Completed 1500 grit yesterday, finished 2000 today and I'm all set up to start the final 2500 grit tomorrow morning, do a super clean up and with any luck I'll be buffing by Wednesday.

These are pits that should have been sanded out with 1200 but some how got past me, I didn't notice them until I was into 1500.

This is 2000, the shine is getting there.

Even with guide coat it looks pretty good.

 

 

What equipment are you using for the sanding process?  

31 minutes ago, Namerow said:

What equipment are you using for the sanding process?  

Basically hand blocks, a combination hard foam Durablocks and home made hard acrylic blocks, 80 grit up to 600 for the primers then 1200 to 2500 for the clear coat.  The first sanding of the clear coat with all of the orange peel I use DA sander and 6" disc 1200 grit to get the worst of the rough surface off then 1200 with a hand block to flatten it out. Then hand block for the rest of the grits down to 2500.   80 to 400 grit is all done with dry paper, 600 to 2500 is done wet using a squirt bottle and a bucket of water.  I use a combination of loose paper and adhesive backed roll paper, I don't buy the most expensive 3M paper because there are a many companies that make equally good quality paper that cost a lot less.

Any collision shop would laugh at my procedure as they do almost all their work with air sanders, I could do that too but it is very easy to screw up quickly doing it that way and I don't get enough practice to get good at it. By hand is slow and hard but much easier to control.

 

Looking forward to seeing the final result!

6 hours ago, Namerow said:

Looking forward to seeing the final result!

Me too, the rotator cuff in my right shoulder is killing me with all the repetitive movement, 2500 finished today, start the cut and buff tomorrow.  I should have a couple of nice pics by the afternoon.

I got the D/S, roof, hatch and all the smaller pieces done today, just have the P/S and hood to go.

2 hours ago, grannyknot said:

I got the D/S, roof, hatch and all the smaller pieces done today, just have the P/S and hood to go.

Outstanding results!  Now we're all waiting to see it trimmed out and sitting in the driveway in the sunshine.

14 hours ago, Namerow said:

Outstanding results!  Now we're all waiting to see it trimmed out and sitting in the driveway in the sunshine.

No kidding! I'm still trying very, very hard not to think about it!

I think I am pretty much done, some how managed to screw up the other sugar scoop so have to re paint that as well, but other than that the buffing and polishing is done.

Now this is by by no means a professional buff job, there still some spider webs that I can't get rid of, so Dave I recommend you find a good buff guy to give it that last little bit of correction. I have never been able to get spider webs out and I don't want to try something more aggressive on someone else's car.

It is amazing what a guy who does buffing for living can pull out.

I got the car off the rotisserie and back onto jack stands, I think I will take tomorrow off, give my shoulder a break.

 

I think you did a fantastic job friend!!

What do you mean by spider webs? Light scratching, sanding marks?

6 hours ago, Patcon said:

What do you mean by spider webs? Light scratching, sanding marks?

I have tried a few things but I can never get that clear glass look, they're only a few microns deep and they are all on the surface of the clear coat. Just haven't found the technique yet.