[WPTA] Request for feedback on wet sanding

[Clayton Yonker]

Hi Tim,

This is something that is pretty straight forward if you want to do your
own work. You can do a panel at a time and spread it out to make it less
labor intensive. To get a perfect job you can use a guide coat on top of
the panel you want to wet sand. If you're just looking to get a decent job
you don't need a guide coat. Use 1800-2000 or higher sandpaper and sand the
panel. Keep it wet and you'll be able to see where the orange peel is. Sand
until it is no longer visible. If you're sanding a run, use a paint stir
stick and wrap it with sandpaper and concentrate on the run, moving in
circles until it's gone.

Paint comes off pretty quickly so keep an eye out to make sure you don't
sand through. If you have a low spot just use your hand to get it instead
of a sanding block. Same thing with high spots. They become pretty obvious
while you're sanding so don't worry that you'll miss anything. Keep about
1/2"-1" from your edges.

When you're done sanding use a buffer with a standard pad and polishing
compound that is used for taking out sand marks and then switch to a sponge
pad and a glazing compound. Don't use anything with substantial grit. It
will have the opposite effect. Keep away from edges and contours. If you
need to buff an edge or contour, turn the buffer so it pushes off of the
edge. Never have it pull towards the edge or it will tear the paint off.
Move in circular patterns and don't stay in one place. Wipe the surface
clean with a microfiber rag or soft clean up rags from a paint store.

If you're doing this on laquer, you rarely get orange peel but if you do be
very careful. Lacquer is very thin and easy to go through. Painting over it
is another issue. Lacquer loves heat so a higher spin speed is good but you
need to be careful. Acrylic and polyurethane like less heat. I keep the
spin speed around 1500 rpm for those.

If you want to attempt this yourself, you should be able to do it. It's a
good idea to get masking plastic to avoid the compound going all over
everything. It's about $25 for a roll. It'll be more than you need but it's
pretty handy.

Clay

On Tue, Feb 7, 2023 at 6:38 AM Tim Prell via Wpta <wpta at autox.team.net>
wrote:

> Can any members provide a referral for an auto body shop or detailer in
> the Cranberry or Pittsburgh area that has good results wet sanding a paint
> job to create a better finish? I was a doubter in the past but saw how it
> brought a 20 year-old ski boat back to new condition and might try it on
> one of my vintage cars.
>
> thanks,
> Tim
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