a 100% lambswool polishing bonnet-it is all I would use for buffing out a car.

Will

[shamus11]

I won't claim to give expert advice but from my first experience with painting a car I can tell you what NOT to do. I painted in acrylic and wet rubbed the top coat with 1000grit. It was too coarse and left swirl scratches in the finnish that I couldn't get out.

Is the orange peel in the color or the clear? If you have orange peel in the color it won't buff out. If you sand it with anything too fine it will only knock the top off it and make it look like rubbed orange peel (worse). I'd bite the bullet, flat rub it out with at least 800 and try another coat on that section. That said, it's not gunna hurt anything to try and buff it out first.If it comes up OK then you're in front.

[shamus11]

PS I also use a little bit of soap in the bucket when wet rubbing.

[beandip]

Wash the car thouroghly, and rinse it in the shade.

start with 1200 grit for "bad" orange peel.

move to 2400 grit or start with it for "noticeable" orange peel.

Get a good quality paper-I use Mcguires, and a foam backer.

Use a cup with a pin hole near the bottom. Mix a few drops of liquid detergent with the water-a garden hose is NOT recommended, (if you must use one, wash the last 10 feet and cut off the end) The soap will help keep the paint sandings out of the paper, and out of the newly roughened paint.

Use a good anti swirl compound for buffing-again, I use Mcguires.

There is absolutely no substitute for a 100% lambswool polishing bonnet-it is all I would use for buffing out a car.

Will

This is what I had to do on my Z for the same reasons . The 1200 or 2400 paper is right on, any courser will leave scratches that are difficult to buff out. I too got good results with the Mcguires and a buffer. Just go slow and be patient, keep the buffer moving so you don't heat or burn the paint. be mind full of the body lines and edges . you can go through to the primer quickly . Gary

[TomoHawk]

I saw a neat tool on the Eastwood website, that will measure the thickness of your paint, so you'll know if it can take any sanding.